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 17, 2026
Alex Webb · FOAM Photography Museum · August 18, 2026
Veteran Magnum photographer Alex Webb presents a masterclass on colour, composition, and storytelling in street photography. Participants will see image critiques and discussions a…
Rutger Bregman · Spui25 (University of Amsterdam) · August 18, 2026
Historian and public intellectual Rutger Bregman leads a debate on meritocracy, social policy and the future of welfare states. The session will include audience discussion and pro…
Naomi Klein · De Balie · August 18, 2026
Naomi Klein discusses grassroots climate movements, corporate power, and policy pathways for an equitable energy transition. She will explore how political organizing intersects wi…
Brian Eno · Paradiso · August 18, 2026
Composer and producer Brian Eno speaks about ambient music, creative process, and how sound shapes memory and urban experience. The talk blends anecdote, theory, and short audio ex…
Ed Yong · FOAM Photography Museum · August 18, 2026
Science writer Ed Yong investigates how visual media and photography shape public understanding of complex scientific issues, from pandemics to climate change. The talk will be ill…
Rineke Dijkstra · FOAM Photography Museum · August 18, 2026
Renowned Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra discusses her approach to portraiture, the ethics of photographing adolescence, and the evolution of her practice. The presentation incl…
Simon Schama · Rijksmuseum · August 19, 2026
Historian Simon Schama explores how painting has shaped national identity across Europe, with examples from museum collections. The talk situates masterpieces within broader cultur…
Carole Cadwalladr · De Balie · August 19, 2026
Investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr discusses the influence of digital platforms on democratic processes and recent legal and regulatory developments. The talk will feature …
Ed Yong · FOAM Photography Museum · August 19, 2026
Science journalist Ed Yong reflects on visual storytelling during global health crises and how images shape public understanding. He will examine case studies and the ethics of pho…
Carole Cadwalladr · De Balie · August 19, 2026
Investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr speaks about misinformation, data-driven political influence, and the implications for European democracies. The talk includes a discussi…
Karl Ove Knausgård · Amsterdam Public Library (OBA) · August 19, 2026
Acclaimed author Karl Ove Knausgård reads from his new work and discusses craft, memory, and the ethics of autofiction. The session includes an audience Q&A and a short informal re…
Mary Beard · Rijksmuseum · August 19, 2026
Classicist Mary Beard offers a fresh look at Roman portraiture and the construction of public identity in antiquity. The lecture connects ancient practices to modern questions abou…
Simon Schama · Rijksmuseum · August 20, 2026
Simon Schama examines how art has been used to construct and contest imperial narratives across Europe and beyond. The talk will draw on paintings and objects in the Rijksmuseum to…
Alec Soth · FOAM Photography Museum · August 20, 2026
Alec Soth presents his long-form photographic projects and discusses his approach to portraiture and landscape. The talk includes a Q&A and insights into the making of several new …
Roxane Gay · Paradiso · August 20, 2026
Author Roxane Gay reads from her latest essays and fiction, focusing on identity, trauma, and contemporary pop culture. The session includes a moderated discussion about narrative …
Esther Perel · Amsterdam Public Library (OBA) · August 20, 2026
Psychotherapist Esther Perel explores how technology has transformed intimacy, work-life balance, and emotional labor. The talk offers research-based insights and practical advice …
Angela Saini · Spui25 (University of Amsterdam) · August 20, 2026
Science journalist Angela Saini examines how scientific narratives about race have been shaped and how technology is changing discourse about identity. The event includes an open d…
Simon Schama · Rijksmuseum · August 20, 2026
Historian Simon Schama explores Rembrandt’s work in the context of global trade, colonial networks, and cultural exchange in the Dutch Golden Age. The lecture reassesses familiar m…
Zadie Smith · OBA — Amsterdam Public Library · August 20, 2026
Novelist Zadie Smith reads from her new work and discusses themes of multiculturalism, identity and the craft of the contemporary novel. The session is followed by an audience Q&A …
Ruth Ozeki · OBA - Amsterdam Public Library · August 20, 2026
Novelist and filmmaker Ruth Ozeki reads from her new book and explores themes of belonging, technology, and environmental crisis. The program closes with an audience Q&A and book s…