The Publicity Company
PRESS RELEASE Amsterdam, May 2026
Museum Het Schip celebrates its 25th anniversary and 125 years of the Housing Act with the exhibition ‘No Home of Your Own. Living in Crisis’
Rising prices, endless waiting lists and a severe housing shortage: the housing crisis affects us all. From 14 August through 11 October, Museum Het Schip presents the exhibition No Home of Your Own: Living in Crisis. The exhibition explores the history of social housing, examines the causes of the ongoing housing crisis and presents possible solutions.
A double anniversary
In 2026, Museum Het Schip celebrates its 25th anniversary, while also marking 125 years since the introduction of the Dutch Housing Act of 1901. This legislation paved the way for large-scale social housing and improved living conditions for the working class. It therefore provides a natural starting point for Museum Het Schip, which tells the story of the Amsterdam School: a movement of idealistic artists and architects who believed that good architecture could contribute to a better life for everyone.
Although the workers’ palaces and artworks of the Amsterdam School continue to capture the imagination, questions surrounding housing prove to be timeless. The history of housing shows that every era has struggled with issues such as affordability, availability and quality of life.
From squatters’ riots to housing cooperatives
The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through time. An interactive timeline guides you through the highs and lows of housing history, from urban expansion and housing associations to slums and squatters’ riots. Themes such as homelessness, protest and the struggle for space are also explored. Through artworks, archival footage and protest posters, visitors discover the importance of good housing policy, as well as the ways in which it has come under pressure from systems, bureaucracy and market forces. Carlijn Kingma’s The Machinery of Housing visualises the many interconnected mechanisms at work, while a presentation by Platform Woonopgave offers concrete approaches to reducing vacant properties and housing shortages.
Public programme
The housing crisis is a pressing concern for many people. Museum Het Schip is therefore working with partners from across Amsterdam and beyond — including artists, architects, urban planners, housing associations, squatters and advocacy organisations — to develop a thought-provoking and socially engaged public programme. In collaboration with Museum Het Schip and NUL20, architect Mimi Oldenhave Metz is producing a podcast about housing crises past and present. The series makes the housing crisis tangible and understandable, not only through statistics and policy, but above all through the personal stories of people who face its consequences every day. By connecting the experiences of young people searching for a home with insights from researchers, writers and activists, the podcast demonstrates that the housing crisis is not an individual problem, but a broad societal issue — and that alternatives are possible.
Fundraising campaign
In recent years, Museum Het Schip has invested in innovative, high-quality exhibitions, the care and preservation of its building, and strengthening its organisation. The museum aims to continue on this path for the next 25 years. High-quality programming and a healthy organisation require substantial resources. To build a sustainable future, Museum Het Schip will launch a major fundraising campaign this summer in celebration of its anniversary.
Museum Het Schip, Oostzaanstraat 45, Amsterdam | website, Facebook, Instagram
For further press information: Margarétha Moerkerke and Trix van Alphen
t: 020 612 7000, e:
