Beurs van Berlage celebrates Amsterdam 750 with a free Open Day
Amsterdam, 12 August 2025 – In the festive year in which Amsterdam celebrates its 750th anniversary, the Beurs van Berlage invites everyone to take a look behind the monumental façade during a festive and inspiring Open Day on Saturday August 23rd 2025. This is a unique opportunity to experience the historic building as architect H.P. Berlage once intended it to be: a “palazzo pubblico” – a house of the people.
With a rich programme full of art, culture, music and craftsmanship, the Beurs is the vibrant heart of Amsterdam. Visitors of all ages are welcome to discover, experience and participate.
A day full of stories, connections and wonder
During the Open day, the Beurs van Berlage will be open to the public free of charge from 10 AM – 4 PM. The Grote zaal will be the stage for Amsterdam entrepreneurs and creative initiatives who will share their stories through stands, workshops and demonstrations. Think of well-known names such as Eberhardjes, Heinen Delfts Blauw and Henri Willig, but also hidden gems such as bookbinder Anna Cairoli and the cultural heritage project Berlage di Nusantara.
Visitors can also immerse themselves in the rich history of the building with guided tours of the Exchange, participate in the cheerful children’s drumming workshop Drumming in the Exchange, and enjoy frozen cocktails from Bistro Berlage to a second-hand clothing market for charity. FC Centrum will screen short films about the hidden gems of the city centre in the Stock Exchange Hall, allowing visitors to see Amsterdam with new eyes. ‘With this Open day, we are literally opening our doors to the city,’ says Managing Director Marcel Schonenberg. ‘We are not only celebrating the Beurs van Berlage’s past, but above all its connection with the people of today. We see this year of Amsterdam 750 as an invitation to everyone to look back and forward together.’
A literary tribute to Verwey
One of the highlights of the day is the literary programme Op woorden gebouw by Stichting Literaire Activiteiten Amsterdam. In the iconic Berlage zaal, three contemporary writers, Eelco Couvreur, Asmae Amaddaou and Iduna Paalman, will engage in dialogue with the poetry of Albert Verwey, which can be read on the walls of the building from 1903. In a special recital full of reflection, they will show how poetry still touches and connects people today.
Free admission tickets for this lecture can be reserved in advance via the SLAA website.
With this Open Day, the Beurs van Berlage shows what it stands for: hospitality, culture, connection and social engagement. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate, learn and enjoy in a building that has been beating in the heart of the city for over a hundred years.