If subculture is more your thing, look no further than OT301. Formerly home to the Dutch Film Academy, the huge school building was squatted in 1999 – putting an end to plans for it to demolished to make way for a cycle path into the Vondelpark. The squatters saved the building and were rewarded with it becoming a legitimate incubator – and now officially own the building. It has two large performance/rehearsal spaces, a small cinema (courteousy of its previous occupants), a gallery space and organic vegetarian café-restaurant De Peper. Its busy schedule of events includes improvised music, cutting-edge dance, political debates, film screenings, workshops and parties – with many performers coming from overseas. It also welcomes proposals for activities and the spaces are also available for rent. One caveat however: keep the noise down when entering or leaving the building (especially at night). Some of its fat cat neighbours would have preferred the extra access into the Vondelpark...
PAKHUIS DE ZWIJGER | Piet Heinkade 179-181 | (020) 788 4440 | www.dezwijger.nl
A 'warehouse for media and culture', De Zwijger, officially opened at the end of September 2006 in the Eastern Docklands area. Its location is within a renovated concrete warehouse dating from 1934 which was originally used as a freezer for the goods that the ships would bring up to the former working docks. An exponent of the sober expressionistic architectural style, it was often cited as a prime example of modern architecture from that era. Its most striking feature these days, however, is the tunnel which was burrowed through its distinctive 'mushroom' supports below – so that cars could pass underneath the building and onto the lizard-like bridge (Jan Schaeferbrug), to the Java-eiland. Like many of the warehouses along this stretch of water, it was squatted for years and used as rehearsal studios for musicians, including Herman Brood and Lois Lane. These days, it's home to radio and television studios and offices of the Cultuurfabriek, Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst, Salto Omroep Amsterdam and the Waag Society. English Breakfast Radio broadcast from here. There's also a café/restaurant and a variety of halls where a diverse programme of multidisciplinary events such as concerts, exhibitions, debates, club nights and festivals are held.
RAI | Europaplein 22 | (020) 549 1212 | www.rai.nl
Although primarily a venue for conferences and trade events, a number of large-scale shows - and concerts – take place here throughout the year.