In honour of its 750th anniversary, Amsterdam is getting a lasting gift. For all the city's residents and visitors. In Amsterdam's cultural village of Westergas, from October 2025 Amsterdam in Motion: a spectacular experience about the development of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam in Motion is an initiative of Duncan Stutterheim in cooperation with Amsterdam Museum, Cultuurdorp Westergas and Monks and numerous partners. Amsterdam in Motion is made possible in part by private donors, capital funds, the business community and Amsterdam institutions. From Amsterdammers for Amsterdam.
World's largest multimedia model
A three-dimensional model of Amsterdam on which a high-quality multimedia show projects the city's history, present and future visions is at the heart of Amsterdam in Motion. At 200 square metres, Amsterdam in Motion offers the largest multimedia maquette in the world. In a 15-minute time travel the story of Amsterdam is told, from the village in 1275 to the city of today and developments with an impact on the future. After all, society is facing major changes. The voice-over, soundscape and projections on the high walls transform the maquette into an immersive experience connecting past, present and future. After the show, visitors can move freely around the maquette and take a closer look.
After the show, visitors continue their visit to an exhibition where they explore today's city and delve into metropolitan themes in Amsterdam that are also recognisable (inter)nationally. Through interactive installations, they engage with topics such as living in the city, new fashion, smart innovations, migration stories and protest actions. By playing with the Amsterdam of today and tomorrow, visitors discover how a city develops and changes, and what role Amsterdammers or visitors to the city (can) play in it themselves. A special educational programme will be developed for schoolchildren and students.
Westergas cultural village
The new museum experience Amsterdam in Motion will be located in the Zuiveringshal Oost in Cultuurdorp Westergas in Amsterdam, which previously housed the NEP studio (of De Wereld Draait Door, among others). Amsterdam in Motion will soon be located next to Fabrique des Lumières, Theater De Krakeling, various catering establishments and opposite Het Ketelhuis.
Initiator and co-owner Duncan Stuttenheim: "The space stood empty for two years, waiting for a good use. Until I heard of the idea for a model of the city, a great wish of mayors Cohen, Van der Laan and Halsema. I am happy to get involved in making that a reality: a lasting gift to Amsterdam, for future generations of Amsterdammers."
Amsterdam Museum
The Amsterdam Museum, founded in 1926, is Amsterdam's city museum and tells the story of the city: about then, now and later. The museum manages over 100,000 objects in its art and heritage collection. The Amsterdam Museum creates exhibitions, publications and public programmes, always in cooperation with many partners. As a network museum, the museum programmes throughout the city: in its main location on Kalverstraat (the former Burgerweeshuis, which is closed until 2028 due to renovation), in its temporary location on Amstel 51 (H'ART Museum building, until the end of 2025), in Huis Willet-Holthuysen on Herengracht and at various partners in the city.
The Amsterdam Museum was asked by initiator Duncan Stutterheim to develop the concept and interpretation of Amsterdam in Motion. Together with various partners, the Amsterdam Museum will develop the script for the model show and create the interactive exhibition that follows the show. From the opening, the Amsterdam Museum will run Amsterdam in Motion.
Director of the Amsterdam Museum Judikje Kiers: "Towards the reopening of our renovated main location on Kalverstraat in 2028, we are constantly looking for new ways to tell the stories of the city. It is wonderful to be able to work with so many super specialists on Amsterdam in Motion, a total experience in which a broad audience is immersed in, and involved in, stories of Amsterdam in an immersive way. We will take this experience and the collaborations with the various partners into the development of the new Amsterdam Museum."
Partners
Amsterdam in Motion's model show will be designed and built by Monks, a digital marketing communications agency that combines content, data, media and technology to develop interactive experiences to inspire the world. CEO of Monks Victor Knaap: "Amsterdam in Motion will be the most spectacular model of a city the world has ever seen: A must-see for every Amsterdammer, a calling card for anyone visiting the city and the absolute crowning glory of Monks' work. Understanding Amsterdam's history and experiencing its future will only increase the connection with the city and its inhabitants."
Amsterdam in Motion is further made possible by Hartwig Foundation, Rabobank Amsterdam, Port of Amsterdam, ORAM, Amports and Phanta Vision, BPD Cultuurfonds, Fiction Factory, Dell, Scenexus, Capgemini, AMFI, XPEX, AMS Institute, NWO, Maeson, Epson, Municipality of Amsterdam, Innovation Districts, AmsterDOEN & civic initiatives, Amsterdam 750 Foundation, IJsfontein, Shosho, Total Design, Triply, University of Amsterdam, Arcam, NEMO and others.
