About us

Together we aim at ensuring that an affordable place for creativity and experimentation can continue to develop in the center of Amsterdam for an indefinite period. We do this by making spaces available for exhibitions and socio-cultural activities while remaining autonomous and non-profit. The gallery however provides opportunities for the creatives to have a right to exist and sell their work to support themselves. Due to commercialization of the (inner) city and ever increasing spatial pressure, Amsterdam is in danger of becoming a city where you can consume art, but no longer able to make it or experiment with it freely. The members of Vrij Paleis consist of artists, makers, and entrepreneurs, who use its studios, workshops, and darkroom to make whatever they please. Disciplines represented in Vrij Paleis include: visual arts, wood/metalworking, ceramics, goldsmithing, filmmaking/photography, VR, design, music production, fashion and more. Together the representatives shape the cultural program in the public areas of the building.

Members

The members of vrijpaleis. 

Gert Jan

Gert-Jan
Lems

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Jagoda Dmochowska

Visual artist / ceramist

Masha

masha Soetekouw

Artist

Tijmen

Tijmen Ijsendijk

Jewellery and furniture maker

Ilke

Ilke van Deventer

Art & design

Jaime

Jaime
Adán

Painter

Chinny

Chinny
Bond

Visual artist

Daniel

Daniel
rakish

artist

Edwin

Edwin
Suer

Jurist Edwin's Law

Rogier

Rogier
Marius

Wood & Design

Wouter

Wouter
Smit

PK8studio

Annelies

Annelies
Nuy

Repair artist

Tijmen

Wouter
Ruoff

Artist

saar

Saar
Rombout

.Circus artist, acrobatic rigger, artistic researcher, teacher.

Francis

Francis ten Hove

Artist

thor

Thor Kristjansson

Photographer

VP

Giulia Principe

Multimedia artist and material researcher

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Janset
Özgür

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Samuel de zeeuw

Photographer

JasonT

Jason
Turner

Photographer and Videographer

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Paul
de kuyper

Gigstarter

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History

The Algemeen Handelsblad complex, in which Vrij Paleis is situated, is a former newspaper building saved from demolition by a group of industrious squatters. The iconic building, designed by Eduard Kuypers, served as the editorial and printing office of the Algemeen Handelsblad for roughly three quarters of a century. The building fell into disrepair following the departure of the newspaper, an especially ironic waste given the severe lack of affordable housing available in Amsterdam at that time (and our time). The squatting of the building’s vacant maze of offices and editorial rooms brought it to life, creating space for artistic, social, and cultural initiatives. The former newspaper printing press hall was transformed into the ‘Aorta’ gallery by Peter Giele, infamous artist and resident of the building, along with other participant characters. Aorta was a sanctuary that provided space for countless (emerging) artists and performers throughout the 1980s. In combination with the flourishing art space, small businesses such as the Bierkoning, and greengrocer “Sprouts”, opened in the plinths of the building, leading to an influx of life that boosted the formerly backsliding neighborhood. After Aorta’s departure and the necessary renovation of the complex, a new era began with the opening of a craft design focused space brought about by the KIS Foundation. For years you could find special objects and creations available for enjoyment or purchase, along with studios spread over two floors, and an underground workshop host to everything you might need to make anything. Vereniging Vrij Paleis has taken over from KIS gallery since 2018, with a new group of creatives uniting and taking charge of the space while maintaining the gallery’s long history of kraak informed bootstrapping creation.