The Stedelijk celebrates
Free day out in honor of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary
Events — Nov 16, 2024
To celebrate Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary, the Stedelijk is presenting the city with a unique gift: the Don Quixote Sculpture Hall in the museum’s entrance area, which is always open to everyone. On 16 November, we’re celebrating with a free open day in the museum and a dazzling program for young and old.
- Price
- Admission to the entire museum is free from 10 am to 6 pm
- Location
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Museumplein 10
- Time
- Nov 16, 10 am until 6 pm
- Admission
- Walk-in (no reservations required)
At 12 pm, the Sculpture Hall will be officially unveiled by Deputy Mayor Touria Meliani. And maybe by you as well, because anyone who gets a golden ticket when they arrive, joins in with the unveiling. After that, there’s a spectacular performance by none other than rapper Sef. There’ll also be fun workshops and guided tours in the Sculpture Hall and around the building throughout the day. And don’t forget to drop in at our library, we’re having a book sale. And of course, there’ll be free lemonade!
Will you celebrate with us?
OUR BELOVED SCULPTURE GARDEN IS BACK
Until the turn of the century, the Stedelijk’s outdoor sculpture garden was a popular and much-visited spot in Amsterdam. The garden’s original location is now the entrance area in the new wing. Thanks to the generous support of the Don Quixote Foundation, we’ve transformed the foyer into the new Sculpture Hall. It showcases art by famous names such as Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, and Damien Hirst, as well as exciting new acquisitions. The Sculpture Hall is free to enjoy during the day (you don’t need an entrance ticket) and at night it will be fully illuminated and visible behind the glass façade on Museumplein. The new Sculpture Hall is the Stedelijk’s unique gift to the city in honor of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary.
INSPIRING MEETING PLACE
The entire entrance area has also been fully refurbished to offer an enriched visitor experience, featuring a spacious seating area, a long multi-purpose reading table, the relocated museum shop and the new Fonda Bar curated by Amsterdam food design studio Oficina. The Stedelijk commissioned renowned designer Sabine Marcelis to create the Stedelijk Chair, a timeless handmade design in aluminum that visitors can enjoy throughout the redesigned foyer.
AUDIOTOUR
There’s a free audio tour available in the Sculpture Hall (NL and EN). Real Amsterdammer and director Jan Hulst meets museum director Rein Wolfs, artists and fellow Amsterdammers, engaging in conversations about the sculptures. Featuring Touria Meliani, Naaz, Jim Deddes (Harco), Anne Imhof, Damien Hirst, Paulina Olowska, Sef, and the grandson of Alexander Calder. Scan the QR code and listen on your phone.
Program
- 12 pm
- Festive unveiling & performance by Sef
- 11 am — 5 pm
- Workshop: Make your own mobile
Workshop: Sketching sculptures - 12.30 pm — 5 pm
- Speedtours by Blikopeners
- 11.00 am — 4.00 pm
- Outside tour
- 15 — 16 nov
- Book market
Public Unveiling
12 pm, Entrance Hall (NL)
The Don Quixote Sculpture Hall will be festively unveiled to the public by Touria Meliani, Deputy Mayor and alderperson of Art and Culture for the City of Amsterdam. Don’t miss it, because immediately after there’s a stunning performance by Sef!
Make your own mobile
11 am — 5 pm, Entrance Hall (NL/EN)
Walk-in workshop, no registration required – join in if there’s room
Remember one of these hanging over your crib? A gently moving mobile you could stare at forever. Take a seat at the big table under Alexander Calder’s famous mobile and make your own design. Choose the elements you like, and cut, color, mix and match! Then hang them from the ends and let them catch the light.
Sculpture sketching
11 am — 5 pm, starts every hour and half hour, takes 40 minutes (NL)
Register at the information desk in the Entrance Hall, starts in ABN AMRO Gallery
It's hard to pay attention in a busy museum, but drawing what you see is a great way to learn how to look closely. Join us for a drawing workshop where anything goes – except erasers.
Blikopeners Speedtours through the new sculpture hall
12.30 pm — 5 pm, start every half hour, 20 minutes (NL/EN)
Register at the info desk in the Entrance Hall, starts in the ABN AMRO Gallery
Blikopeners are young people working at the Stedelijk who have their own take on art. Their tours are always fun and original and on 16 November, they’ll give you a tour of their favorite sculptures in the Sculpture Hall.
Outside tour
11.00 am — 16.00 pm, starts every hour, 30 minutes (NL)
Register at the info desk in the entrance hall, starts in the entrance hall next to the exit
Do you often bike or walk past Museumplein in a hurry? This is your chance to slow down and take a look at the sculptures inside and outside the museum and ask our tour guides about them.
Book market
15 November 2 pm -—5 pm and 16 November 10 am — 5 pm
Library; PIN payments only. Bring your own bag!
The library’s having a sale! Explore our collection of art books, catalogs, and magazines. Find amazing deals on new and used Dutch and international publications about contemporary art, design, and photography. Don’t miss this chance to discover your next book obsession!
Design Entrance Hall
Architect Paul Cournet (CLOUD) redesigned the new entrance area: “For the Stedelijk’s new entrance hall, the refurbishment had to be timeless and radical. We wanted to create a space that is both a sculpture hall and a public space in the City of Amsterdam.”
Design Seating
Sabine Marcelis designed the Stedelijk Chair for the refurbished entrance area: “The Stedelijk is known for its renowned design collection. With the Stedelijk Chair, I aimed to create a timeless design, as if sculpted from a single sheet of aluminum, complementing the museum’s redesigned entrance.” With its flowing silhouette, the chair fits seamlessly into the Stedelijk’s redesigned interior. The chair is stackable, lightweight, and made of a 100% aluminum body.
FOOD AND DRINK
The stylish new Fonda Bar enhances the contemporary, casual vibe of the new entrance area. A range of options including great coffee, a selection of Japanese teas and various fruit juices, guarantees there’s something for everyone. And, of course, there are fresh pastries every day. The new Fonda Café (on the second floor) offers a delicious selection of homemade lunch dishes made from seasonal produce.
EUROPEAN ART MUSEUM AWARD
The Stedelijk recently received the European ART Museum Award for a series of initiatives that focus on making the museum accessible to diverse audiences and providing a platform for diversity, inclusivity, and social engagement. By making the Don Quixote Sculpture Hall free to all, the museum can make more of its famous collection accessible to everyone.