In 2006 Pakhuis de Zwijger, a former refrigerated warehouse on the Piet Heinkade, opened its doors as a platform for social innovation & creation. We started creating programmes and projects focused on the city, our country and the world of tomorrow. Over the past 15 years, we have grown into a unique national and global platform that focuses on bringing people together and realising projects that contribute to the development of a more sustainable, fair and future-proof society.

Pakhuis de Zwijger is an accessible, independent and safe public meeting space for everyone. A contemporary ’talking house’ with a strong online media presence that focuses on dialogue as a form of conversation. A place where together we formulate ambitions and present different opinions and insights in order to arrive at creative solutions for the urgent and complex social issues of our time. Where we bring artists and designers together with scientists, policymakers, experts and citizens in all their diversity. Where together we visualise the cities and metropolises of tomorrow, test research results against the everyday practice and present technological and social innovation as alternatives to current policy and actual reality. And finally, above all, a place where we ask a lot of questions and tackle social issues as complex design assignments.

Social issues
We live in a time of great change and are in the midst of some major transitions. At a time when the scope and complexity of social and economic issues is growing, the direct links between the functioning of local, national communities and global relations, and the condition of our planet are becoming increasingly visible. We jump from one crisis into another; from the refugee crisis to the climate and energy crisis, from the nitrogen and water crisis to identity crisis and the crisis on the housing market. The global social divide is increasing, poverty and debt problems are piling up and unequal opportunities in education are getting worse.

Organising meetings and generating impact
The Pakhuis de Zwijger Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that produces approximately 600 programmes annually together with a large number of partners. The main theme and common thread is the future of daily life. The central question is ‘What kind of city/country do we want to live in, in five, ten, twenty and thirty years’ time?’ Our programme makers bring people and organisations together, build communities of practice, set up substantive editorial boards, place creatives in a central executive role, and together with our partners create programmes to inform and inspire. We map out possible solutions and host initiatives from relevant civil societal organisations that use our platform and expertise to generate and increase their impact. We also participate in European projects, government contracts and organise and moderate processes of co-creation in the city and region. We do this in-house in the various rooms within our own building, in the two New Metropolis locations that we have set up in the ‘Nieuw-West’ and ‘Zuidoost’ districts in Amsterdam, and at other locations in the metropolitan region and country.

Bringing systems and the living world together
Pakhuis de Zwijger and the two New Metropolis branches are working on developing and building impact coalitions; bringing together governments, knowledge institutions and large companies (the systems) on the one hand, and citizens’ initiatives, social organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises and local entrepreneurs (the living world) on the other. In order to arrive at sustainable solutions for urgent social issues, these programmes link daily practices, scientific research and policies. In our programmes and activities, we invite the six stakeholder groups to enter into discussions with each other and come together to develop creative and innovative approaches.

City and country for all
Our city of Amsterdam is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of the population. Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam are now all three cities without a clear majority. Something that has long been the case in many major cities, such as London, Paris and New York. Pakhuis de Zwijger is explicitly programming for this development: in the form of content, in the composition of the speakers, its own HR policy and in the choice of moderators. The starting point in our programming is making the city and the country of the future together; for all of us. Sustainable and just, prosperous, safe and healthy. With equal opportunities for all people.

Partnerships
Governments, knowledge institutes, companies, entrepreneurs, citizen initiatives and social organisations can connect to our platform and the activities of Pakhuis de Zwijger and its branches in various ways. The types of collaborations with organisations and individuals can vary from editorial board member, content and/or financial partner, to sponsor or co-producer. Or just through friendship or donations. The content and the intended impact are always paramount.

 

Aankomende programma’s
New Metropolis Nieuw-West
Stadslandbouw in Nieuw-West
Een fietstocht langs Stadslandbouw in ons stadsdeel.
Morgen, 13.00
Reserveer
Systemisch Co-Design in actie
ESConferentie ‘ESC Unboxed’
Wat zit er in jouw gereedschapskist voor systeemverandering?
ma 26 mei, 09.00
Reserveer
World Without Borders 7
Het asielbeleid is kommer en kwel, maar er is tegenspel!
Vrouwen Tegen Uitzetting (VTU) organiseert een informatieavond over wat er zoal gebeurt om vluchtelingen te steunen en gaatjes te prikken in het anti-migratiebeleid.
ma 26 mei, 19.00
Reserveer
Wonen voor iedereen
Grip op onbegrepen gedrag
Hoe kunnen woningcorporaties omgaan met onbegrepen of verward gedrag?
ma 26 mei, 19.30
Reserveer
Unwanted Words Project presents:
Queer Poetry Night
Join us for the next edition of this open mic night!
di 27 mei, 19.00
Reserveer
Samen Tegen Racisme
Het falen rond Maccabi
Een oproep tot herstel na institutioneel racisme en bestuurlijk falen rond geweld tegen Amsterdammers.
di 27 mei, 19.30
Reserveer
AAN TAFEL X PDZ 2
Europa: gebonden in vrijheid?
Hermen Vreugdenhil en Hanneke van Ormondt aan tafel over de afwegingen tussen voedselzekerheid en voedselveiligheid.
di 27 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
FIFTH FRIDAY SISTERHOOD presents 6
Friends
A storytelling evening on friendship.
wo 28 mei, 19.00
Reserveer
Between the Sun, Wind and Waves 6
6 ISLANDS ZINE – 4th ISSUE LAUNCH
We present the 4th edition of the 6 ISLANDS zine: Myths, Myth-Making & Mythological Imaginations. Exploring Caribbean myths.
wo 28 mei, 19.00
Reserveer
Gebiedsontwikkeling 66
Ruimte voor rechtvaardigheid
Hoe ontwerp je een ‘rechtvaardige’ fysieke leefomgeving?
wo 28 mei, 19.30
Reserveer
Tipping points 7
Uit de lucht
Een broodnodige crash course over kantelpunten. Deze laatste aflevering: extreem weer. Kunnen we nog iets doen tegen extreem weer?
wo 28 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Boekpresentatie & nagesprek 16
Sommige mensen zijn te rijk
Hoe ziet herverdeling eruit in een wereld waarin mensen als gelijken samenleven?
wo 28 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
New Metropolis Nieuw-West
Natuurwandeling door de Sloterpark
Een natuurwandeling langs de noordoever van de Sloterplas.
za 31 mei, 10.00
Reserveer
Het Groene Filmfestival 1
Land voor het leven @ Stadsboerderij Osdorp
Een initiatief van De Groene Stelling: Hoe ziet de toekomst eruit met regeneratieve landbouw? In gesprek over stad en platteland bij Stadsboerderij Osdorp.
ma 2 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
Boekpresentatie & nagesprek
Captured Futures
Het is tijd om toe te geven dat de milieupolitiek zoals we die kennen niet zal leveren. Welke rol moeten we spelen om de toekomst te herschrijven?
di 3 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
It's All Graphic 13
Reshaping language from distinct perspectives
An evening on the conditions surrounding typographic reproduction through lenses of otherness.
di 3 jun, 20.00
Reserveer
Het Groene Filmfestival 2
Onder het maaiveld @ Bijlmerbios
Een initiatief van De Groene Stelling: Wat leeft er onder onze voeten? In gesprek over bodem, stad en natuur bij de Bijlmerbios.
wo 4 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
VPRO Meet Up 255
De Duitse Trump: draaiboek van een populist
Hoe moeten we de debatten over een mogelijk partijverbod op de AfD duiden? En wat betekent dit voor de Nederlandse politiek en rechtsstaat? 
wo 4 jun, 19.30
Reserveer
Act Like a Commoner: Commons in Action in Amsterdam
Think Like a Commoner
In crisis times, can commons offer alternatives? Join David Bollier and Amsterdam initiatives to explore turning commons thinking into practice.
wo 4 jun, 20.00
Reserveer
Doevendansen met Nieuw-West 15
Het Sociale DNA van Nieuw-West
Gesprek tussen stadsdeelbestuurder Sandra Doevendans, experts en bewoners over thema’s die spelen in Nieuw-West. Samen met Lyongo Juliana.
do 5 jun, 19.00
Reserveer
In de spotlight