Together with Jeffrey Babcock, founder of Jeffrey’s Underground Cinema, the Rad-ish podcast reflects on cinema as a community-based experience, its relation to cultural activism, and the importance of diverse audiences.
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Amsterdam Alternative is a collective project, an association built on the strength, energy and dedication of its members. An organization like AA cannot exist without people who want to help, think along and/or provide financial support. That is why we call on everyone to support Amsterdam Alternative and our goals by becoming a member.
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Amsterdam Alternative just launched a new video department called Fragmenta.
Check out the Fragmenta page for more info about this project and how to join as a video maker.
The first two videos are now online. Episode one is an interview with David Bollier, episode two an interview with Katie Duck.
Amsterdam Alternative publishes articles about free spaces, gentrification, politics, climate, music, art, housing and other urgent topics. We publish in our bi-monthly free newspaper as well as online.
See all articlesWie wij zijn Wij zijn een decentrale beweging van Amsterdammers: bewoners, jongerenwerkers, ervaringsdeskundigen, buurtplatforms, kunstenaars, organisatoren en maatschappelijke initiatieven. Wij geloven dat een stad gebaseerd moet zijn op gelijkwaardigheid, rechtvaardigheid en solidariteit. Onze missie is simpel: wees lief voor elkaar en voor de stad. Dat betekent samen zorg dragen voor elkaar en voor de stad die we delen. In een tijd waarin wantrouwen groeit, ongelijkheid toeneemt e
Amsterdam staat onder druk. Terwijl de stad steeds verder wordt onderworpen aan commerciële belangen, verdwijnt de ruimte voor experiment, solidariteit en verbinding. De stad wordt steeds meer een speelveld voor investeerders, terwijl de ruimte voor burgers om zelf vorm te geven aan hun leefomgeving krimpt als sneeuw voor de zon. Maar er is hoop. Overal in de stad groeit verzet tegen deze ontwikkeling. Mensen organiseren zich, zoeken naar alternatieven en eisen ruimte op voor tegencultuur,
“Amsterdam ondergaat op dit moment in korte tijd een ongekende transformatie: Amsterdam wordt een 'smooth city'; een effen, gladgestreken, gecontroleerde en gepolijste stad”, schreef ik bijna tien jaar geleden in Amsterdam Alternative. “Alles wat niet voldoet aan het beeld van een rijk, geordend en opgeschoond Amsterdam wordt in rap tempo verwijderd. Sociale huurwoningen maken plaats voor onbetaalbare huur- en koopwoningen, kraakpanden worden ontruimd en vrijplaatsen in
Over the past two years, we have seen numerous student protests and encampments – from solidarity with Palestine to opposition to university budget cuts. Far from being spontaneous outbursts of “angry” or “too radical” students, these actions are rooted in years of organized effort and institutional pressure from student groups to democratize the university itself. The Activistenpartij UvA, a leftist progressive student party of the University of Amsterdam, are one
Amsterdam Alternative has initiated a wide variety of projects since 2015. Some were temporary but most are still running. Check some of the most current projects below or visit the projects page to see a full overview.
See all projectsFrom the 1st of February 2023 Amsterdam Alternative is running the cinema + bar on the second floor of the OT301. The spaces are being used for film & documentary screenings, discussion nights, comedy, music, dance performances, workshops, book launches, podcast recordings and more.
Sometimes, you sense it. A gesture, a sound, something pulses quietly beneath the surface of the city. A story waiting to be heard. Rad-Ish is a podcast about the silent dreamers, everyday radicals and hidden dissenters who keep the city alive. We seek out the voices of the underground, the pillars of movements that often go unseen yet build the foundation for collective spaces and a desirable future for the many, not the few. On a regular basis we release a short episode where we pull that little red thread that runs through Amsterdam, from the people directly shaping alternative culture to those nurturing it in the background. We're here to pay attention to those who resist the obvious, and talk to those who quietly practice other ways of being.
This modular web documentary is intended as an inspirational document, a guide and an archive. It is a compilation of stories about and quests for other ways in which we can shape society. We (and many others with us) are convinced that things really can be done differently and that a different view of ownership can play a major role in this.
In a media landscape dominated by shallow content, fear, distrust, anger, violence and toxic polarization, Fragmenta will offer an alternative. We don't simply focus on problems or on generic or popular topics but rather connect to individuals and their stories. We seek passion, hope, optimism and inspiration in order to help create a better, more fair, equal and healthy world for the many and not the few.
Thanks to all the talented photographers in the Amsterdam Alternative collective we always have great images in our newspaper and lots of nice photo reports online.
See all photographyReclaim the Seeds Amsterdam organizes an annual, donation-based festival that combines the exchange of seeds with talks centered on political and social context, practical workshops, and lectures on topics related to seeds, sovereign growing practices, and biodiversity.
Photo report Reclaim the seeds - 15 March - Fruittuinen van West.
Photography: Jeanne Beyssac
On Sunday 8th of March (International Women's Rights Day) thousands of people joined the feminist march in Amsterdam to protest for equality, freedom and solidarity. The crowd walked from from Dam Square to Museumplein and raised their voices against oppression, inequality, femicide and discrimination of women and girls worldwide.
Photography © Jeanne Beyssac
On Sunday 15th of February we hosted another edition of the Noodle Show. A laid-back Sunday afternoon for electronic music makers and curious listeners. For this edition, the guest speaker was Tripping Jaguar — a Dutch electronic artist known for deep, psychedelic journeys across downtempo and related emphasized “storytelling” sound worlds. After the talk the floor was opened for a collaborative live jam, where people can plug in their own hardware and “noodle” together—drum machines, synths, samplers, modular, grooveboxes… anything that makes sound.
Photography © Jeanne Beyssac
Amsterdam Alternative started as a network of solidarity and free newspaper but we’ve alwys had the ambition to create inspiring videos as well. In 2024 we created and published about 50 hrs of video about collective ownership, in 2025 we started a new video department called Fragmenta.
See all videoEen film over en door de mensen van Het Groene Veld.
Help ons mee in strijd voor het behoud van Het Groene Veld! Teken de petitie, hang een poster of kom langs!
Kijk op: https://hetgroeneveld.amsterdam
Camera/edit: Elffin van Baars
Camera: Niels Douma, Tibbe van Diemen, Denys Parchenko, Isa van Lier
Productie/Regie: Isa van Lier, Oscar Zeegers
Met dank aan: Sara, KJ, Hay, Femke, Wybe, Inez, Ollie, Anouk, Isobel
Camera: Pablo van Wetten
Audio/music: Peter Rutten
Edit/animation: Ivo Schmetz
Met dank aan/Thanks to:
People: Ad Vlems, Diny
Funding: AFK, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie
Camera: Pablo van Wetten
Audio/music: Peter Rutten
Edit/animation: Ivo Schmetz
Met dank aan/Thanks to:
People: Melissa Koutouzis & Cody Hochstenbach
Funding: AFK, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie
In the Amsterdam Alternative agenda you’ll find the public programming from our participating venues.
See the complete agendaPodium voor Ongehoord Geluid Zaal 100 is er voor van alles, maar niet voor alles: geen privéfeesten, partijpolitieke of religieuze bijeenkomsten, hersenloze disco of andere rituelen, maar wel voor tenenkrommend amateurtheater, merkwaardige concerten, bizarre dansvoorstellingen, dichtkunst va
OCCII is an independent music venue. Situated in a building complex which was squatted in 1984, legalized in 1992. OCCII has since developed into a unique social centre for alternative music and other arts. OCCII provides a cultural program that is hand-picked for those drawn to a
Studio/K is een bioscoop, café en restaurant in Amsterdam Oost. Zo’n vijftig enthousiaste studenten steken dagelijks hun handen uit de mouwen om met z’n allen dit bedrijf te runnen. Studio/K is een non-profit culturele organisatie, opgericht in 2007 en is een initiatief van Sticht
A Coffee place, bookshop & culture space Noon coffee & culture recently opened (july '25) at the Kruislaan 259a in the beautiful building of De Nieuwe Meent next to Amsterdam Sciencepark station in Amsterdam East. It is a place where passion is felt in the air. Its a coffee place,
Parknest is een community-initiatief in het hart van Flevopark. We hebben ons toegewijd om een positieve verandering te brengen in onze geliefde buurt. Onze geschiedenis gaat terug tot 28 oktober 2023, toen we het verwaarloosde gebouwtje naast de kinderspeelplaats feestelijk heropenden als Parknest.
De Ruimte is a cultural space in Amsterdam-Noord. De Ruimte offers its stage to many art forms, ranging from (but not limited to) jazz/improvisationisation, storytelling, scientific lectures, short film and poetry. At the moment we are located at Sexyland World, Noordwal 1, Amsterdam.
The Vondelbunker is a 100% volunteer run space, using DIY politics to create a place for counterculture in the hypercapitalist city centre. The Vondelbunker is located in an old bombshelter located in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. Under the bridge bands and DJ’s play, performances shown, m
De Workship is de werkruimte van podiumdichter Mark Opfer en contrabassist William Barrett. Hier bieden we programma’s op het gebied van muziek, theater, film en lezingen. Door middel van kleinschalige culturele programmering verbinden we een duurzame innovatieve community met (podium)k
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Collective Ownership: collectiefeigendom(at)amsterdamalterantive.nl
Fragmenta: fragmenta(at)amsterdamalternative.nl
Ventilator Cinema: ventilatorcinema(at)gmail.com
Vrij Beton: vrijbeton(at)amsterdamalternative.nl
Collectief Eigendom: collectiefeigendom(at)amsterdamalternative.nl
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If interested in an interview or presentation about Amsterdam Alternative, Vrij Beton, Collective Ownership or another AA project please contact info(at)amsterdamalternative.nl.