Westergas Foundation

Making art & culture accessible to every Amsterdammer

About Westergas Foundation

Westergas Foundation is committed to making art and culture accessible to every Amsterdammer. As the Cultural Park of Amsterdam, Westergas believes that art and culture must be given space, especially now, when connection, inspiration and new voices matter more than ever. That is why we bring together makers, audiences and partners to make new initiatives possible in and around the park.

With the support of Westergas and its partners, we invest in talent development and work to make our programming accessible to a broader audience, for visitors to experience more, for the neighbourhood to connect, and for talent to grow.

In conversation with Amsterdam street newspaper Z! – Westerdag 2026 Neighbourhood Festival

What does the Westergas Foundation do?

Talent development
New talent deserves a place to grow. That is why we give makers at the start of their careers a stage in the Cultural Park. We help with what we have: our venues, our knowledge and our network, and where possible, financially too.

Accessible programming
Culture doesn’t belong behind closed doors. We bring art outside, quite literally, with free programmes in the outdoor spaces of Cultural Park Westergas. And through Tickets for Good, people working in healthcare and education get discounted tickets.

Neighbourhood initiatives
Westergas Foundation supports local cultural initiatives that bring art closer to people. Does your idea suit the park? Then it could find a stage here.

Westerdag
Every summer, together with the businesses of Cultural Park Westergas, we organise a free neighbourhood festival for young and old.

Have an idea, an initiative or a question? Let us know.

Contact

“Art and culture are under pressure, while connection, inspiration and new voices are more urgent than ever. As Amsterdam’s Cultural Park, Westergas believes that art and culture should be accessible to everyone, day and night: for makers, for the neighbourhood and for the city. That is why we founded Westergas Foundation: to make room for talent development, to strengthen collaborations and to give art and culture projects a helping hand.”

Westergas Foundation

PROJECTS

WESTERDAG 2026
Gashouder & Cultuurpark

On Sunday 30 August, the Westerdag neighbourhood festival took place. The day began with a neighbourhood breakfast at Gashouder, after which the Cultural Park once again became a place full of live music, art, workshops, sport and memorable encounters. Together with the Amsterdam West district, local makers, businesses and community initiatives, we celebrated everything that makes our neighbourhood so special.

ONDER CONSTRUCTIE
De Wester

With ONDER CONSTRUCTIE, Westergas Foundation gave the young theatre collective Krankjorum the space to bring their latest project to life on a grand scale. On 31 January and 1 February 2026, De Wester was transformed into a raw theatre rave where theatre and club culture merged.

Thanks to financial and practical support from the Foundation, the collective was able to realise this ambitious production within the Cultural Park. Their daring and contemporary outlook fit seamlessly with the Foundation’s mission: giving new talent room to experiment, grow and reach an audience.

DORPSFEEST 2025
De Wester & Cultuurpark

Westerpark is the backyard of thousands of Amsterdammers. With the Dorpsfeest Westerpark, we celebrated the neighbourhood and made art and culture accessible to everyone. A neighbourhood breakfast at De Wester was followed by a day full of music, food, sport and surprises, made possible by businesses and partners from the park.

New partner
In 2025, Westergas Foundation joined forces with the Amsterdam West district. Together, we expanded the Dorpsfeest to the whole park, keeping it open and inclusive.

LEGACY ART COURT
Westerpark

The Legacy Art Court is both a basketball court and an artwork in Westerpark, created with 3X3 Unites and designed by artist Ruben Jonker. Local residents chose the design, which was then painted together with young people from the neighbourhood. The court opened on 8 May 2025 in the presence of Olympic 3×3 basketball champion Worthy de Jong and alderman Sofyan Mbarki.

The court brings sport and art together in public space. In collaboration with the Amsterdam West district and with support from Nijha, which supplied a golden hoop through its Social Return programme, a place was created for and by the neighbourhood. The project fits seamlessly with the mission of Westergas Foundation and 3X3 Unites: empowering young people and giving room to new talent.

Legacy Art Court in het Westerpark. Beeld: Dusan Jocic, 3X3 Unites

RRFM ACADEMY
Radio Radio

The RRFM (Radio Radio), in collaboration with the Westergas Foundation and supported by the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK), is launching the RRFM Academy, a talent development programme for young people aged 18 to 27 who want to learn DJ’ing or music production. The programme is focused on diversity, with priority given to FLINTA* individuals and people from diverse backgrounds.

The Academy offers three tracks: DJ for beginners, DJ for advanced and music production for beginners. Experienced DJs and producers provide the lessons and participants can choose from masterclasses and community evenings to expand their network and improve their skills. The RRFM Academy offers a tailored learning path at the heart of Amsterdam’s electronic music scene with a focus on talent development, collaboration and strengthening the local music community.

RRFM Academy Talent Development Programme. Image: Radio Radio

DORPSFEEST 2024
Gashouder & Cultuurpark

On a special morning in the iconic Gashouder, over 300 local residents enjoyed a free and extensive breakfast surrounded by art and culture. This unique collaboration between the entrepreneurs of Cultural Park Westergas offered a rich experience, featuring exhibitions by Fabrique des Lumières, World Press Photo, and young talent from Toqueur.

The storytelling corner by Theater De Krakeling, live music from Radio Radio, and a varied selection of food provided by tenants of the site completed the experience. This special morning also marked the official launch of the Westergas Foundation.

Dorpsfeest in the Gashouder, 2024

RRFM: WESTERPARK FM
Meterhuisje

Westerpark FM by RRFM brought radio outdoors for two months, broadcasting live from the picturesque Meterhuisje in the heart of Westergas. With the aim of creating more connection between local residents, park visitors, and the community, the park transformed into a place of meeting, exchange, and creativity. Visitors could join workshops, listen to live broadcasts, and discover new talent.

Westerpark FM offers a fresh perspective on club culture: it strengthens the community, encourages social interaction, and serves as a springboard for emerging artists. A key principle is fair payment for artists, enabling them to sustainably continue their work and passion.

RRFM: Westerpark FM • Margie invites: Two Ex. Beeld: RRFM

UNBOUND: THE LICHEN LINE
Westerpark

In Westerpark, photographer and Prix de Rome winner Elsbeth Diederix brought a special temporary artwork to life: The Lichen Line, UNBOUND. The large pattern of lichens from Amsterdam-West blended seamlessly with nature and played with the tension between order and organic chaos. The work, now part of the Stedelijk Museum’s collection, uniquely connected photography and landscape art. A QR code on site offered visitors deeper insight.

Thousands of visitors from events like ADE, Awakenings, and the FIBA 3×3 World Cup, as well as local residents, discovered this poetic work. In collaboration with Westergas Foundation, free guided tours were organized and the project was featured in publications including Het Parool.

Lichen Line - UNBOUND door Elspeth Diederix. Beeld: UNSEEN

Contact, press (inquiries) & more

Contact
Stichting Westergas Foundation
Polonceaukade 9
1014 DA Amsterdam
Chamber of Commerce (KVK) number: 92877400

Documents

View the Westergas Foundation policy plan here
View the ANBI form here
View the 2025 annual accounts here

Press
View the Westergas press page here.
For press requests, interviews, images and more:
press@westergas.nl

Questions or suggestions?
Feel free to get in touch:
info@westergas.foundation