11 Jul – 30 Nov 2025
11 Jul – 30 Nov 2025
Amsterdam Museum on the AmstelRefresh Amsterdam #3 Imagine the future
In honor of Amsterdam's 750th anniversary, the Amsterdam Museum presents the third edition of Refresh Amsterdam: a large-scale art event that explores current themes in the city and society. In collaboration with various cultural partners, the museum brings together work by artists and the public, with the central question: what does the future look like?
The exhibition features works by fifteen contemporary artists and an impressive solo exhibition by Raquel van Haver. In addition, visitors can see wishes for the future that were submitted by the public and collected by the museum in all provinces of the Netherlands. Young people also had a say in the ‘Next Generation’ section, in which they share their vision of the future.
For the first time, not only artists but also the general public were given a platform to visualize their ideas and dreams. Together, these diverse perspectives form a rich and diverse picture of the future.
Refresh Amsterdam #3: Imagine the Future can be seen from July 11 to November 30, 2025, at the Amsterdam Museum on the Amstel. This edition is extra special: it is the last major exhibition at this location on the Amstel, where the museum has been located for many years.
Refresh Amsterdam #3 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
15 contemporary artists
The future is not a single path, but a landscape of possibilities. How could we shape it—as individuals, as a city, as a society? For Refresh Amsterdam #3: Imagine the Future, the Amsterdam Museum has commissioned 15 leading artists to create work on urgent themes that influence our collective future. From visual art and performances to photography, fictional archaeology, and speculative design.
The artists are Frank Ammerlaan, Sebastián Díaz Morales, Ivna Esajas, Koen Hauser, Raquel van Haver, Ischa Kempka, Minne Kersten, Natascha Libbert, Brigitte Louter, Fiona Lutjenhuis, Afagh Morrowatian & Roshanak Morrowatian, Buhlebezwe Siwani, Patricia Werneck Ribas, Don Yaw Kwaning & Maurits de Bruijn, and 4Siblings Collective. The guest curator for this part of the exhibition is Nina Folkersma.
They not only explore how art and creativity can help us imagine what is to come, but also call on us to actively shape the future. A work of art constructed from children's drawings of the future, an installation about the seeds and plants of tomorrow, or fictional archaeological finds. Each work focuses on how the past, present, and future are connected.
Patricia Werneck Ribas Schipper, may I cross over 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Sebastián Díaz Morales One Glass Eye Melting 2024 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Minne Kersten The Same Room 2023 still3 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Ischa Kempka He was right about nothing 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Koen Hauser Theatrum Mnemosynes 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Natascha Libbert Isla Bonita 2022 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Afagh Morrowatian Roshanak Morrowatian Protagonist 2025 photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Don Yaw Kwaning and Maurits de Bruijn in Refresh Amsterdam #3 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Fiona Lutjenhuis Buried Born and Buried 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Future Seeds for Amsterdam 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Afagh Morrowatian Roshanak Morrowatian Protagonist 2025 photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Frank Ammerlaan Bleachers 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
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Raquel van Haver Refresh Amsterdam #3 Amsterdam Museum Photo Bo Bolderink
Raquel van Haver: The Collateral Kin
Especially for this exhibition, visual artist Raquel van Haver created six new works for the Amsterdam Museum. These six large group portraits are presented separately as a solo exhibition with the title The Collateral Kin in the main hall of the exhibition Refresh Amsterdam #3: Imagine the Future. The works by Van Haver depict people who, according to the artist, should be remembered in the future because they contribute to the city of Amsterdam today.
Inspired by regent portraits from the 17th and 18th centuries, Van Haver depicts influential thinkers, creatives and activists from the city - from Gloria Wekker to Massih Hutak, Diana Ozon and Joost van Bellen. Each painting is framed with special veneer in which additional stories and symbolism are woven. The portraits are the heart of the exhibition and a powerful tribute to heroes of today. Next to painting the people on canvas, Van Haver also photographed them and archived everyone's story in cooperation with Stadsarchief Amsterdam.
'The 17th-century group portraits from the Amsterdam Museum's collection formed a source of inspiration. Paintings known to visitors as works in which the elite often came together and showed their deeds with grandest gestures. I bring these works into the present with The Collateral Kin.”
‘’I was inspired by 17th-century group portraits from the Amsterdam Museum collection. These paintings are known to visitors as works in which the elite often gathered and displayed their deeds with grand gestures. With The Collateral Kin, I bring these works into the present day.’’- Raquel van Haver
Raquel van Haver in the studio during production of the series The Collateral Kin, Photo: Bo Bolderink
Raquel van Haver in the studio during production of the series The Collateral Kin, Photo: Bo Bolderink
Raquel van Haver in the studio during production of the series The Collateral Kin, Photo: Bo Bolderink
Raquel van Haver, producing The Collateral Kin, Photo: Bo Bolderink
Raquel van Haver in the studio during production of the series The Collateral Kin, Photo: Bo Bolderink
Raquel van Haver 1989 The Collateral Kin 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Raquel van Haver 1989 The Collateral Kin 2025 Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
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Refresh Amsterdam #3 public-made works Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
The public as co-creator of Refresh Amsterdam
For the first time, the public is actively involved in Refresh Amsterdam. From April 1 to May 1, 2025, the Amsterdam Museum invited everyone in the Netherlands to make and share a wish for the future. From hundreds of submissions, a professional jury selected twenty special contributions. These can be seen in the exhibition and on the website. The creators of these twenty wishes also have a chance to win the audience award of €750. You can vote!
In addition, a team from the museum traveled around the country to ask people personally about their vision for the future. These conversations were recorded on video. A selection is included in the exhibition; all videos can be viewed on the website.
Thanks to a contribution from the VriendenLoterij lottery through the Bijzondere Culturele Projecten scheme, in honor of Amsterdam's 750th anniversary, the museum was able to make this third edition of Refresh Amsterdam even more extensive. Not only the city, but the whole of the Netherlands was involved in this special exhibition.
Refresh Amsterdam #3 public-made works Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Refresh Amsterdam #3 public-made works Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Refresh Amsterdam #3 public-made works Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Refresh Amsterdam #3 public-made works Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Refresh Amsterdam #3 public-made works Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
Refresh Amsterdam #3 public-made works Photo Amsterdam Museum Gert Jan van Rooij
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Amsterdam-Zuidoost Photo: Joni Reiche
Imagine the Future: Next Generation
How do Amsterdam children and adolescents envision the future? Under the name Imagine the Future: Next Generation, the Amsterdam Museum presents the future visions of the youngest generation of Amsterdammers. Dreaming, thinking and acting together. In projects with IMC Weekendschool, Mediacollege Amsterdam and Culturele INTROWEEK MBO, hundreds of children and adolescents share their own visions of the future of the city.
The results of the project Imagine the Future: Next Generation will be on display as part of the exhibition Refresh Amsterdam #3: Imagine the Future.
Family game (8+)
What will Amsterdam look like when you're old? And in a hundred years? And in a thousand years?
The exhibition includes a special family game (8+). With this card game you will go through the museum and make your own wish for the future in the form of a drawing. And, your wish becomes part of the exhibition!
- Pick up the family game for free at the audio tour desk. Afterwards, you may keep the game.
- For children up to and including 17, admission is free.
- The family game is only available in Dutch
Made possible by
The exhibition is made possible in part by the VriendenLoterij, het Cultuurfonds and Mondriaan Fund. The Amsterdam Museum is generously supported by its Main Benefactor the Municipality of Amsterdam and Main Partner for Education the ELJA Foundation.