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
Tipping points 6
Tilting towards hope
A crash course on tipping points. In this special episode: climate tipping point pioneer Tim Lenton explores how positive social tipping points can push towards a new order.
ma 28 apr, 20.00
Reserveer
Gebiedsontwikkeling 65
Bouwen voor demografische verandering
Hoe zorgen we dat de woningen die we nu bouwen aansluiten bij de demografie van 2050?
di 29 apr, 20.00
Reserveer
Amsterdamse Architectuurprijs 2025
Architectuur & cultuur
Cultureel-maatschappelijke impact van architectuur op (inter)nationale schaal.
do 1 mei, 19.30
Reserveer
Vrij Nederland x Pakhuis de Zwijger 1
Storm Donald
Hoe staat Amerika en de wereldorde ervoor na 101 dagen Donald Trump in het Witte Huis? Met o.a. Laila Frank en Bas Eickhout.
do 1 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Dag van Empathie 2025
Dag van Empathie Festival 2025
Op 3 mei staat Pakhuis de Zwijger volledig in het teken van verbinden.
za 3 mei, 13.00
Reserveer
SPECIAL
The Tears of Eastern DR Congo
The hidden forces behind the Eastern Congo conflict.
di 6 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Doevendansen met Nieuw-West 14
Het Ontstaan van Nieuw-West
Gesprek tussen stadsdeelbestuurder Sandra Doevendans, experts en bewoners over thema’s die spelen in Nieuw-West. Samen met Lyongo Juliana.
do 8 mei, 19.00
Reserveer
Museumvereniging x PdZ
Olie, verf en soep
Musea, activisten en kunstenaars in gesprek over schone kunsten en vuile sponsoren
do 8 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Kringwijs presenteert: training voor buurtbewoners 1
Iemand Erbij
Leer hoe je het best kunt handelen in een crisissituatie met uiteenlopende problematiek.
vr 9 mei, 09.30
Boekpresentatie
Na verzet komt (r)evolutie
De lancering van Clarice Gargard's nieuwste boek 'Na verzet komt (r)evolutie' én de start van haar tour die aanzet tot beweging en maatschappelijke verandering.
ma 12 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Designing Technology for All 4
AI & Human Creativity?
How can technologies like generative AI serve our creative practices and what do we need to move forward?
ma 12 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Tegenlicht Meet Up 254
De consultant regeert
Consultancybureaus spelen een steeds grotere rol in beleidsvorming, en de kosten hiervan nemen toe. Wat betekent dit voor de toekomst van het openbaar bestuur?
wo 14 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Van Eesteren Museum x New Metropolis Nieuw-West
Tuinstad van de toekomst: verdichten met visie
Hoe verdichten we Nieuw-West met behoud van de ziel van de tuinstad?
wo 14 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Bou di Watapana! (Under the Watapana Tree!) 5
Caribische diaspora in de Nederlandse media
In gesprek met gevestigde professionals uit de Caribisch-Nederlandse diaspora over hun ervaring in de Nederlandse media.
do 15 mei, 19.30
Reserveer
Kringwijs presenteert: training voor buurtbewoners 2
Iemand Erbij
Leer hoe je het best kunt handelen in een crisissituatie met uiteenlopende problematiek.
vr 16 mei, 09.30
Queer City
Decolonising Pleasure
How can we create space for pleasure in a world full of genocide, racial inequality, and injustice? And how can we resist through pleasure and BIPOC Queer and Trans joy?
vr 16 mei, 19.30
Reserveer
Talk of the Night 3
Nightlife from the neighborhood to the city
How do we incorporate and sustain a diverse and vibrant nightlife in a changing Amsterdam?
di 20 mei, 19.30
Reserveer
De Staat van de Stad 2025
Daar waar we elkaar vinden
Hoe verzetten we ons tegen verdeeldheid en het recht van de sterkste? Over verbinding als fundament voor een weerbare stad.
di 20 mei, 19.30
Koop kaarten
Gekaapt door het kapitaal 2
Wonen: grondrecht of verdienmodel
Wonen is een verdienmodel geworden. Hoe zorgen we dat wonen weer betaalbaar wordt?
wo 21 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
Rondo Europa 3
De wachtkamer van de EU
Door een veranderende wereldorde staat Europese uitbreiding weer nadrukkelijk op de agenda. In dit programma praten we je bij over hoe Europese toetreding werkt.
do 22 mei, 20.00
Reserveer
In de spotlight