Occupied City

Amsterdam on Screen

The Museumplein façade has been transformed into a huge cinema screen for 137 days. The film Occupied City (Still), which captures everyday life in Amsterdam, will be shown continuously on the south façade of the museum without sound. At first glance this may not be visible, but the film’s core is the occupation of Amsterdam during the Second World War (1940–1945). The film takes us past over 2,000 locations where traces of this history survive beneath the surface, ranging from well-known sites to remote corners of the city.

Looking at the city today, we may wonder how the past continues to influence the present. The film is shown with sound in the museum’s auditorium. A voiceover narrates what occurred at each address, recounting stories of persecution, collaboration, or resistance. The film is based on Bianca Stigter’s book Atlas of an Occupied City. Amsterdam 1940–1945 and was shot by Steve McQueen and the cinematographer Lennert Hillege between 2020 and 2023.

Steve McQueen

The artist and director Steve McQueen was born in London in 1969. Retrospectives of his work have been held at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Laurenz Foundation, Schaulager, in Basel (2012–2013), the Tate Modern in London (2020), and the Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan (2022).

As a filmmaker, he is known for Hunger (2008), Shame (2011), 12 Years a Slave (2014), Widows (2018), and the series Small Axe (2020). His documentary Occupied City premiered in 2023 and his latest film Blitz was released in November 2024. McQueen won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 2008 for Hunger, and the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2014 for 12 Years a Slave.

The City as a Work of Art

The film on the Museumplein façade is not a conventional screening, but rather a contemporary cityscape of still images portraying Amsterdam in an innovative way. With a 34-hour runtime, it is unlikely that passers-by will see the same segment twice. Whether you are cycling, walking, or pausing for a moment, there is always something new to discover. The screening is accessible at any time of day and is free of charge.

Explore Occupied City Further

Spread over 40 days – mostly on weekends – the film will be shown with sound between 9-17h. During these screenings, a voiceover guides viewers past 2,000 city locations, revealing the stories behind the façades, including the human experiences, tragedies, oppression, terror, and the persecution of Jews and other groups under the German Nazi regime.

There is no additional fee for the film, which is included in the museum entry ticket. The film features an English voiceover with Dutch subtitles.

A Year of Historical Significance

The film is presented in a historically significant year. In 2025 Amsterdam celebrates its 750th anniversary and it marks 80 years of freedom.

Images

© Steve McQueen. Courtesy the artist, Thomas Dane Gallery and Marian Goodman Gallery.

Credits

Thanks

The exhibition of Occupied City in the Rijksmuseum has been made possible by the VriendenLoterij.