Art Beyond Passive Observation

A city is not defined merely by its physical walls, but by the daily rituals and shared experiences of the people who inhabit it. For the two weeks of Queertropolis 2026 (July 24th – August 9th), we are pushing artistic practice beyond individual creation, transforming art into an active, hands-on tool for community building, emotional care, and mutual learning.

We invite you to step into the Pavilion and outdoor grounds of Treehouse NDSM to participate, create, and share. Every workshop is designed to be accessible, welcoming, and open to all skill levels.

"Don't just look at art: come live it, shape it, and make it together with us."

The Official Schedule of Workshops & Activities

Here is the complete lineup of events happening throughout Queertropolis:

• 24.07 (from 6pm) — Vernissage: Official opening night featuring live performance and collective community activities. From 18:00 onwards | Exhibition Open, Interactive Rituals & Live Performance - FREE ENTRANCE and FREE ACTIVITIES!

  🗺️ The Living Map Launch: Cross the threshold and make your mark. Visitors are invited to actively draw the ideal borders of our community on a monumental, ever-evolving cartographic installation.

  🪪 The Bureau of Identity & ID Cards: Claim your official Queertropolis ID Card—a symbolic passport celebrating the plurality of our existences and marking your official citizenship.

  🗳️ The First Mayor Nomination: Every visionary city needs an ethical guide. Cast your voice tonight in nominating and electing our town mayor.

  ✨ Special Opening Workshop (18:00 - 21:00): Pride Marbling on Silk – Collaborative Water & Colour Workshop by Seçil. Dive into a shared tray of water, color, and fluid textile composition.

  🛁 The Live Performance — RAVAGE: "Bathtub & Bath Ducks" (Starts during the evening): Conceptual artist Raffaella Allegra activates her seductive yet unsettling visual installation on overconsumption through a raw, theatrical contemporary dance performance. Choreographed by Sophie Gisbertz and danced by Thea Atladóttir, movement becomes a physical extension of domestic privacy and consumer excess dragged into the public light.

• 25.07 (3pm – 9pm) — Goblin Market: Organized by Babet Klaassen (Haus of Trout), explore a vibrant wonderland of queer creativity featuring around 30 independent queer stands, crafts, and unique creations. Food and drinks available at the bar all day.

• 26.07 (3pm – 5pm) — Poetic of Form Workshop: By Cristina Iordache (agga concept).An intimate, hands-on workshop focused on exploring texture, form, and personal storytelling through metalwork. Learn to manipulate rigid materials into wearable, organic art.

• 28.07 (6pm – 9pm) — Blackout Poetry Dinner: Hosted by Elisa Brunelli in collaboration with Vegan Bear Chef. A unique, multi-sensory 3-course culinary experience. Recipes and personal histories connected to each dish are physically transformed into raw poetry using the blackout technique.

• 29.07 (7pm – 9pm) — Monster Zine Workshop: By Cat Moran (Meat_daughter). Deconstruct normal boundaries and embrace the queer macabre. Learn to piece together short stories, visual fragments, and collages into your own independent zine.

• 30.07 (6:30pm – 9pm) — Disco Dreams Workshop: By Bruna Souza. Bring your sparkling visions to life in a hands-on crafting session filled with nostalgia, community, and shimmering textures.

• 31.07 (8:30pm – 10:30pm) — Embrace Your Inner Monster - Makeup Workshop: By Maria Escarpenter.

  An experimental, collaborative space to play with fluid identities and transform your look.

• 31.07 (10pm – 3am) — Night at Our Place: An ultimate Pride pilgrimage that turns a regular night out into a collective ritual of transformation and queer joy. Come early, change your skin, and stay for the night:

  💄 Step 1 — The Transformation (20:30 - 22:30): Embrace Your Inner Monster – Eyes Drag Makeup Workshop by María Escarpenter. An experimental, collaborative space to play with fluid identities and transform your look.

  ⚡ Step 2 — The Mark (During the evening): Treehouse’s resident tattoo artists Wouter Space, Charlotte Aper, and Tom Veldkamp exceptionally open their studio doors, offering exclusive, custom queer flash tattoos.

  🎸 Step 3 — The Celebration (22:00 – 03:00): For the third edition of the Night At Our Place, we're turning up the color and celebrating PRIDE with a very special lineup. Rave Radar has curated an exciting selection of DJs and electronic live acts from their LGBTQ+ community, joined by incredible performers from Treehouse NDSM and a very special guest from Germany! The DJs' set, will merge with an acoustic-electronic hybrid set by Guido and Kalle, merging intimate indie storytelling with atmospheric synths. This paves the way for an explosive, boundary-pushing Drag Show by Germany's own Samt und Seuche (Velvet and Plague), featuring an inclusive lineup of Drag Quing, Drag Thing, and Drag King/Queen acts, followed by continuous music to dance through the dark [Instagram: @samtundseuche].

• 02.08 (3pm – 5pm) — Create Your Own Talisman Workshop: Wearable Art Workshop by Rika Maja Duevel. Draw inspiration from history and your personal journey to craft your own protective talisman or custom pin, mixing acrylic and mixed-media design.

• 04.08 (7pm – 9pm) — Pride Patch Workshop: By Babet Klaassen (Haus of Trout). A tactile textile session centered on identity and eccentric self-expression. Learn to stitch and customize your own symbolic Pride patches from upcycled fabrics.

• 05.08 (7pm – 9:30pm) — Polystories: Neurodivergent Love Storytelling: Storytelling & Discussion by Suzanne Allegonda. An open, safe space and panel exploring the beautiful, complex intersections of neurodivergence, non-monogamy, and diverse relational structures.

• 06.08 (7pm – 9pm) — Liquid Gold Workshop: By Bruna Souza. Master the art of mixology with a queer twist. Learn to balance flavors and colors to create your own signature utopian drinks.

• 07.08 (6pm – 10pm) — There Was a Time Before: Talk and Performances: Co-presented by MenAsWell and the There Was A Time Before Collective. An evening of deep reflection, historical tracing, and moving live performances.

Check on Treehouse NDSM website for more info and tickets!!

Radical Accessibility: Stadspas Integration

True community sanctuary means removing economic barriers to participation. Access to workshops and activities is guaranteed through inclusive registration models.

Queertropolis is officially integrated with the Stadspas program, allowing Amsterdam residents with low incomes to attend workshops and events free of charge or at deeply subsidized rates.

📌 Post-Pride Update / Note from the Curator:

At the conclusion of WorldPride 2026, this public program saw 128 direct participants join our 10 community workshops, creating lasting bonds, shared artwork, and powerful human stories. Thank you to every participant who helped turn these sessions into a vibrant space of care and mutual learning!