Amsterdam Alternative is a collective project, an association built on the strength, energy and dedication of its members. An organization like AA cannot exist without people who want to help, think along and/or provide financial support. That is why we call on everyone to support Amsterdam Alternative and our goals by becoming a member.
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Amsterdam Alternative just launched a new video department called Fragmenta.
Check out the Fragmenta page for more info about this project and how to join as a video maker.
The first two videos are now online. Episode one is an interview with David Bollier, episode two an interview with Katie Duck.
In 2024 Amsterdam Alternative published a very extensive webdocu about collective ownership. This multimedia project portrays people and organisations that use a collective ownership construction for housing, free spaces, agriculture, nature, energy, care and other things. It is an inspiration document as well as an archive and manual for everyone interested in collective ownership and the cooperative movement.
Check out the full webdocu here
Amsterdam Alternative publishes articles about free spaces, gentrification, politics, climate, music, art, housing and other urgent topics. We publish in our bi-monthly free newspaper as well as online.
See all articlesIn February and March 2026 a migrating spiritual space that builds on the legacy of Robodock is going to arise at the Stenen Hoofd in Amsterdam. Steelhenge offers room for diverse art forms and disciplines, and calls on all of us to reflect on the times we inhabit and the many crises and disruptions that shape them. Steelhenge is a place for ritual, celebration, learning and healing. A ground for unification, depth, connection, imagination, spirituality, technology, and the weaving together of
Tot een aantal weken geleden had ik nog nooit gehoord van de Embassy of the Free mind. Een bijzondere organisatie gevestigd in een statig pand aan de Keizersgracht in het centrum van Amsterdam. Het is moeilijk een verborgen geheim te noemen want ze bestaan inmiddels al ruim 7 jaar, maar voor mij voelde het toch een beetje als een nieuwe ontdekking. Ik ben al jaren geïnteresseerd in vrijplaatsen, vrije ruimte, vrijheid, vrijbuiters en mensen die op de een of andere manier vrij kunnen denken
The tip top 5 is a small selection of books and/or magazines. We will share these titles with you but you’ll have to do the judging of the books yourself. Tips and links to releases are always welcome. Chaotisch denken voor gevorderden Abel van Gijlswijk Je leest Abels hoofd tijdens zijn dwalingen door de nacht en krijgt daarmee een onversneden kijk in zijn universum dat voert langs zijn diepste angsten, inzichten, verlangens en andere zielenroerselen. Metafysica, c
Eating out in Amsterdam has become an expensive and largely inaccessible privilege, reserved for a selected few. The proliferation of restaurants catering primarily to tourists and wealthy clientele has significantly reduced the availability of fresh, seasonal, and sustainably grown food in the city. Much of what is served is made with mass-produced ingredients, which contributes to unnecessary food waste and undermines community efforts towards sustainable food consumption. However, beneath the
Amsterdam Alternative has initiated a wide variety of projects since 2015. Some were temporary but most are still running. Check some of the most current projects below or visit the projects page to see a full overview.
See all projectsFrom the 1st of February 2023 Amsterdam Alternative is running the cinema + bar on the second floor of the OT301. The spaces are being used for film & documentary screenings, discussion nights, comedy, music, dance performances, workshops, book launches, podcast recordings and more.
This modular web documentary is intended as an inspirational document, a guide and an archive. It is a compilation of stories about and quests for other ways in which we can shape society. We (and many others with us) are convinced that things really can be done differently and that a different view of ownership can play a major role in this.
In a media landscape dominated by shallow content, fear, distrust, anger, violence and toxic polarization, Fragmenta will offer an alternative. We don't simply focus on problems or on generic or popular topics but rather connect to individuals and their stories. We seek passion, hope, optimism and inspiration in order to help create a better, more fair, equal and healthy world for the many and not the few.
Amsterdam Alternative wants to buy permanent space for experiments and projects that do not fit the commercial world, as they aren’t profit driven. We want to create new free spaces where living, working, education and public functions are combined. Where art and culture are not necessarily the main focus, but social, political and social activities have a place too.
Thanks to all the talented photographers in the Amsterdam Alternative collective we always have great images in our newspaper and lots of nice photo reports online.
See all photographySky is a one hour real-time performance created and performed by Katie Duck (Amsterdam) and Sharon Smith (Devon), in collaboration with cellist Ben Roberts (Devon). The piece is performed with text, movement, music and a film that fills the room with silent, slow moving images of skies.
Performed on Sunday 30 November, Ventilator cinema.
Photography © Roman Zotter
The ADEV (Amsterdam Danst Ergens Voor) parade 2025 took place on a rainy 25th of October. Despite the rain it was a great day with lots of happy people. All dancing and peacefully protesting for the freedom of movement for everyone.
Photography © Hanna Rudner
The ADEV (Amsterdam Danst Ergens Voor) parade 2025 took place on a rainy 25th of October. Despite the rain it was a great day with lots of happy people. All dancing and peacefully protesting for the freedom of movement for everyone.
Photography © Roald Verkerke
Amsterdam Alternative started as a network of solidarity and free newspaper but we’ve alwys had the ambition to create inspiring videos as well. In 2024 we created and published about 50 hrs of video about collective ownership, in 2025 we started a new video department called Fragmenta.
See all videoCamera: Pablo van Wetten
Audio/music: Peter Rutten
Edit/animation: Ivo Schmetz
Met dank aan/Thanks to:
People: Ad Vlems, Diny
Funding: AFK, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie
Camera: Pablo van Wetten
Audio/music: Peter Rutten
Edit/animation: Ivo Schmetz
Met dank aan/Thanks to:
People: Melissa Koutouzis & Cody Hochstenbach
Funding: AFK, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie
Veertig jaar geleden, op 24 maart 1975, joeg de burgemeester van Amsterdam 800 man politie de Nieuwmarktbuurt in. Om gekraakte panden te ontruimen voor de aanleg van de metro, maar vooral om de laatste slag te leveren in een strijd van jaren. Aan de ene kant stond het gemeentebestuur die grootschalige plannen had voor de inrichting van de stad. Aan de andere kant verzamelde zich een steeds grotere schare actievoerders die het historische karakter van de stad wilden behouden en de verkrotte huizen renoveren. De actievoerders wisten menig plan tegen te houden of om te buigen. Maar op het punt van de metro hield de gemeente de poot stijf: die moest en zou er komen. En dus kwam het in maart en april 1975 tot hevige gevechten.
© Andere Tijden // Website
In the Amsterdam Alternative agenda you’ll find the public programming from our participating venues.
See the complete agendaDe Ceuvel is een duurzame broedplaats voor creatieve en sociale ondernemers op een voormalige scheepswerf aan het Van Hasseltkanaal in Amsterdam-Noord. In 2012 diende een groep architecten het winnende plan in voor een prijsvraag van de gemeente Amsterdam. Ze kregen het terrein voor 10 jaar te
Since 2013, Zone2Source has served as a dynamic testing ground for art and ecology, spanning its diverse pavilions, artist gardens, and the surrounding outdoor spaces of Amstelpark in Amsterdam South. Drawing inspiration from the park’s history as the site of the 1972 Floriade international ho
The Plein Theater in Amsterdam East is a vibrant hub for imagination and exchange. In the historic Amstel Brewery on Mauritskade, we create and present cross-genre performances. A theater where neighbors can both watch and make, while also serving as a frontrunner in contemporary dance & music,
Since September 2021, ICK Dans Amsterdam has moved into the iconic Westbeat building in Amsterdam Nieuw-west. In collaboration with artists from different disciplines, the dance company has established Space for Dance Art there, where performances, workshops and symposiums are organised fr
Mike’s Badhuistheater is the home of English-language theater in Amsterdam. The theater is a friendly welcoming location in Amsterdam Oost for music, dance, theater, parties and meetings. For nearly four decades, the Badhuistheater has brought together performers and audiences fro
Studio/K is een bioscoop, café en restaurant in Amsterdam Oost. Zo’n vijftig enthousiaste studenten steken dagelijks hun handen uit de mouwen om met z’n allen dit bedrijf te runnen. Studio/K is een non-profit culturele organisatie, opgericht in 2007 en is een initiatief van Sticht
The Ru Paré Community is a community center located in a former primary school building in Slotervaart. Dozens of organizations and initiatives make it their home. There is a stage for events with a monthly social-cultural agenda with music, theatre, workshops and discussion. Besides that it
Based in the Oud-West, the old Wilhelmina Gasthuis building is now home to atelierWG, a complex of artist studios, puntWG, an interdisciplinary exhibition space, and an artist in residence program called airWG. The AtelierWG Foundation was established in 1989, and houses 120 artist studios.
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Email:
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Book reviews: books(at)amsterdamalternative.nl
Collective Ownership: collectiefeigendom(at)amsterdamalterantive.nl
Fragmenta: fragmenta(at)amsterdamalternative.nl
Ventilator Cinema: ventilatorcinema(at)gmail.com
Vrij Beton: vrijbeton(at)amsterdamalternative.nl
Collectief Eigendom: collectiefeigendom(at)amsterdamalternative.nl
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1053SK Amsterdam
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If interested in an interview or presentation about Amsterdam Alternative, Vrij Beton, Collective Ownership or another AA project please contact info(at)amsterdamalternative.nl.