About Verhaalpaal Noord
Did you know that Overhoeks is the oldest part of Amsterdam-Noord? And that right behind Eye was Amsterdam's gallows field? Verhaalpaal Noord is an open-air exhibition about the unknown history of Amsterdam-Noord. Within 45 minutes you can walk from pole to pole and learn all about this dynamic district.
Unknown stories
Verhaalpaal Noord is a project by creative studio Zeppa in cooperation with writer Bas Kok. From our studio on the former Shell site, we see Amsterdam-Noord changing rapidly. Noord was the district of craft and industry. Now it is a district where the creative sector is finding space. With the Verhaalpalen, we show that the district has gone through many changes over the centuries.
Free open-air exhibition
Verhaalpaal Noord is a free open-air exhibition on Overhoeks that can be visited 24 hours a day. At six locations, the Verhaalpalen mark important historical events or stories. The exhibition starts right behind the ferry on Buiksloterweg.
On view for a year
Verhaalpaal Noord opens 20 March 2025 and will be on display for a year. After that year, we will evaluate the project and want to think about a permanent installation. From rough working area to creative renewal area. North has reason to be proud of its past and present!
With accompanying book
Besides the content for the Verhaalpalen, Bas Kok wrote the accompanying book: Gogme, hoe Amsterdam een wereldstad werd (Gogme, how Amsterdam became a global city). This book about Amsterdam is written from the North's perspective. So you can dive even deeper into the stories.
Zeppa and Bas Kok
Zeppa is the creative agency of designer Annelies Vlasblom. Annelies has worked for over 25 years for organisations that want to make a positive impact and is based in A Lab on Overhoeksplein. Bas Kok grew up in Amsterdam Nieuw-West and Noord. He writes both prose and non-fiction and Noord is one of his favourite subjects.
Amsterdam 750
Amsterdam's 750th anniversary prompted Annelies and Bas to join forces. Annelies wanted to create an outdoor exhibition about the history of Overhoeks and Bas wanted to write a book about Amsterdam. The collaboration resulted in Verhaalpaal Noord: an outdoor exhibition with an accompanying book.
With accompanying book
Gogme - How Amsterdam became a global city
How could an insignificant fishing village grow into the world's most important city in just under four centuries? That question put writer Bas Kok on the trail of a trait that already characterised the first Amsterdammers. A quality that in good Mokum fashion is called gogme. Gogme refers to the combination of cleverness, daring and empathy.
The book covers the complete history of Amsterdam from the year 1000 to the present day. The ideal introduction for those who want to get to know Amsterdam. For those who think they already know the city, it is a renewed acquaintance.
ISBN 9789083 458700
206 page, paperback
Price €20,25 (excluding shipping costs)
Poster Verhaalpaal Noord
Are you a fan of Amsterdam-North and would love to hang this poster above your bed? You can! This A2 poster is printed on nice sturdy paper in a limited edition. So be quick, because gone is gone.
Price €15,00 (excluding shipping costs)
Postcards set of Verhaalpaal Noord
Searching through the Stadsarchief Amsterdam's image bank, we found an incredible number of beautiful images. We wanted to do more with these. So we made two sets of maps with archive images from Amsterdam North.
Set 1 contains the topics:
Swimming pool Obelt (diving demonstration), ENTOS, NDSM, Shell laboratoir and frozen IJ.
Set 2 bevat de onderwerpen:
IJ ferry, Swimming pool Obelt (aerial photography), Tolhuistuin, NDSM and Asterdorp.
Price €7,50 (excluding shipping costs)
