EUROPA
culture club concept for Amsterdam
Europe, rich traditions, old and new, which merge into new worlds. Her diversity and her culture are explored and celebrated. Life multiplies by sharing. A hopeful Fellowship, that uses its house to always look towards the future: Cultuurclubhuis Europa.
Mission
The main goal of Cultuurclubhuis Europa is to create an alternative queer sanctuary in the heart of the city. A place where experimentation is encouraged, there is room to build on new ideas and to play around. Its doors are open to beautiful people who want to show or discover their true self. Where sexuality plays no role and where identity is celebrated.
A meeting place for creative, modern people, where like-minded people find each other and celebrate life. A place where culture is exchanged and redefines itself, both locally and internationally.
Together building a daily program in which the participants explore their imagination and stretch their knowledge into fields not yet discovered. This expression is visuals, as decorations and sets for performance clubnights, aswel artistically in performative live acts and musical sets. With the hopeful mission to extending its program’s towards allies communities and welcoming crossovers in a free and open space.
development HISTORY
(2008 — 2013)
In 2008, Dick Koopman and Jordi Ariza Gallego laid the foundation for a future nightlife establishment. Drawing from their work at various venues such as Studio 80, Jimmy Woo, Flexbar, and Paradiso, their desire grew stronger to provide a stable space where artists could experiment and create during the night. Beyond artistic expression, there was also a longing for a space where individuals could truly be themselves—a place where like-minded people could connect, free from the rigid rules of daylight. A place to openly explore identity, sexuality, and creativity. A place to feel at home.
The first property considered for this vision was located at Rokin 75 (2008-2009). Unfortunately, this did not materialize, leading to a continued search at other locations: Ruijterkade 'under the bridge' (2009-2010), Nes 71 'De Engelenbak' (2010-2012), and finally Halvemaansteeg 4-6 (2013-present). After numerous developments and public input sessions, the environmental permit for Halvemaansteeg 4-6—where Cultuurclubhuis Europa could be established—was granted in January 2022. However, the start of construction has been delayed due to various legal actions against the municipality of Amsterdam.
Throughout the process regarding Halvemaansteeg (the current location), much has changed over the years. Initially envisioned as a nocturnal meeting place, the ambitions evolved into creating a cultural center for both night and day—an alternative space where (young) talent can flourish. It is now seen as a daytime haven for support and learning, as well as a place where one can dance on the edge of the volcano but also find solace. While the concept has grown more intricate, its urgency remains unchanged. Unfortunately, in the final phase of development, Koopman withdrew from the project.
The images above are off the first presentation for the city hall at Rokin 75 in 2009.
Halvemaansteeg 4-6
(2014 — 2023)
The current location of Cultuurclubhuis Europa will undergo a complete reconstruction, adhering to all modern standards, including sound insulation and an indoor air management system. It is a rare scenario to have such a technically designed venue constructed or utilized in the heart of the city with a cultural club destination.
Access to the building is through a café on the side of Halvemaansteeg, which also doubles as a waiting area for incoming visitors during the night. Descending from the café, you reach the service floor where all functionalities are offered, such as the cloakroom and sanitary and culinary facilities. If you take a staircase down from the service floor, you enter the basement hall. Conversely, ascending from the service floor, a staircase leads to the theater hall: an ideal venue for performances and presentations due to its elevated size.
The entire building is designed so that you can open the space(s) for various group sizes, partially or entirely. In other words, you can scale the capacity according to needs and adjust the space for different events. A contemporary, multifunctional, and versatile cultural clubhouse.
Since 2010, the conceptual team has been supported by a project developer led by Michiel Kleiss. The Halvemaansteeg property was designed by the architectural firm XML.
'Work in Progress'
(2022 — 2023)
A series of artist interventions on the construction site of Halvemaansteeg 4-6.
"Work in Progress" is a series of interventions by artists on the construction site of Cultuurclubhuis Europa. While construction sites are typically regarded as places of transition — locations that only hold meaning in light of a latent, yet unrealized future — "Work in Progress" examines the construction site for what it is: a work in progress. By inviting various artists to respond to different phases in the construction process, the series perceives the construction site not as an interim stage leading to a building as the definitive manifestation and identity of a location, but rather considers the construction site as a 'here and now' with its own meaning and identity. It explores new meanings as part of the location's development.
In this way, the series is not about art on the construction site; rather, it looks at art as a crucial element in envisioning the evolving identity and future of the location, serving as a catalyst for (night) culture in Amsterdam. It becomes a space dedicated to the most current thinking, where, even before the opening of Cultuurclubhuis Europa, artists, designers, musicians, authors, choreographers, and other free spirits can engage and contribute to the contemporary (night) culture in the heart of the city.
TEMPORARY BAR
(2023 — 2024)
While waiting for the news of the culture club projected, we had the opportunity to open a temporary meeting spot in the neighbouring address, Amstel 50. The name, Bar Europa.
A queer ran meeting spot, bar-dancing, with a weekly program. It was constructed at the beginning of March 2023. After a couple of successful try-outs, the bar ran into some trouble with its licence. The problems were resolved a couple of months later. The news of the reopening was combined with the notice of the deconstruction of the venue. In the end, the venue ran a series of experimental nights before closing at the beginning of 2024.
CONCLUSION
(2023)
In the summer of 2023, the legal case was won, and construction was finally allowed to commence. However, the lengthy process, coupled with numerous delays, resulted in significantly higher project and construction costs than initially anticipated. These complications were presented alongside conceptual adaptations by the project developer. As a result, the original concept for developing a queer cultural clubhouse is no longer feasible. This marks the end of the Cultuurclubhuis Europa concept, as well as our involvement in its further development.
The project developer for Halvemaansteeg 4-6 will continue with a new concept to create a club in the city center, aiming to open its doors by the end of 2026.