Amsterdam is a whimsical beast; celebrating its 750th birthday during 2025, the Dutch capital is defined by its iconic gabled houses, classical art, labyrinth of canals and tooting bicycles, as much as for its red light district and cannabis culture. But on my most recent visit, I witnessed it in a new light. Across the city, new museums, creative communities and cultural experiments are reshaping how Amsterdam sees itself and how the world sees Amsterdam.
My first night in the city coincided with the opening of the 14th edition of Amsterdam Light Festival (until 18.1.26). After a champagne reception on solid ground, a group of wobbly visitors boarded a small canal boat and glided by the showcase, which had the theme of ‘Legacy’. If you’ve never witnessed this, it is less Regent Street, more Luciafest Kayak Parade in Denmark. Not at all festive, the broad theme has been interpreted by 20 international artists who have created an immersive show which can be witnessed across bridges, on warehouse walls and along the canal paths.
As junior curator Christopher Grabski explained, light is merely the medium; the real question lies in what it reveals. One of the festival’s most compelling works, the interactive Rhapsōidia is an interactive installation that turns visitors’ own hopes and messages into a living tapestry of light and sound. Nearby, Raven Kwok’s Knotted, shown at the Wereldmuseum, used responsive digital “ropes” to visualise fleeting connections between strangers.
READ MORE FOR FUSED MAGAZINE HERE.
