Women of Amsterdam – an ode

The exhibition Women of Amsterdam – An Ode pays tribute to inspiring women who have helped shape the city. Visitors are introduced to women from various eras and backgrounds – from artists and entrepreneurs to activists and key figures from working-class neighborhoods. Their stories shed new light on the rich, yet often overlooked, contributions of women to the development of Amsterdam.

The exhibition design, created by Studio L A, aligns closely with this theme. Each space is an ode to the work of an influential female architect or designer who has left her mark on the city. The spatial interventions are thematically connected to the content of each room and serve a dual purpose: they act as powerful visual and connective elements within the space, support the works on display, and add an extra layer of meaning to the whole.

For instance, the design of one gallery refers to the transformation of the Vossius Gymnasium by architect Marlies Rohmer, while another room is inspired by the Homomonument designed by Karin Daan. Elsewhere in the exhibition, the Speelvijver (play pond) on Gibraltarstraat by urban planner Jakoba Mulder comes to life, alongside a gallery referencing Afaina de Jong’s exhibition design for the Van Gogh Museum. The work of landscape architect Mien Ruys, with her characteristic sunken garden, and the Silodam by Nathalie de Vries (MVRDV), also serve as starting points for spatial translations that enrich the exhibition.

This results in a layered and meaningful experience in which female creators are not only highlighted through storytelling, but are also tangibly present in the spatial experience of the exhibition itself.