The Art Scene in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a rich artistic tradition stretching back to the Golden Age. Today the city is a vibrant centre for contemporary art — with internationally recognised museums, experimental galleries and a thriving underground art scene. Outsider Art and Art Brut find particularly fertile ground in Amsterdam.

Museums and institutions

Amsterdam is home to the Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. For Outsider Art enthusiasts, the smaller institutions are equally interesting. Atelier Brut Amsta, connected to care organisations in Amsterdam, is one of the few places in the Netherlands where Art Brut is structurally made and exhibited.

Galleries and art fairs

The Jordaan neighbourhood and the area around Spiegelstraat are traditional gallery streets. During Art Amsterdam and other fairs, art lovers flock to the city. The market for Outsider Art is growing: international collectors are increasingly discovering Dutch self-taught artists.

Norbert de Jong in Amsterdam

Norbert de Jong is an Amsterdam-based artist with deep roots in the city. His work is influenced by urban life, Amsterdam’s diversity and the working-class energy the city radiates. He regularly exhibits at Atelier Brut Amsta, where his work is shown alongside other Outsider Art makers.

His paintings are a piece of Amsterdam — the vivid colours, the bustle, the human figures. A work by Norbert is an authentic piece of Amsterdam art history.

Buying art in Amsterdam

If you want to buy a unique artwork without paying gallery prices, buying directly from the artist is the way to go. Norbert de Jong sells his work through the webshop. Read more about buying Outsider Art or discover Norbert as an Amsterdam artist.