Art and culture

In Zuidas, we are working closely with businesses and institutions to create an attractive cultural climate, in which art lovers, artists and creative entrepreneurs can feel at home. We also encourage artistic and creative initiatives by residents, employees and other users of the area.

There are already countless good reasons to come to Zuidas in search of art and culture. Various major organisations hold art collections that are of national and international interest. These include the publicly accessible collections held by the AkzoNobel Art Space, ABN AMRO and VU Art Science Gallery – three collaborating parties – and the BPD collection. The changing art collection at the new courthouse, which opened in 2021, is also worth a look.

In 2021, we announced a museum of modern art was to be established in the former courthouse building in Parnassusweg. Rather than developing its own collection, the museum intends to host the work of other artists. A selection of the art that they create will be gifted to the Netherlands’ National Collection. By doing this, the initiator of the museum, the Hartwig Art Foundation, aims to make a contribution to the collections of the future.

Art is not only to be found within buildings, but also in the wider public realm. Permanent artworks, such as ‘Love and Generosity’ in the square in front of the new courthouse, the light artwork ‘White Noise’ in the Cellnex media tower, ‘Virtual Fountains’ in the local park opposite the RAI and the range of artworks in Beatrixpark, make the area more attractive.

VU Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit) is a major contributor to culture in Zuidas. The VU Griffioen cinema and theatre has been based in the New University Building in De Boelelaan since 2021. The same also applies to VU Griffioen, which stages theatre programmes and offers creative courses.