Who said that paintings need to be stuck on walls, confined within the restrictive boundaries of a frame? Certainly not Fabrique des Lumières!
Our visit to this innovative Amsterdam art centre showed us a one-of-a-kind museum: one where art is immersive, engaging, and accessible — instead of just admired from a distance.
Curious to know more? Let us introduce you to the magical world of Fabrique des Lumières.
What is Fabrique des Lumières?
Fabrique des Lumières means “factory of lights” in French, and it’s a digital art centre that hosts immersive art exhibitions featuring moving images and music.
Using light, sound, and art, the exhibitions transport you into different worlds — be it by breathing life into the brushstrokes of artists like Van Gogh and Monet or by letting you get up close to the vastness of outer space.
Since 2022, the mesmerising art centre has been welcoming visitors from all over the world to a former gas factory in Amsterdam West, the historical Westergasfabriek.
While its wide walls are easily turned into a canvas where artwork can be projected, sound travels freely and evenly, allowing you to enjoy the carefully curated soundtrack accompanying each show.
What’s on right now?
A visit to Fabrique des Lumières usually features three exhibitions: a big one, lasting over half an hour, and two shorter ones, making the entire experience last about an hour.
As the shows may vary across days and timeslots, we recommend you check the centre’s program beforehand. (Or, you can just show up and let the exhibitions surprise you. 😉)
Too curious to wait? Here’s a sneak peek of what’s on right now.👇
Meet the Dutch Masters, from Vermeer to Van Gogh
The first of the big exhibitions currently on display is all about the Dutch classics.
Think big names like Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh, but also many others — for a total of over 325 artworks by about 50 different painters.
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The show is a true voyage through time, taking you on an exciting journey through Dutch history. In less than an hour, you will be transported to a charming Dutch village, to the middle of the sea in the eye of a raging storm, and to a bright, melancholy sunflower field. 🌻
While the main event unfolds in the big Hall, a small side room offers a slideshow featuring details about the paintings projected outside, giving you the chance for an informative break from the main show if any of the artworks spark your curiosity.
Travel to outer space with Destination Cosmos
If you are more of a space explorer than a time traveller, you will love “Destination Cosmos”, this year’s Winter Special. It will be on display at Fabrique des Lumières from December 21 onwards.
Using real images from space agencies like NASA, the Hall’s over 100 video projectors take visitors on a cosmic trip through the vastness of the universe.
Throughout the show, spectators get to relive Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon, but also go further than any human has ever been, getting a glimpse of what it would be like to walk on Mars, explore Jupiter, and fly along Saturn’s rings. 🪐
Dive into the colourful world of Mondriaan
There is something for modern art lovers, too. The exhibition dedicated to Mondriaan is one of the shorter ones, but in just a few minutes, it immerses visitors in a completely different atmosphere.
Forget the nostalgia of the Dutch masters, and make way for the hustle and bustle of modern life: think New York, skyscrapers, and Mondriaan’s colourful shapes and lines, all paired with some warm, lively jazz. 🎨
👀 Pro tip: For an enhanced experience, we recommend enjoying this exhibition while sitting or lying down in one of the Hall’s two small rooms covered in mirrors — thank us later.
Revisit a classic with #mygirlwithapearl
Another memorable exhibition is “#mygirlwithapearl – The Immersive Edition,” a contemporary homage to Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”.
The exhibition is made in collaboration with the Mauritshuis in The Hague, the museum that houses this Dutch classic. In 2023, they launched a project inviting people from all over the globe to submit their interpretations of the iconic artwork.
Now, Fabrique des Lumières has rearranged the best of those submissions in an audiovisual show, letting visitors appreciate the one aspect of Dutch society that hasn’t changed since Vermeer’s times: its love for this masterpiece.
Ready to dive into art?
Did any of these shows capture your curiosity? All of the exhibitions above can be enjoyed at Fabrique des Lumières until March 3, 2025.
Tickets start at just €14 and can be bought at the entrance or online, where you can also find more detailed information about how to get there, working hours, and accessibility.
📍 Location: Pazzanistraat 37, 1014 DB Amsterdam
🎟️ Ticket price: Between €14 and €18 (free for children under 5)
⏰ Opening times: Every day from 10 AM to 5 PM (open longer on weekends and holidays)
Have you been to Fabrique des Lumières before? Tell us all about your art travels in the comments below.