Dutch towns and cities regularly feature ‘open days’ when you can peek into the creative spaces of the artists living around you and ask them about their work.

Almost every town has is own event and Amsterdam organises one for most of its districts in turn. The participating artists appreciate the opportunity to open their doors, above all, for the special contact they can make with the public.

A flag waving outside doors or windows, which a distinct colour and number, points out the location of the ateliers and outline the route to follow. Anyone passing by is welcome to have a look inside, and visitors are sometimes received with a cup of tea and cakes or even a glass of wine. In fact many artists have their own studio at home and therefore the visitors get the chance to see a more intimate dimension of the artists’ lives.

Although the majority of the participants are native to the Netherlands, I notice that several have international origins, evidence of the steadily growing number of foreign artists who have come to the lowlands to study or live. Many of them are certainly attracted by the advantages artists can enjoy here.

A haven for artists
Thanks to an extensive policy of art-subsidies, special funding, and other social benefits for artists, it seems that creative people in the Netherlands do not have to worry if their artistic production is not sufficient to give them economic independence. Even their atelier can be granted at a special government-subsidised price. The philosophy behind such an approach considers the artist’s right to preserve their spiritual freedom for inspiration. Therefore anything which may hamper such quietness, like material difficulties and other concerns, must be contained.

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