stichting DOX Competitors

Op 30 maart 1968 opende ‘Cosmisch Ontspanningscentrum Paradiso’ haar deuren, met als doel een vrijplaats te bieden aan creatief talent. Het kerkgebouw aan de Weteringschans werd vanaf die dag een trekpleister voor jongeren, publiek en artiesten, uit Amsterdam, Nederland, Europa en ook de rest van de wereld. In de veertig jaar die daarop volgden – in 2008 vierde de stichting haar veertigjarig bestaan - is Paradiso uitgegroeid tot poppodium, nachtclub en cultuurpaleis in één.

Amsterdam: a world city? Yes, but also small, quaint and strong-minded. Home to Johan Cruijff, Rembrandt, Ajax, the Red Light District, the Dutch East India Company and marijuana. The capital of the Netherlands. A 1000-year-old trading city that has a special relationship with water and a strong focus on entrepreneurship, creativity, citizenship and free-thinking. In the monumental Amsterdam Museum building you will discover the story of Amsterdam through a large number of masterpieces, such as an aerial map from the Middle Ages and Breitner's The Dam. See, read about, hear and experience how the city has developed in the Amsterdam Museum.

Pakhuis de Zwijger is the independent institute in Amsterdam for social innovation & creation. As a progressive driver of urban change, we produce impact projects, creative content and over more than 600 live programs per year concerning themes on the creative industry, sustainability, diversity, economy and democracy. Pakhuis de Zwijger is a platform that is all about inspiring discussions, connections, creativity, bottom-up initiatives and innovation. The magic does not only happen on stage; the discussions and unexpected connections that follow are key for building the PDZ platform with new partnerships, festivals, research projects and social impact initiatives. Since PDZ opened its doors in September 2006, it has grown a big community that tunes in on a regular basis for network meetings, lectures, discussions and workshops that are linked to creation and social innovation.