The Green Bend

City or forest

Is Amsterdam a forest within a city or a city within a forest? This question was asked 300 years ago. But does this statement still apply today? The relationship between humans and trees is centuries old. Even in our busy city life today, we can’t do without them. In fact, due to the changing climate, trees are becoming increasingly important to keep the city livable. This exhibition takes you through both the rich history of the trees along the canals, and the challenges the trees face in the present.

With works by

The entire ground floor of the museum is used for this exhibition; not only the three period rooms in the museum, but also at the back of the museum garden and in front of the museum. Dream away to the music of the sound installation ‘Vulnerability’ by Bert Barten. Experience ‘A day in the life of a tree’: Four observations along the canal of Amsterdam’s old town’, the video installation by Agnes de Ruijter. And see the willow work ‘Botanical Connections’ by Jasper Riehm become increasingly beautiful as it grows next to the entrance of the museum.

In a nutshell: there is plenty to experience and learn about the trees along the Amsterdam canals.