Amsterdam | Pop-up Felix in de steigers

maaikeout
Mar 6, 2015
2 min read

From March to December a pop-up venue will arise in the city centre. It will bring culture but also debates, yes politics is involved. But we'll get to the pop-up in a minute, first let me tell you about this beautiful building.

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Felix Meritis ("Happy through Merit") is the name of a building on the Keizersgracht. It was built according to a winning design by the architect Jacob Otten Husly for the new society for music, drawing, physics, commerce and literature called Felix Meritis (established in 1776). The building itself was meant to exemplify the Enlightenment ideals the society stood for. The classical temple façade with its colossal Corinthian pilasters and pediment represent the society's five departments with five sculptures representing the visual arts and architecture, literature, trade, natural sciences and music.

Also, Felix Meritis’ oval concert hall was once the main music hall in Amsterdam until late into the 19th century and enjoyed a great international reputation. Many famous musicians performed there, including Johannes Brahms. The small hall of the Concertgebouw is a replica of this concert hall.

The building has more amazing history to tell; when the old Felix Meritis society was dissolved in 1888, one of the biggset printing companies, Holdert & Co., moved into the building. In 1932 part of the building was destroyed in a fire. After the Second World War the Communist Party of the Netherlands set up its headquarters in the building. From 1947 until 1981 its newspaper 'De Waarheid' ('The Truth') rolled from the presses. In the 50s, Felix Meritis became the symbol of communism in the Netherlands. This image became especially embedded in the collective memory when the building was stormed on 4 November 1956, in response to the Soviet invasion of Hungary and its endorsement by the Dutch communist party. However, in the late sixties, Felix Meritis became a cradle of evenings for alternative youth, which were named Provadya.

In 1988, one hundred years after the old society was dissolved, The Felix Meritis foundation was re-established in the building as a European center for art, culture and science. Felix Meritis is an independent international meeting place and serves as director of the European public debate, cultural processes and international projects and exchanges.

Now, about this pop-up! Felix in de steigers (Felix under construction) is a preview of the reopening of Felix Meritis in 2017. Until the builders are marching in, there will be 9 months of experimenting with the building, program and public. Get surprised, be outraged, be entertained, all is possible I suppose. On the bill so far: The Romance of the Selfie Generation and Vroman op Muziek. It starts with a housewarming party though on the 20th (of March), with music by Eefje de Visser and Gallowstreet Brass Band, poetry by Ingmar Heytze and a performance by dance company ICK.