7 March to 6 July 2025
Stadsarchief Amsterdam
How did Amsterdam become the city we know today? The exhibition The Birth of the City: In Search of Medieval Amsterdamexplores the fascinating earliest history of the city. In just a few centuries, Amsterdam developed from a small settlement into a well-known place of pilgrimage and an international port.
The exhibition takes visitors back to daily life in medieval Amsterdam and shows how its residents built their city, how they lived and how they survived. How did they shape their city and society? Who had power and how did citizens look after each other? What roles did trade and religion play? On the basis of unique archival documents, rare archaeological finds, animations, a podcast and an interactive timeline, visitors are immersed in the world of medieval Amsterdam. The Middle Ages left lasting traces in the city and still provide inspiration for Amsterdam today.
Bastard Orange Lighting Design created the lighting design for the exhibition.
