Dive into the daily life of Amsterdam-West during a photography workshop at MAQAM, inspired by the exhibition

 is an ode to Amsterdam-West, and above all to the people who bring these neighbourhoods to life. During the workshop you will not only learn the techniques of street photography, but also gain insight into how to capture the essence of a place and its residents, from squares and back gardens to encounters that often go unnoticed yet form the beating heart of the city. 

We are offering the same workshop on two dates: Sunday 30 November and Sunday 1 February, both from 13.00 to 17.00 hrs at MAQAM. Please book only one date, as the sessions are identical.

All images are from Mounir Raji's Home series. 

MAQAM

All images are courtesy of Mounir Raji's Home series.

All images from the series Home © Mounir Raji⁠.

The Flicker Phase, 1950

Photography Workshop: Mounir Raji - Home 

. During this special occasion, the photographers will share the stories behind the photographs, giving us a unique insight into the creative process behind these surrealistic images.

The Desk for Mac Guffin 2020

Foam

Everyday objects for Baron Magazine, 2012

Artist Tours: Blommers & Schumm on Mid-Air

Book launch Sander Coers

Foam welcomes you to the presentation of 

For two-and-a-half years, Blok photographed pregnant people in various European countries at different stages of pregnancy. The images in the publication are combined with stories, anecdotes, and observations she wrote while working at a Dutch abortion clinic, alongside her own reflections around the complexities of motherhood and intimacy.

Host of the evening is curator Jilke Golbach, who is working together with Verena Blok on her solo exhibition at Foam in March 2026. Writer, artist and curator Mirthe Berentsen will moderate the talk with Verena Blok.

Doors wil open at 18.00 hrs and the talk starts around 18.30 hrs.

Foam Cafe

Love Shit

Book launch Verena Blok

On Thursday, 15 January, Foam presents a special evening with 

 who have been invited to develop a dance performance in dialogue with the exhibition by 

In their practice, Lunatics and Poets explore how gestures, movements and objects acquire meaning. Their approach resonates with recurring themes within the oeuvre of Blommers & Schumm, including desire, transformation and the shifting boundaries of fashion.

Performance by Lunatics and Poets

Breath and Sway: Ode to Blommers en Schumm

This Christmas break, children can let their imaginations run wild during a special workshop at Foam! 

 have developed a singular visual language. Their work invites viewers to reconsider what they see and how they see it. 

Inspired by the exhibition and the working methods of artist duo Blommers & Schumm, children will discover how everyday objects can be used to create surprising works of art.

By looking closely, shifting and combining, they learn how simple things can come together to form a completely new image, a face, a flower, or perhaps something completely unexpected. Using illusion and imagination, the children create their own artwork that shows how differently you can look at the world around you.

This workshop is for children between 6 and 12 years old. Parents and caretakers can join the workshop for free.

Rose wearing Bottega Veneta, Middle Plane, 2021

Foam Studio's

David wearing bodega Veneta for Middle plane magazine David Hockney special 2022

Discover the World of Blommers & Schumm: Become a Surrealist Artist

Join us on Friday 28 November in Foam’s café for the book presentation of 

, the new book by artist and visual researcher 

. Foam’s curator Claartje van Dijk will talk with Yurenev about the series featured in the publication and the creative process of making this artist book.

Seeing Against Seeing

Book launch Alexey Yurenev

For centuries, women in Amsterdam West have moved mountains: they cook for neighbours-in-need or create safe spaces for younger generations,  dedicating themselves tirelessly to build a strong foundation for their community. Even taking the lead in union strikes, standing up against inequality, or the lack of open communal spaces isn't unusual for the women of West. The contributions of women are vital to the story of the city, yet they often remain unseen. 

This exhibition is a tribute to these courageous and committed women. Together with the 

 and Foam Photography Museum Amsterdam, the district of Amsterdam West is working to change that. For this exhibition, the City Archives issued an open call for materials to be submitted. In turn, these submission will become part of the Archives, ensuring that these stories are preserved and passed on to future generations. 

Alongside the collected material photographer 

created a series of portraits that capture the strength, determination, and quiet power of these women.

Fabriek Patria, 1978 ca

Mercatorplein

Vanessa Wattimena, 2025

Bijscholing

Anita Groenink, 2025

Mbarka N’bir, 2025

Strijdbare Vrouwen in Amsterdam West  

Museumnacht Amsterdam 2024

Join us during Museumnacht 2025 and experience an evening full of art, creativity, and music. Together with 

, Foam invites you to explore a new way of looking at art and to ask: what does it mean to represent yourself in a world where image formation has become all-important?

In a series of workshops, installations, and performances, young creators explore the relationship between identity, representation, and image. From collage workshops with 

. This Museumnacht has everything to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection.

Museumnacht 2025

95Gems

Vinyl-Listening by 1.06 Library

Illusion Faces by Sisters Janssen

Painting with Sabina Silver

Jewelry making by Goldiie

Museumnacht Amsterdam, 2019

Meervaart Studios Flash Acts Foam Museumnacht 2023

Museumnacht Amsterdam 2025

Member Hours: Viviane Sassen & Paul Huf

On Tuesday, 28 October, we are opening our doors after hours exclusively for Foam Members. Enjoy a relaxed evening stroll through the museum and experience our current exhibitions without the usual crowds.

 today and gain access to special events like this one, plus enjoy exclusive benefits all year round! 

Opening Hiên Hoàng, 2025

Michael Jordan, 1984

Josefine wearing Bless, Styling Georgia Pendlebury for Exhibition magazine 2018

The Caspian, 2014

Anna en Augusta Curiel in actie tijdens landing van het watervliegtuig de Dornier DOX op de Surinamerivier 18 augustus 1931

Want to be inspired further? Join one of the guided tours of the exhibitions during this evening. 

After Hours

 organise a live performance by DJ Chinnamasta on the GVB-ferry in Amsterdam, against the backdrop of the exhibition 

 by Fidelio Faustino. On a special morning, music, photography, cyclists and other travellers come together on the ferry. 

Faustino’s work explores feelings of nostalgia and belonging, deeply rooted in the Afro-Caribbean experience. 

By merging his visual art with Chinnamasta’s Caribbean-inspired live audio set, the collaboration fosters a dynamic dialogue between sound and image, while celebrating a shared connection to and love for Suriname.

Skin Firi, 2023 Domburg, Suriname

GVB-Ferry 50 (Amsterdam)

Kaaja Paati, from the series Tapsei, 2025

Vanety, from the series Tapsei, 2025

Faya, Paramarino, Suriname, 2023

Amazonia, from the serie Tapsei, 2025

Foam x Echobox Radio & Chinnamasta - A live performance by Chinnamasta on the Amsterdam Ferry

 by Mounir Raji is a heartfelt ode to Amsterdam-West, specifically the Kolenkitbuurt and the Admiralenbuurt, and above all to the people who bring them to life. The exhibition takes place across two locations: Mercatorplein and MAQAM, both in Amsterdam.

Raji spent much time around Mercatorplein and MAQAM, from sidewalks to living rooms and backyards. There, he met people who are often overlooked, yet form the beating heart of the city. Some came from far away, carrying a suitcase full of courage and memories. Here, they rebuilt their lives, each in their own way, in their own language while together shaping a neighbourhood.

Image from the series Home

Mercatorplein and MAQAM

Kolenkit, Nadir & Nassim, 2025

Kolenkit, Untitled 6, 2025

Kolenkit, Untitled 3, 2025

Home Mounir Raji

 on Wednesday 15 October for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, encounters and culture. During the annual Club Foam Dinner, you connect with fellow members and Foam’s team in an intimate setting. 

Discover the latest exhibitions and celebrate the work of 

, all while enjoying a surprising programme that brings you closer to the museum.

Club Foam diner, 2024

Curator Tour Viviane Sassen, Club Foam diner, 2024

Club Foam Dinner 2025

 by Fidelio Faustino in collaboration with 

. This exhibition is a public space intervention on the GVB ferry and serves as a contemporary response to the historical exhibition 

‘Tapsei’ is a word from Sranantongo that literally means ‘upwards’. In the context of Suriname’s interior, it also refers to a way of orienting oneself, navigation through landscape, memory, and community. In everyday usage, ‘tapsei’ is also commonly used as a term for the Surinamese interior itself.

Untitled, out of the series Tapsei, 2025

Central Station, Ferry 50

Joel, from the series Tapsei, 2025

Fidelio Faustino - Tapsei

Book presentation Marike Schuurman 

Join us on Thursday 25 September in Foam Editions for the book presentation of 

‘Riding in Silence & The Crying Dervish’

, the most recent book of award-winning visual artist and lecturer 

. During this festive evening in Foam’s gallery, Mohadjerin will talk with independent curator 

 about the series featured in the publication and the creative process of making this artist book.

From the book Riding in Silence & The Crying Dervish

Book presentation Mashid Mohadjerin

Opening Hiền Hoàng

 by Dutch artist duo Blommers & Schumm, offering an in-depth look at over 25 years of their playful and provocative image-making. 

Join us at Foam on Friday, 19 September from 18.30 hrs for the celebratory opening of the exhibition in the presence of the artists with free entrance, a dj performance by 

. He is a London‑based creative director, publisher, and curator behind the independent art and lifestyle magazine 

Carcy Magazine Styling Hannes Hetta ,2018

Ciara, 1998. Styling by Suzanne Koller

Opening Blommers & Schumm

Workshop: Pinhole photography adventure for kids 

How do we preserve our stories? Which Black queer films and photographic works have had a profound impact on you, and why? Together with 

, this workshop will explore the power of queer representation on the big screen, and examine how you can contribute to archiving your own images, voices and memories.

Rafik

A Queer Practice, Film and Photography. Archives of the work of Black Queer creators.

Open Garden Days 2025

On Thursday, 4 September, Foam presents the evening programme 

: AI in the Archive, in collaboration with 

This symposium explores the power, vulnerability, and future of the photographic archive—particularly online archives—through the lens of collections related to the Second World War and heritage institutions. Hosted by Ahmet Polat, guest speakers 

Re-Enactment

Archief foto's

Preservation is Power: AI in the Archive

Join us on Thursday, 28 August, for a special edition of 

 by Augusta Curiel. This evening of deep listening brings together sound, image, and archive, inviting you not only to see Suriname but also to hear it.

The programme begins with a live performance by 

, followed by a lecture around the work led by 

Throughout the evening, we invite you to explore vinyl listening stations featuring curated Surinamese music that offer new ways to engage with Curiel’s photographic legacy through rhythm, memory, and atmosphere.

Afrovism: The Garden of Frequencies

What does the city look like through the eyes of a child? Join us on an exciting journey in Foam, with a pinhole camera in hand! In this special workshop, kids will hit the streets with curious eyes and creative minds. Inspired by the exhibition 

, they’ll experiment with spy photography and explore the art of composition – capturing the city in surprising new ways.

Workshop pinhole fotografie voor kinderen

 by non-fiction artist and photographer Khashayar Javanmardi. Javanmardi, who grew up in this region, has spent the last decade documenting the deterioration of the southern shore of the Caspian, which borders Iran.

His ongoing project captures the deterioration of the south shore of the Caspian Sea and underscores the need to connect political and structural change to everyday life in response to the mismanagement of the region and global climate crisis.

Caspian, Breakwater, May 2019

Caspian, Qezel Ozan River, February 2022

Foam 3h: Khashayar Javanmardi

 by non-fiction artist and photographer Khashayar Javanmardi. His ongoing project captures the deterioration of the south shore of the Caspian Sea and underscores the need to connect political and structural change to everyday life in response to the mismanagement of the region and global climate crisis.

Join us on Thursday, 24 July from 17.30 - 21.00 hrs. The exhibition will be opened at the Foam Café with a Q&A between Foam Curator Claartje van Dijk and the artist.

Foam Café

Opening Foam 3h: Khashayar Javanmardi

by Ajamu X. On this festive evening, we will explore what it means to archive from Black queer perspectives together with the artist and guest speakers 

. No traditional panel, but a rhythmic, instinctive curated programme filled with space for encounter, nuance and vulnerability.

During this event, artist JeanPaul Paula will show a performance that is physical, concentrated and ritualistic in nature, with the body acting as both a sculptural and political medium.

Ajamu X and JG Basdew, November 2024

JeanPaul Paula, 2025

Bete van Meeuwen, 2025

Black Queer Archiving: Questioned at the Intersection, 2025

Opening Ajamu X - Us in the Frame

In light of Pride Amsterdam 2025, Foam is proud to present 

 by darkroom & fine art photographic artist 

The exhibition reflects on the importance of black queer archiving, with a specific focus on photography and lens-based practices, while exploring the position that black queer image-makers currently occupy within the Dutch photographic and cultural landscape.

Ajamu X - Us in the Frame

 to explore the secrets of the most beautiful garden in Amsterdam. Children participating in the workshop will collect flowers and leaves to make blueprint artworks. Afterwards, we will travel to Foam to finish our creations while enjoying delicious snacks and lemonade drinks.

Foam x de Hortus: Summer Workshop for Children, 2024

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

Chylocladia ovalis

Foam x De Hortus: Summer Workshop for children

On Thursday 26 June, Foam Editions welcomes you to the presentation of the monograph 

. The book comprises a selection of photographic and film works from the last 25 years, created by the Berlin-based Dutch artist 

Join us for a festive evening as Mirjam Kooiman, Foam’s Head of Artistic Programming, sits down with the artist—whose work is part of the Foam Collection—to discuss her creative process and the making of her book.

archived events

Street Photography Workshop
Mounir Raji - Home

Artist Tour:
Blommers & Schumm on Mid-Air

Book launch Verena Blok - Love Shit

Dance Performance Breath and Sway: A Tribute to Blommers and Schumm

Kids workshop:
Becoming a Surrealist Artist

Booklaunch Alexey Yurenev - Seeing Against Seeing

Strijdbare Vrouwen in Amsterdam West
The City in Her Hands

Museumnacht Amsterdam 2025

After Hours

Foam x Echobox Radio & Chinnamasta

Mounir Raji
Home

Club Foam Dinner 2025

Fidelio Faustino
Tapsei

Book presentation:
Riding in Silence & The Crying Dervish by Mashid Mohadjerin

Opening Blommers & Schumm Mid-Air

A Queer Practice:
film and photography

Preservation is Power: AI in the Archive

Afrovism: The Garden of Frequencies

Through the little lens: Pinhole photography for kids

Foam 3h: Khashayar Javanmardi
The Caspian ‘Lake’

Opening Foam 3h:
Khashayar Javanmardi The Caspian ‘Lake’

Opening Ajamu X Us in the Frame

Ajamu X Us in the Frame

Foam x de Hortus:
Summer Workshop for Children

Book Presentation:
Today is not possible by Marike Schuurman

archived events

Street Photography Workshop Mounir Raji - Home

Artist Tour:Blommers & Schumm on Mid-Air

Book launch Verena Blok - Love Shit

Dance Performance Breath and Sway: A Tribute to Blommers and Schumm

Kids workshop:Becoming a Surrealist Artist

Booklaunch Alexey Yurenev - Seeing Against Seeing

Strijdbare Vrouwen in Amsterdam West The City in Her Hands

Museumnacht Amsterdam 2025

After Hours

Foam x Echobox Radio & Chinnamasta

Mounir Raji Home

Club Foam Dinner 2025

Fidelio Faustino Tapsei

Book presentation: Riding in Silence & The Crying Dervish by Mashid Mohadjerin

Opening Blommers & Schumm Mid-Air

A Queer Practice: film and photography

Preservation is Power: AI in the Archive

Afrovism: The Garden of Frequencies

Through the little lens: Pinhole photography for kids

Foam 3h: Khashayar JavanmardiThe Caspian ‘Lake’

Opening Foam 3h:Khashayar Javanmardi The Caspian ‘Lake’

Opening Ajamu X Us in the Frame

Ajamu X Us in the Frame

Foam x de Hortus: Summer Workshop for Children

Book Presentation: Today is not possible by Marike Schuurman

Street Photography Workshop
Mounir Raji - Home

Artist Tour:
Blommers & Schumm on Mid-Air

Kids workshop:
Becoming a Surrealist Artist

Strijdbare Vrouwen in Amsterdam West
The City in Her Hands

Mounir Raji
Home

Fidelio Faustino
Tapsei

Book presentation:
Riding in Silence & The Crying Dervish by Mashid Mohadjerin

A Queer Practice:
film and photography

Foam 3h: Khashayar Javanmardi
The Caspian ‘Lake’

Opening Foam 3h:
Khashayar Javanmardi The Caspian ‘Lake’

Foam x de Hortus:
Summer Workshop for Children

Book Presentation:
Today is not possible by Marike Schuurman