John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s bed-in for peace returns to Amsterdam

They invited one shy, Dutch photographer to breakfast, they were constantly watched for any untoward activities…and they did pay the hotel bill. These were some of the memories revealed at the launch of a new exhibition at the Amsterdam Hilton of 50 photographs taken in 1969 of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the world’s most famous honeymooning couple protesting for peace with a week in bed. Turned down by another Dutch hotel, the couple arrived at the Hilton from Paris in a white Rolls Royce, emptied what was room 902 of all furniture apart from the bed and invited in the world’s press for 12 hours a day to record their protest against the Vietnam war. Now, 50 years later, some of the most famous images of Lennon and his bride are on display at the Hilton, together with an exhibition of Lennon and Ono’s artwork and a video room telling the story of their unprecedented demonstration. Mick Boskamp, son of Lennon’s friend Hans Boskamp, told DutchNews.nl that Lennon wanted to do something completely different and decided Amsterdam was the place to do it. ‘My father met John Lennon working in London, and when John was going to get married in ’69, he told my father he wanted to do something fun for his honeymoon. Amstel hotel said no, and they still regret it. Then they came across the Hilton, which said yes.

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