Art routes and open studios in the Netherlands: the best of 2026
⏱️ 9 minute read
An art route is different from an art fair. There is no hall, no entrance ticket, no queue. You simply walk into a city or village, follow a route past studios, small galleries, and temporary exhibitions, and discover artists in their own environment. That makes it intimate in a way a fair can never be.
But there is more than just routes and open studios. The Netherlands also has a growing range of urban art festivals and alternative concepts that make art accessible in a completely different way. Interactive, experimental, sometimes downright unexpected.
In this blog, I will guide you through three types of events: classic art routes, open studio routes, and alternative art concepts. There is something for everyone, and together they provide a good picture of how vibrant the Dutch art scene is in 2026.
Art Routes
You follow an art route at your own pace, in your own time. No program, no time slot. You drive or cycle from location to location, discover work in unique environments, and decide for yourself how deep you want to go. These are the finest in the Netherlands.
Kunstroute Texel
Texel is the only island on this list, and that is precisely why it is included. An art route on an island is a different experience than one in a city. You cycle from village to village, past dunes and polders, and discover studios, galleries, and temporary exhibitions in barns, farmhouses, and former fishermen's cottages along the way.
The artists on Texel are often people who have consciously chosen the island for its space, light, and silence. You can see that reflected in their work. A lot of landscapes, a lot of nature, but also surprisingly contemporary and experimental. Highly recommended for those who want to combine an art route with a weekend away.
Kunstroute Noordwest Veluwe
The Kunstroute Noordwest Veluwe combines two things you rarely find together: nature and art. The route runs through one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the Netherlands, past studios and galleries that have deliberately chosen this environment. The work is often influenced by it: organic, spatial, with a strong connection to the landscape.
A visit to the Kunstroute Noordwest Veluwe is a day out that is more than just a day out. You walk, you cycle, you discover. And somewhere along the way, you come across a studio you didn't expect, belonging to an artist you didn't know, with work that stays with you.
Atelierroute Maastricht
Maastricht has one of the richest art scenes in the Netherlands, partly thanks to the Jan van Eyck Academie and the presence of international artists and designers. The studio route reflects that: the level is high, the work is internationally oriented, and the locations are often as interesting as the work itself. Historic buildings, former monasteries, industrial spaces.
Maastricht is also the city of TEFAF, and that leaves its mark. There is a culture of looking here, of really looking, that you don't find everywhere. A visit to the studio route feels like a deepening of everything the city already has to offer.
Buy art directly from the artist
Not near an art route? The original works by KOJO Art can be viewed online and ordered worldwide. Acrylic and oil paint on canvas, each piece unique and straight from the artist.
Open Studio Routes
Open studio routes give you a glimpse behind the scenes. You see what a workspace looks like, smell the paint, and see the failed attempts alongside the completed works. It is the most honest way to get to know art and to truly meet an artist.
Open Ateliers Amsterdam
Amsterdam has one of the largest open studio routes in the Netherlands. Every year in May, hundreds of artists spread across the entire city open their doors. From the Jordaan to the North, from de Pijp to the East. The route is so large that it is impossible to do it in one day. That is not the intention, either. You choose a neighborhood, take your time, and let yourself be surprised.
What makes Amsterdam special is its diversity. Painters next to sculptors next to textile artists next to photographers. Established names alongside recent graduates. You can spend an afternoon on one street and still feel like you've seen the whole art world.
Open Ateliers Utrecht
Utrecht has a compact but high-quality open studio route. The city is manageable enough to get a good idea of what is happening in the Utrecht art scene in a single weekend. The route runs past studios in the city center, but also past creative hubs and collective workspaces on the outskirts of the center.
Utrecht has its own character: a bit quieter than Amsterdam, a bit more personal. The artists take the time for a conversation. You feel they are happy that you are there. Not as a potential buyer, but as an interested visitor.
Open Ateliers Brabant
North Brabant organizes a broad open studio weekend annually where artists in multiple municipalities open their doors at the same time. From Breda to Den Bosch, from Eindhoven to smaller towns. The route is large and varied. That spread is exactly what makes it interesting: you discover artists you would never encounter in an urban context.
Brabant has a strong tradition of craft and workmanship, and you see that reflected in the work. A lot of attention to material, technique, and the handmade. Besides the big names, there are always surprises to be found in the smaller towns.
✨ Affordable Art: originals for max. €50
At KOJO Art you will find original works in acrylic paint, hand-painted and unique, available for max. €50. Shipped worldwide, straight from the artist.
Urban Art Festivals and Alternative Concepts
Besides routes and open studios, there is a third category that is growing rapidly: events that combine art with performance, technology, music, or urban activation. Not a route that you follow, but an experience that you undergo.
Kunstscene Tilburg — November 7 & 8, 2026
Kunstscene is the urban art festival of Tilburg and one of the most unique events of its kind in the Netherlands. On November 7 and 8, 2026, dozens of artists will open their studios all over Tilburg. But it doesn't stop at studio visits. There are also performances, presentations, and events spread across the city, from former factory buildings to residential studios in quiet neighborhoods.
What distinguishes Kunstscene is the atmosphere. Open, curious, without pretense. The work is contemporary and the participants are diverse: established names next to young makers, painters next to installation artists, locals from Tilburg next to artists from outside the city. Partly thanks to Fontys and the Academy for Visual Arts, Tilburg has a creative scene that speaks its own language. You notice that in every studio you step into.
Tilburg is also a city you can walk around. The studios are scattered throughout the city, but the distances are manageable. You can plan a route, but you can also just walk and see what you come across. The latter often yields the best surprises.
KOJO Art is participating in Kunstscene Tilburg 2026.
On November 7 and 8, I will open the doors of my new studio in Carré Tilburg. You can drop by to see the work, have a chat, and, if you like, take something home. No sales pitch, no pressure. Just the work and a good conversation.
Follow me on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates on location and times.
STRP Eindhoven
STRP is one of the most extraordinary art festivals in the Netherlands. The festival stands at the intersection of art and technology: interactive installations, digital art, AI, light, and sound. The locations are spectacular. Often large industrial spaces in Eindhoven that fit perfectly with the futuristic character of the festival.
STRP is not a festival for those looking for a painting for above the sofa. It is a festival for those who want to experience where art is heading and what happens when technology and creativity touch. Essential reading for the curious visitor.
Gogbot Enschede
Gogbot is the most quirky festival on this list. Every year in September, it takes over the city center of Enschede with art, technology, and hacker culture. Think of robot installations, generative art, live coding, and performances that push the boundaries between human and machine.
Gogbot has a distinct underground character. It is not a festival that tries hard to please everyone. It challenges, provokes, and shows what happens when artists and hackers share the same space. For those curious about the fringes of what art can be, Gogbot is a must.
De Parade
De Parade is unique in the Netherlands: a traveling theater and art festival that tours multiple cities every year. Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague are on the fixed route. The festival takes place on a festive site full of small theaters, tents, and stages where you walk from performance to performance all evening long.
Art and theater blend at De Parade. You see street theater, music, visual arts, and performance in an atmosphere that can't be found anywhere else. It is a night out that you don't plan, but rather experience. Always different, always worth it.
Creative Hub open days
In villages and cities across the country, creative hubs regularly open their doors to the public. A creative hub is a collective building for artists, designers, musicians, and other creatives. Often in former factories, warehouses, or office buildings. On open days, you can walk through the entire building and meet dozens of makers in a single visit.
It is one of the most efficient ways to get a broad picture of what is going on in a city. And because hubs consciously operate outside the established art world, you will find work there that you rarely encounter in a gallery or at a fair.
Nacht van de Nacht
The "Night of the Night" is held every year in October and is officially about light pollution and dark skies. But in practice, it is also an evening where art, culture, and nature come together in a way that is impossible during the day. Museums, studios, parks, and unique locations open their doors after sunset. What you see, hear, and feel is different in the dark.
For art lovers, it is a chance to experience work in an atmosphere you rarely witness. No bright fluorescent lighting, no crowded halls. Just the work, the night, and the people around you.
Art Week
In various cities throughout the Netherlands, an "Art Week" is organized annually: a week full of events, lectures, studio visits, gallery rounds, and openings. The format differs per city, but the idea is the same everywhere. Art should be accessible, not just on a fixed day or at a fixed place.
An Art Week is ideal for those who want more than a single visit. You can build your week, from an opening to a lecture to a studio visit, and thus get a much richer picture of what is happening in a city. Check local programs for dates and participating cities.
Why these types of events are different from a fair
At a fair, you see work in a neutral environment. White walls, good light, professional presentation. That has its value. But on an art route, in an open studio, or at a festival, you see work in context. You see the place where it was made, the people who make it, and the world from which it arises.
Accessible. No entrance fee, no dress code, no expectations. You just walk in.
Personal. The artist is there themselves. You can ask questions, follow up, and engage in a conversation that is not possible anywhere else.
Surprising. You don't know what you're going to find in advance. That is exactly the point.
Tips for your visit
Don't overplan
It is tempting to want to visit as many studios or locations as possible. But the best experiences come when you take your time. Choose a handful of locations and really go for them. Better to see three studios well than ten in a rushed manner.
Ask the "stupid" question
There are no stupid questions in a studio. Ask what you want to know about the material, the process, the price, the inspiration. Artists at an open day are there specifically for that conversation.
Bring cash
Not every studio has a card terminal. If you want to buy something—and the chance is high that you will—cash is always handy.
Finally: a personal note
Art routes and open studios are, for me, one of the most beautiful ways to connect with people who are genuinely interested in what I make. No sales pitch, no pressure. Just a conversation about the work. That is why I participate.
This year, you can find me at Kunstscene Tilburg, November 7 & 8, 2026, in my new studio in Carré. Come by if you're in the neighborhood.
Do you want to know where to find me this year? Follow me on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe to the newsletter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an open studio route?
An open studio route is an event where artists open their workspaces to the public. Visitors can walk around, view the work, and engage in conversation with the artist. Admission is usually free.
When are the open studios in the Netherlands?
Most open studio routes take place in the spring (May/June) or autumn. Kunstscene Tilburg takes place on November 7 and 8, 2026. Open Ateliers Amsterdam and Open Ateliers Utrecht are annual recurring events. Check the event websites for current dates.
Can I buy art on an open studio route?
Yes, in most cases you can buy work directly from the artist. Preferably bring cash, as not every studio has a payment terminal. Prices vary widely. From small works for tens of euros to larger pieces for hundreds or thousands of euros.
Where can I buy affordable original art?
On art routes and open studio routes, you often find affordable originals directly from the artist. Also online: the Affordable Art collection by KOJO Art offers unique originals in acrylic paint for max. €50, shipped worldwide.
What makes STRP and Gogbot different from other art festivals?
Both festivals focus on the combination of art and technology, but with a different character. STRP is large-scale and spectacular, Gogbot is rawer and more underground. Together they show how broad the spectrum of art and technology in the Netherlands is.
What is De Parade?
De Parade is a traveling theater and art festival that tours Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague every year. The festival combines theater, music, visual arts, and performance on a festive site. Accessible, varied, and always different.
When and where is Kunstscene Tilburg 2026?
Kunstscene Tilburg 2026 takes place on November 7 and 8, throughout Tilburg. KOJO Art is participating from the studio in Carré. Follow Instagram or sign up for the newsletter for the exact location and times.
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- 5 things to look out for when buying original art
About KOJO Art
KOJO Art is a Dutch artist working with acrylic and oil paint. The collection includes abstract paintings, geometric works, and color field paintings, available as originals or prints and shipped worldwide. The Affordable Art collection offers unique originals for a maximum of €50.
