Open minds, open city.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Amsterdam, Netherlands — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: August 10, 2026
Maria Ressa · Amsterdam Public Library (OBA) · August 11, 2026
Nobel laureate Maria Ressa tackles the challenges that deepfakes, disinformation, and platform dynamics pose to independent journalism and democratic debate. She offers practical s…
Naomi Klein · De Balie · August 12, 2026
Naomi Klein examines the political movements reshaping climate policy and the strategies needed to mobilize publics at scale. The lecture will connect grassroots activism with econ…
Yuval Noah Harari · Paradiso · August 12, 2026
Historian and bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari explores the future of human societies under climate stress and technological change. Harari will take audience questions after t…
Naomi Klein · De Balie · August 12, 2026
Naomi Klein discusses strategies for climate activism and the political economy of the energy transition. She will take audience questions about movements, policy, and the role of …
Naomi Klein · De Balie · August 12, 2026
Author and activist Naomi Klein discusses the intersections of climate emergency, capitalism, and social movements. She will outline strategies for systemic change and engage in co…
Arnon Grunberg · Amsterdam Public Library (OBA) · August 12, 2026
Novelist Arnon Grunberg reads from his latest work and talks about realism, satire, and moral responsibility in contemporary Dutch fiction. The session includes audience questions …
Saskia Sassen · Spui25 (University of Amsterdam) · August 12, 2026
Saskia Sassen discusses how global cities shape migration patterns and the distribution of political power in the 21st century. The talk will be followed by a short Q&A with the au…
Naomi Klein · De Balie · August 12, 2026
Author and activist Naomi Klein presents her latest thinking on climate justice, corporate power, and grassroots movements. The evening will include a panel discussion with Dutch e…
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie · Amsterdam Public Library (OBA) · August 12, 2026
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reads from her latest essays and answers questions about narrative, migration, and feminism. The event is hosted by OBA in partnership with local literary …
Cristina De Middel · FOAM Photography Museum · August 12, 2026
Cristina De Middel discusses how the photographic essay can function as a persuasive and poetic form. Using recent series, she will address staging, authorship, and ethical questio…
Naomi Klein · De Balie · August 12, 2026
Naomi Klein presents her latest thinking on climate justice, corporate power, and the politics of the energy transition. The evening includes a moderated Q&A and audience discussio…
Alec Soth · FOAM Photography Museum · August 12, 2026
Alec Soth explores narrative strategies in contemporary portrait photography and the ethics of representation. He will present recent series and discuss his working methods with a …
Mary Beard · Rijksmuseum · August 12, 2026
Classicist Mary Beard explores how classical antiquity has been read and reinterpreted in modern European art and museums. She will draw connections between ancient narratives and …
Saskia Sassen · De Balie · August 12, 2026
Saskia Sassen leads a panel debate on the future of global cities, focusing on migration, inequality, and urban governance. International scholars and Dutch city planners join to r…
Alec Soth · FOAM Photography Museum · August 12, 2026
Photographer Alec Soth discusses his recent projects that investigate portraiture, landscape, and the ethics of seeing. The lecture will include a visual presentation and a convers…
Paul Mason · De Balie · August 12, 2026
Journalist and author Paul Mason examines how automation, platform economies, and new forms of collective action are reshaping labour politics. He will outline possible policy resp…
Joris Luyendijk · De Balie · August 12, 2026
Journalist and author Joris Luyendijk reflects on his reporting from the Middle East and on European media coverage of migration and finance. The session includes a critical debate…
Alain de Botton · Stedelijk Museum · August 14, 2026
Alain de Botton examines how contemporary art can inform personal well-being and public conversation. The talk includes examples from the Stedelijk collection and practical reflect…
Michael J. Sandel · De Balie · August 14, 2026
Michael Sandel leads a public debate examining the moral limits of markets and the implications for social policy across Europe. The evening features live audience participation an…
Rutger Bregman · Amsterdam Public Library (OBA) · August 14, 2026
Dutch historian and author Rutger Bregman reads from his latest book and discusses contemporary ideas about welfare, work and democracy. The event includes a moderated conversation…