words by DEBORAH DRENOFCI
Museumnacht is right around the corner. On November 7th, the museums around Amsterdam open their doors for guests to immerse themselves in art, workshops, music, and the awesome feeling of being inside a museum late at night. From 19:00 to 02:00, the official programme expands to 68 different locations around the city. Whether you want to enjoy some exhibitions or you are simply after a Night at the Museum type of thrill, you need to keep an eye on the exciting schedule of Museumnacht. Here is a collection of events to help you plan your adventurous journey, not only to have fun but also to learn some new things.
RIJKSMUSEUM
images via MUSEUMNACHT
The Rijksmuseum dedicates its night to the amazing artist Willem de Kooning. From 19:30, visitors can try life drawing in the Atrium, sculpt in the Klein Café or customise a RIJKS bag at the NEXT takeover. From 20:00, the silent disco starts to the rhythms of DJ Chance di Finèsse. If you are in need of a new tattoo, a very cool activity at the Rijksmuseum is Stiel Tattoo, offering real and fake ink. And it gets even cooler with Museum Date, which pairs strangers for a walk through the galleries. Finally, there is Willem de Kooning voor dummies, pretty self-explanatory.
STEDELIJK
The Stedelijk dedicates the evening to Yayoi Kusama. There are speed tours and a pop-up nail salon, Polkadots & Polish, so that you can get a Kusama-inspired nail set. XXL Twister and two photobooths keep you moving around, and the Kunstbende winner’s installation stays up all night. Fata Morgana dances at 22:00, then DJ Tomo Katsurada plays until 01:30. Through the same entrance, Buro Stedelijk shows Names in Our Veins, with shadow theatre by Wayang Women and music by Rani Jambak. Getting your nails done, playing Twister with strangers, and dancing in a museum. Sounds like a plan.
FOAM
Have you always wanted to create your own zine? Well, on this night you can do just that at Leo Varaidzo’s workshop at Foam, a deep dive into the intersection of image, language, and storytelling. The participants will use photographs from the exhibition at Foam. There will be several writing prompts to help everyone set the tone for their story. Through poems, drawings, collages, and short texts, an eight-page zine can be created. The main idea of this workshop is the joy of storytelling and all the creative ways to share our worlds.
THE BEAUTIFUL DISTRESS HOUSE
Take the ferry to Noord to end up at the Beautiful Distress House if you want a more fashionable experience filled with performance, music, and interactive installations. The interesting theme of the night is how social media influences our self-image, our identity and the way we view each other, and how it can all be a way to connect and express. Moreover, artist Joris Janssen explores the meaning of diva worship through his clothing collection. If you are looking for some fun, glamour, and diva energy, this is the place to be.
H’ART MUSEUM
© La Blouse roumaine, HENRI MATTISE
H’ART builds its night around Chez Matisse – Masterpieces from Centre Pompidou. CATPC’s chocolate sculptures in Het Land van Hagelslag are also on view. That show closes the next day, so this is one of its last chances. DJ Shaeef plays R&B and hip-hop in the courtyard until midnight, and a Rederij Lampedusa boat connects the museum to Mediamatic, where you can walk among frogs dressed in custom-designed prosthetic forelegs, smell genetically engineered organisms in their aroma lab, and witness the release of lab fruit flies. Pretty cool stuff, since we are just getting past fruit fly season.
VAN GOGH MUSEUM
The Van Gogh Museum opens its full permanent collection, masterpieces included, and builds the night around it. Two workshops run until midnight. One turns street finds into fantasy creatures, the other gives old T-shirts a second life. Jasper Riehm and Theo Rekelhof present bio art, the Kiosk of Solidarity runs until 01:00, and De Sering serves food and drinks. Jeffrey Babcock hosts a film night which will take the visitors to the world of underground cinema. Amsterdam Alternative takes care of the music until closing.
EMBASSY OF THE FREE MIND
Exhibitions are great, and the crowds around Museumplein will make everything feel even more exciting. But sometimes you just need a bit of peace and quiet, or you might miss your tarot lady telling you that all will be good. If this is the case, go check out the Embassy of the Free Mind. It is there that you will encounter a more mystical bubble, where you’ll find pop-up stations with tarot readers and learn about the symbolism of ancient hermetic art.
HORTUS BOTANICUS AMSTERDAM
It is all about botanical magic. Hortus Botanicus opens its greenhouse and illuminates the trails so that you can wander around with a nice cocktail in hand. It is an informative night where you can learn about plants through the Plant Crash Course, and a space where you can find answers to questions like: how do some plants survive in dry environments, and what strategies do plants have? Of course, good music and the opportunity to dance are always around.
