AMSTERDAM HOSTS WORLD’S FIRST CITY-WIDE STREET ART WEEKEND
AND EVERYONE IS INVITED
COME JOIN On 13 & 14 SEPTEMBER
Street Art Museum Amsterdam (SAMA) is launching the world’s first open-to-all street art weekend on September 13th and 14th. Set to transform the city into a ‘living canvas’, the Urbanities United street art weekend is a two day city-wide immersive street culture takeover featuring some of the street art scene’s biggest names including London Police, Paul Watty and legendary Dutch street art pioneer and king of stencils, Hugo Kaagman - as well as up and coming artists and collectives.
All the activities can be found on the website - check it out!
https://urbanites-united.org/
Urbanites United is the street art platform where innovative subcultures and existing Amsterdam communities converge. It also offers interactive programs such as guided tours, live painting sessions, and meetings with artists and the galleries that represent them. Throughout the weekend, you can visit open studios and free events at cultural institutions and neighborhood initiatives.
The London Police, street artist:
“Street art and graffiti always have their influence on the city. In the last decade or so, bigger murals have started to dominate but it’s always possible to find artists collaborating in small ways with the streets too. Sometimes it’s the smaller, harder to find installations and works that are more exciting to find."
AND - THERE ARE MAPS TOO!
The artworks which are still to be found in their unique urban locations as chosen by the artists, have been recorded and collated on a special map of street art sites across seven districts in Amsterdam.
You can check out the maps here https://www.streetartmapamsterdam.nl/
Produced by Street Art Museum Amsterdam, these maps offer a chance to uncover and discover hidden artworks across the whole city, whilst collectively documenting Amsterdam’s extensive street art catalogue.
These maps invite adventure and encourage Amsterdammers and visitors alike to explore beyond their own neighborhoods or comfort zones. In keeping with SAMA's original mission, art isn't secluded in traditional museums or galleries but can be experienced outdoors, on the streets of Amsterdam.
While graffiti was once synonymous with vandalism, the initiative reframes perspectives of street art as a creative force for good, emphasising its role in regenerating neighbourhoods such as the New West (Nieuw-West), North (Noord) and South-East ( Zuid-Oost), as well as its cultural currency for fans both local and international. Opening up the world of street art to all citizens of Amsterdam (and beyond) Urbanites United will connect all neighbourhoods to demonstrate tangibly that street art is a positive creative force for the city.
“Touria Melani, Alderman for Arts & Culture at the Municipality of Amsterdam:
“In Amsterdam, street art is part of our cultural DNA - it honors our history, amplifies today’s voices, and strengthens the value of all art forms in the city.”
Anna Stolyarova, founder and director of Street Art Museum Amsterdam:
“Amsterdam is the street art capital of the world. It’s the first city in the world to map all of its street art, partly because street art in this city is bigger than many of us realise. With five street art museums, countless locations, and its own street art weekend coming, Amsterdam is reflecting the fact that street art is an important, living, breathing part of our culture and our heritage.”
Already world-renowned for its art museums, Amsterdam is now also at the forefront of the global street art scene, which has surged in interest in recent years. The city now has five leading museums dedicated to this field (SAMA, STRAAT, MOCO, Art of Banksy, and Banksy Museum Amsterdam) - all of which are involved in the Urbanites United Weekend.
Sandra Doevendans, Member of the Executive Board of Amsterdam Nieuw-West:
"Street Art Museum Amsterdam is rooted in Nieuw-West, but with Urbanites United, they are now bringing the power of street art to other parts of the city as well. During the open studio weekend, creators open their doors so that everyone can experience their world and see how together we shape Amsterdam’s creativity. The launch of the very first street art map is a special moment: it shows that our city is one big, living museum in which we collectively define the canvas."
Partners: SAMA, STRAAT, MOCO, Art of Banksy en Banksy Museum Amsterdam
What?
A freely accessible street art weekend on September 13th and 14th. This two-day, city-wide event brings together creative, innovative subcultures and communities from Amsterdam, the street art capital of the world. Everyone is welcome!
https://urbanites-united.org/
Where?
A route will take you through the entire city, showcasing live art, gallery events, and street art. Use the specially developed street art maps to see what art can be discovered in your neighborhood.
https://www.streetartmapamsterdam.nl/
Who?
Featuring big names from the street art scene such as London Police, Paul Watty, and the legendary stencil king Hugo Kaagman, as well as emerging artists and collectives.
Highlights:
The 2025 edition of Amsterdam's largest and longest-running street art & beer festival, Paint & Beer, in Het Groene Veld, featuring SNUB23, Sprite, Molar, Sad Nut, Ed209, Ashab, Pixie, Dr Ren, KIKO, Niek Vergeer, and more;
The QRU.amsterdam flea market;
A live painting session by versatile artist Paul Watty at the Hollandsche Manege;
FREE Street Art Tour through City Centre (starting at Nicholas Groenten on the DAM) and finishing in NDSM (Straat)
The musical bike tour, Wiel Klanken, which concludes at the festival.
A two-day program of street art films at Cinema De Vlugt .
