ART
& CULTURE
Amsterdam
Galleries:
Amsterdamse
Centrum voor Fotographie
Photo hounds should go directly to this sprawling exhibition space,
within flashing distance of the Red Light District. Besides showing
the work of photographers - of both Magnum and up-and-coming varieties
- it also has workshops and a black and white developing room available
for hire.
Bethani'nstraat 9, Old Centre: Old Side
Phone: +31 (0)20 622 4899
Tram 16, 24, 25.
Open noon-5pm Wed-Sat; closed Mon, Tue, Sun & July, Aug.
No Credit cards.
Annet Gelink
Gallery
As one of the former owners of Bloom Gallery, Annet Gelink knew
what she wanted when she decided to open her own gallery: space
and light, to best reflect some of the latest highways and byways
of Dutch and international art. Some notable names: Mat Collishaw,
Ed van der Elsken, Alicia Framis and Kiki Lamers.
Laurierstraat 187-9, The Jordaan
Phone: +31 (0)20 330 2066
Tram 13, 14, 17, 20.
Open 11am-6pm Tue-Sat; 2-5pm 1st Sun of mth; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
ArCam
'Architecture Centrum Amsterdam' is obsessed with the promotion
of Dutch architecture, and happily organises tours, forums, lectures
and exhibits on the subject. Besides its more central exhibition
space, it now also has a second space on the harbourfront (Oosterdok
14, 620 4878, open 1-5pm Fri-Sun).
Waterlooplein 213, Old Centre: Old Side
Phone: +31 (0)20 620 4878
Tram 9, 14, 20/Metro Waterlooplein
Open 1-5pm Tue-Fri; closed Mon, Sat, Sun.
No Credit cards.
Art Industry
A good starting point from which to explore the smaller art initiatives
of the Pijp. Expect anything, from established figures such as Marlene
Dumas, Rob Scholte and Rob Birza to younger artists - such as Ottograph
- who are helping bring club culture to the mainstream. Thanks to
the sponsorship of its neighbours Heineken, its openings are legendary.
Ferdinand Bolstraat 1, The Pijp
Phone: +31 (0)20 777 9910
Tram 6, 7, 10.
Open 11am-6pm Wed-Sat; closed Mon, Tue, Sun.
No Credit cards.
Clement
While also exhibiting drawings and paintings, Clement is best known
as a heaven for print collectors, having first begun as a printing
studio in 1958 before the opening of the gallery in 1968. Walk your
eyes through a selection that includes work by the likes of Penck,
Sierhuis, Lucebert, Mira and Cremer.
Prinsengracht 845, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 625 1656
Tram 16, 24, 25.
Open 11am-5.30pm Tue-Sat; closed Mon, Sun.
No Credit cards.
Collection
d'Art
Another old school gallery founded in 1969, which supplements its
established Dutch - and often CoBrA-related - names of Westerik,
Armando and Constant with a German expressionist or two.
Keizersgracht 516, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 622 1511
Tram 1, 2, 5, 20.
Open 1-5pm Wed-Sat; closed Mon, Tue, Sun.
No Credit cards.
Consortium
In the once squat-rich and now quickly transforming stretch of the
eastern Docklands, the converted warehouse space of Consortium puts
on exhibitions dedicated to international up-and-comers, with a
seeming penchant for those from Italy.
Oostelijke Handelskade 29, Waterfront
Phone: +31 (0)20 421 2408
Bus 32.
Open 2-6pm Fri-Sun; closed Mon-Sat.
No Credit cards.
De Appel
An Amsterdam institution that showed its mettle early as one of
the first galleries in the country to embrace video art. It's maintained
a good sense of the bleeding edge by featuring the likes of Christine
Borland and Araki, and by allowing both international and rookie
guest curators freedom to follow their muse.
Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 10, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 625 5651
Tram 16, 24, 25.
Open noon-5pm Tue-Sun; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
De Veemvloer
This waterfront warehouse retains some squat persona, not only with
its evocative location but through its dedication to younger artists,
many culled from Amsterdam's Gerrit Rietveld arts academy.
Van Diemenstraat 410, Waterfront
Phone: +31 (0)20 638 6894
Bus 35
Open 1-6pm Wed-Sat; closed Mon, Tue, Sun.
No Credit cards.
De Zaaier
This imposing canalside building, which once hid a clandestine church,
is now a large open space dedicated to contemporary group exhibitions
of both local (Foundation Amsterdam Artists have a home here) and
international natures.
Keizersgracht 22, Grachtengordel: West
Phone: +31 (0)20 420 3154
Tram 1, 2, 5, 13, 17, 20.
Open 10.30am-6pm daily.
No Credit cards.
Donkersloot
Galerie
Hyping itself as a 'night gallery', Donkersloot is often home to
After Nature artists such as Jurriaan Van Hall and Peter Klashorst,
VJ-ing artists such as REL and Ottograph, and - perhaps misguidedly
- Rolling Stone art. Its openings are a 'who's who' of the city's
more potentially decadent artists.
PC Hooftstraat 127, Museum Quarter
Phone: +31 (0)20 572 2722
Tram 2, 3, 5, 12, 20.
Open 10am-9pm Mon-Sat; 9am-9pm Sun.
Credit cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Espace
Founded in 1960 by the city's premier arts maven Eva Bendien, Espace
has a near-legendary reputation. Most stories derive from a past
when Lucebert, Alechinsky, Dubuffet and de Kooning represented the
cutting edge. Still, some of the more recent exhibitions have been
known to surprise.
Keizersgracht 548, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 624 0802
Tram 1, 2, 5, 20.
Open 1-5pm Wed-Sat; 2-5pm 1st Sun of mth; closed Mon, Tue.
No Credit cards.
Frozen Fountain
A mecca for lovers of contemporary furniture and design items. While
staying abreast with innovative young Dutch designers who show a
taste for bizarre materials and odd forms, the 'Froz' also exhibits
and sells stuff by the likes of Droog Design and Marc Newsom, 'modern
classics' and even photography.
Prinsengracht 629, Grachtengordel: West
Phone: +31 (0)20 622 9375
Tram 1, 2, 5, 20.
Open 1-6pm Mon; 10am-6pm Tue-Fri; 10am-5pm Sat; closed Sun.
No Credit cards.
Galerie Akinci
Part of a complex that includes Lumen Traven, Art Affair, Oele and
the Foundation for Indian Art, Akinci thrives on surprising with
diverse shows that might include the video art of Emmanuelle Antille
or the body hair art of Yael Davids.
Lijnbaansgracht 317, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 638 0480
Tram 16, 20, 24, 25.
Open 1-6pm Tue-Sat; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
Galerie Binnen
These industrial and interior design specialists have plenty of
room in which to show some of the more unusual Dutch and international
names. With ties to Germany's Vitra Design Museum and relationships
with the likes of Starck, Sottsass, Kukkapuro and Studio Atika,
exhibits can include anything from toilet brushes to full-blown
installations.
Keizersgracht 82, Grachtengordel: West
Phone: +31 (0)20 625 9603
Tram 1, 2, 5, 13, 17, 20.
Open noon-6pm Tue-Sat; closed Mon, Sun.
No Credit cards.
Galerie Fons
Welters
Fons Welters knows what he likes, and what he likes is to 'discover'
the latest new (and often local) talent. He shows remarkable taste
in both sculpture and installation, too, having provided a home
to Atelier van Lieshout, Rob Birza, Roy Villevoy and Matthew Monahan.
Even the entrance is a tour de force.
Bloemstraat 140, The Jordaan
Phone: +31 (0)20 423 3046
Tram 13, 14, 17, 20.
Open 1-6pm Tue-Sat; 2-5pm 1st Sun of mth; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
Galerie Paul
Andriesse
While perhaps no longer as innovative as in it was the past, one
can interpret a reborn sense of savvy through the early relationship
Galerie Paul Andriesse forged with the now much-lauded artist Fiona
Tan.
Prinsengracht 116, Grachtengordel: West
Phone: +31 (0)20 623 6237
Tram 13, 14, 17, 20.
Open 11am-6pm Tue-Fri; 2-6pm Sat; 2-5pm 1st Sun of mth; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
Galerie Van
Gelder
Taking on conceptual art in the broadest sense of the term, Van
Gelder is usually one step ahead in picking the latest up-and-comer
in the world of video, film and installation. Names include Sylvie
Fleury, David Powell and Wolfgang Timmins.
Planciusstraat 9A, off Haarlemmerplein, The Jordaan
Phone: +31 (0)20 627 7419
Tram 3.
Open 1-5.30pm Tue-Sat, 1st Sun of mth; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
Gallery Delaive
An acclaimed, upmarket joint renowned for its over-reliance on 'names'.
But hell, it's a top one-stop-shop if you're out for a collection
of all your favourite CoBrA and Surrealist painters and sculptors,
and you can even grab a Picasso or a Warhol to boot.
Spiegelgracht 23, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 625 9087
Tram 6, 7, 10.
Open 11am-5.30pm Tue-Sat; noon-5pm Sun; also by appointment.
Credit cards: AmEx.
Gate Foundation
This 'intercultural contemporary art multicultural society' was
founded in 1988 to focus on - you guessed it - the role of (multi)cultural
identities in (mostly non-Western) contemporary arts. It has initiated
many projects and websites that promote the exchange of ideas between
artists from around the world: check out its monumental site for
the scoop.
Keizersgracht 613, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 620 8057
Tram 1, 2, 5.
Open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri.
No Credit cards.
GO Gallery
Curator Oscar van den Voorn has shown bottomless energy in popularising
the local arts scene without becoming unfunny-trendy. Expect the
likes of a show themed around Mother's Day, the stained glass of
Jan Brokkelkamp, or the work of such local bad boys as Ottograph
and Paul Smit.
Prinsengracht 64, Grachtengordel: West
Phone: +31 (0)20 422 9580
Tram 13, 14, 17, 20.
Open noon-6pm Wed-Sat; 1-5pm 1st Sun of mth.
Credit cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V. No Credit cards.
Huis Marseilles
Located in a monumental 17th-century house, this foundation for
photography, which opened in 1999, has the space in which to curate
insightful exhibitions, such as a Wim and Donata Wenders show themed
around the Buena Vista Social Club.
Keizersgracht 401, Grachtengordel: West
Phone: +31 (0)20 531 8989
Tram 1, 2, 5.
Open 11am-5pm Tue-Sun; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
Melkweg
The Melkweg gallery reflects the broad interests of director Suzanne
Dechart, with her quality exhibitions culled from the world of contemporary
photography. Expect anything from meditative studies of twins to
portraits of your favourite punk rockers.
Lijnbaansgracht 234A, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 624 1777
Tram 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 20.
Open 2-8pm Wed-Sun; closed Mon, Tue.
No Credit cards.
Montevideo/TBA
Montevideo subtitles itself as the 'Netherlands Institute for the
Media Arts', and dedicates itself to works that apply the latest
technologies to visual arts alongside photography and installations.
Admire cutting-edge tech in an old world-vibed canalside location,
or do some old-fashioned book learning in the reference room.
Keizersgracht 264, Grachtengordel: West
Phone: +31 (0)20 623 7101
Tram 13, 14, 17, 20.
Open 1-6pm Tue-Sat; closed Mon, Sun.
No Credit cards.
Ra
Paul Derrez's acclaimed gallery for contemporary jewellery is a
healthy antidote to the conservative approach of the city's diamond
industry. Geared to a broad variety of tastes and with an equal
emphasis on both Dutch and international designers, this is the
place to put your finger on the pulse while, at the same time, decorating
it.
Vijzelstraat 80, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 626 5100
Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 20, 24, 25.
Open noon-6pm Tue-Sat; closed Mon, Sun.
Credit cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Reflex Modern
Art Gallery
A New York flavour exudes from Reflex, which not only deals with
such international names as Christo and Chris Verene, but also local
lads like Dadara and photographer Paul Blanca. Check out the gallery
shop across the street (at No.83) where you can score graphics and
lithos by Appel and his ilk while picking up an inflatable Edvard
Munch Scream doll (open 11am-6pm Tue-Sun; closed Mon).
Weteringschans 79A, Grachtengordel: East
Phone: +31 (0)20 627 2832
Tram 6, 7, 10.
Open 11am-6pm Tue-Sat; closed Mon, Sun.
Credit cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Serieuze
Zaken
Rob Malasch had already established his name as a quirky theatre
type and journalist before opening this gallery. You might walk
in on a show featuring Brit Art, contemporary Chinese painters or
an odd theme, such as was the case with his 'Whiteass European Cowboy'
show that had European artists playing with the imagery of country
music.
Elandsstraat 90, The Jordaan
Phone: +31 (0)20 427 5770
Tram 7, 10, 17, 20.
Open noon-6pm Tue-Sat; 1-5pm 1st Sun of mth; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
Stedelijk
Museum Bureau Amsterdam
The Stedelijk's space for the work of younger and mostly Amsterdam-based
artists. The results are occasionally mixed, but with its group
shows, there is invariably at least one jaw-dropper. Ask if it still
has its fascinating map covering 'abandoned locations' in Amsterdam.
Rozenstraat 59, The Jordaan
Phone: +31 (0)20 422 0471
Tram 13, 14, 17, 20.
Open 11am-5pm Tue-Sun; closed Mon.
No Credit cards.
Steendrukkerij
Amsterdam
This gallery-cum-printshop specialises in the hands-on work of woodcuts
and lithography, and usually only gives thrills to the pre-initiated.
However, more interesting is when guest artists - such as Koen Vermeule
and Claes Oldenburg - are asked to collaborate with the more technique-bound
printers.
Lauriergracht 80, The Jordaan
Phone: +31 (0)20 624 1491
Tram 13, 14, 17, 20.
Open 1-5.30pm Wed-Sat; 2-5pm 1st Sun of mth; closed Mon, Tue &
July, Aug.
No Credit cards.
Stichting
Oude Kerk
The 'Old Church' is now the home of World Press Photo. Its other
shows have ranged from Aboriginal art to artists installing work
inspired by the thousands of graves that lie under its stone floor
(in one of which lies Saskia Rembrandt).
Oudekerksplein, Old Centre: Red Light District
Phone: +31 (0)20 625 8284
Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 20, 24, 25.
Open 11am-5pm Mon-Sat; 1-5pm Sun.
No Credit cards
Torch
If you like your art edgy, you'll love Torch, which has shown the
likes of Richard Kern, Annie Sprinkle, Cindy Sherman, Jake and Dinos
Chapman and Anton Corbijn.
Lauriergracht 94, The Jordaan
Phone: +31 (0)20 626 0284
Tram 7, 10, 20.
Open 2-6pm Thur-Sat; also by appointment; closed Mon-Wed, Sun.
Credit cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
W139
In its nearly two decades of existence, W139 has never lost its
squat edge. This remarkable space has room to deal with installations,
and though the work is occasionally too conceptual for some tastes,
a visit is always worthwhile, especially during one of its chaotic
openings.
Warmoesstraat 139, Old Centre: Red Light District
Phone: +31 (0)20 622 9434
Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 20, 24, 25.
Open 1-7pm Wed-Sun; closed Mon, Tue.
No Credit cards.
