AMSTERDAM – The experimental cultural platform Sexyland has found a permanent home, securing a ten-year lease for the NDSM Theater on the NDSM wharf in Amsterdam-Noord. The move provides long-term stability for the organisation after more than a year and a half of operating without a fixed location.
The new venue is set to open in the spring of 2027 under the new name Super Sexyland World, following a period of renovation to adapt the space for its diverse programming. The organisation had been searching for a new base since it had to leave its previous building on the Noordwal at the end of 2024.
A Nomadic Period Ends
Since leaving its last home, Sexyland has operated nomadically, hosting events at festivals, in community centres, and at other venues across the city. The search for a new location was a public effort, with the founders initially hoping to find a property to purchase.
While a purchase wasn't possible, co-founder Aukje Dekker expressed relief and satisfaction with the long-term lease. "Ten years in a time like this just feels like buying," she told AT5, highlighting the difficulty of securing permanent cultural spaces in Amsterdam's current real estate climate.
Return to NDSM
The move marks a return to the platform's origins. Sexyland first launched in 2017 in a small building on the NDSM wharf, establishing itself as a key player in the city's alternative arts scene. This return brings the project full circle, back to the industrial, creative hub where it began.
Dekker stated the new location will continue its mission to be a place where "every day is different and everyone has a voice." Known for its eclectic and often radical programming, Sexyland has long been a vital space for artists and communities, including many from the LGBTQ+ scene, who operate outside of mainstream institutions.
With a secure home for the next decade, the focus now shifts to preparing the NDSM Theater for its new life as Super Sexyland World.
