Consistently Current: TrouwAmsterdam

• Wibautstraat 131 
• Amsterdam, Netherlands 
• trouwamsterdam.nl

Trouw is a daily newspaper in the Netherlands, founded in World War II by members of the Dutch Protestant resistance. The Nazis tried to prevent publication and imprisoned twenty of it’s couriers. Issuing an ultimatum to the editors of Trouw, the paper refused to give in and all of the captured couriers were executed. 

TrouwAmsterdam, is located at Wibautstraat, the former printing warehouse of Trouw. But that’s where their connection to the paper ends. Now the space is used as a restaurant and venue. I mention the history of Trouw because the place is almost metaphorically a newspaper–it is consistently current. It has a Berlin-esque vibe. Admittedly, I don’t know too much about that city, but I imagine this is where Amsterdam differs. The vibrant ‘glam’ club culture can be found here where every building is full of history.

Schedule of events for the night, probably one of the last printed pieces we’ll see from the Stedelijk in their old house style.

On Thursday I went to DUPLICATE IT!, the last night of the Stedelijk and TrouwAmsterdam collaboration. Nights like this seem dime a dozen in Amsterdam, especially at Trouw. To be honest, you almost take it for granted that there’ll be something cool on.

This evening–despite the bright club lights and house DJs–was deceivingly wholesome.

Run by the Blikopeners of the Stedelijk (young people with part-time jobs in the museum, ages 15-19) there were a energetic bunch of teens on stage introducing bands remixing and playing cover songs. Throughout other areas of the venue you could see people filming movies or getting involved with a large artwork, referencing the acknowledgment of Stedelijk of the “I could do that” attitude found often in visitors in museums. 

A large room was eerily filled with six xerox machines, each accompanied by a stack of Parra art for you to manipulate. And so subtly and casually Dutch, the place was filled with contemporary art by well known names such as Marc Bijl, Paul McCarthy and Mike Kelley.