The first ever Warmoes Biënnale opened last weekend, and if you’re looking for something a little different to do in Amsterdam this spring, it’s definitely worth seeing. Running until the 3rd of May, the biënnale transforms the Warmoesstraat and surrounding streets into a city-wide exhibition, with contemporary art popping up in the most unexpected places – think cafés, shops, churches and even snack bars. 

Instead of traditional gallery spaces, the artworks are woven in with the neighbourhood itself. The idea is to experience the area differently, beyond its reputation as one of the busiest and most tourist-heavy parts of the city. You might walk into a clothing store and stumble upon a sculpture, or find an installation while grabbing a coffee. The whole thing feels a bit like a treasure hunt though the city. 

The Warmoes Biennale is an initiative of Bonne Reijn and Justus Cohen Tervaert. Together they also founded the brand BONNE and the artistic platform De Schans. As cultural entrepreneurs working in the neighbourhood, they noticed that many residents and business owners feel the area’s image is shaped at their expense. The biennale responds to that by using public and commercial spaces as places for interaction and reflection, encouraging a collective effort to challenge the neighbourhood’s one-dimensional image and strengthen community ties.

If you are as curious as we are to see what is happening during the festival, the full program and participating artists can be found on the official Warmoes Biennale website.