DISTELTUIG!
How do we value free space initiatives in a rapidly changing city?
Project
In an area once defined by shipyards and aircraft factories, glass high-rises now rise quickly to house the city’s new economy. Yet hidden behind the trees, De Vliegtuin continues a different kind of production.
Within its walls, wood is shaped, metal forged, materials collected and reused. What may look chaotic at first glance reveals itself, upon closer inspection, as dense with knowledge, skill, and intention.
DISTELTUIG! was created to make that invisible craftsmanship visible.
Together with photographer Anne van der Werf and Gallery PEXPO, the exhibition celebrated seven years of De Vliegtuin while raising a broader question:
What place do free spaces still hold in a rapidly densifying Amsterdam?
Are they cultural infrastructure — or temporary anomalies waiting to disappear?
Role
Initiator / Creative Director / Project Lead
Mission
Elevate De Vliegtuin’s cultural relevance within Amsterdam’s urban transformation.
Create a public-facing exhibition built through collective authorship.
Question the future of free space initiatives in a rapidly densifying city.
Execution
Initiated the project and secured collaboration with photographer Anne van der Werf and Gallery PEXPO.
Coordinated contributions from 40+ collective members across studios and disciplines.
Orchestrated multi-artist collaborations into cohesive exhibition works.
Designed the spatial layout of the exhibition.
Recruited and guided members to host discipline-specific public workshops.
Directed marketing strategy (poster campaign + social media rollout).
Managed project budget and full production timeline.
Impact
Engaged 300+ visitors across exhibition and workshops.
Established direct contact between De Vliegtuin and local government representatives.
Increased visibility of De Vliegtuin within Amsterdam’s cultural network.
Strengthened internal cohesion across 40+ members through collective authorship.