Permit granted for Amsterdam Fashion Week at Museumplein despite local opposition

By

Shomara Roosblad

Published
Aug 28, 2018

The City of Amsterdam has granted Amsterdam Fashion Week a permit to stage the September edition at the Museumplein in the Oud Zuid neighborhood.

The news comes after residents of the Museumplein area objected for the event to be held at the square, which also houses the city’s renowned museums and busy tourist attractions Rijskmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum.

The residents are opposing the arrival of Amsterdam Fashion Week because part of the square will be closed during the event. They also believe that the event is too elite, reports said. In addition, the fashion event will be invite-only, which will be contrary to the events policy of the Museumplein. Earlier, the city council decided that all events at the Museumplein should be open to everyone, reported local newspaper Het Parool.

To make the event more inclusive, the organization of Amsterdam Fashion Week has decided to install a screen on the square, which will livestream the fashion shows. There will also be a pop-up cinema available with room for 25 people. According to The City of Amsterdam, the event will now be ‘sufficiently accessible to the public’ following the organization’s action plan, Het Parool reported.

According to the newspaper, political parties GroenLinks and the SP are 'angry' about the state of affairs. A spokesperson told Het Parool: “Events in the public space should not have an exclusive but inclusive character. The public space belongs to all of us, so it is important to take a critical look at the policy if this is the result of rules.”

A spokesman for Amsterdam Fashion Week told the newspaper that the residents who are interested do have a chance to attend the shows. Before the start of each show, any remaining invitations will be handed out.

Amsterdam Fashion Week announced a move to the Museumplein in July. Since its launch in 2004, the event has been held at the Westergasterrein. 

The new location is the result of a decision from Danie Bles, a fashion stylist who acquired Amsterdam Fashion Week in November 2017. Bles also changed the dates of the event. In previous years Amsterdam Fashion Week was held in January and July, now moved to September and February. Bles said previously that she hopes that fashion week becomes an industry event again that should be experienced throughout the city. In recent years, Amsterdam Fashion Week has sold tickets to the public.