OndersteBoven kicks off 2026 and with it its 20th anniversary with the workshop Monsters by Dorian de Rijk, organized together with Queer Currents as the closing event of 2 years of Alliantie Queer365, supported by the Municipality of Amsterdam.

Join us on an expedition!

For this special occasion, Dorian has created a workshop about safety and belonging. Dorian: “Monsters is about how we deal with things that aren’t clear-cut. It celebrates that you can look at things from different angles. How do you deal with something that can’t be captured in one word? Even in a place where you feel safe, something can feel different than you expect. What does safety actually feel like? And how do we think we should experience it?”

Monsters wants to create space that doesn’t exist yet. New space for new experiences, a space where anything can happen. A queer space. Create your own monster portrait with Dorian, design a Fake-ID, or brew an elixir. This winter is the moment to deepen roots and create new forms of belonging.

In her work, Dorian draws inspiration from the Japanese Knotweed, a plant that grows everywhere. This plant shows us a new way of looking at belonging. The Japanese Knotweed makes every place her home. She grows through everything. She can be disruptive, but also healing. In winter, she goes underground to strengthen her roots. A monster, full of resilience.

You are welcome, so do register!

Finally, we wish you a colorful year, a steadfast and proactive 2026, in which we can be each other’s cheerleaders.

Irene Hemelaar and Mireille de Ridder
Production team OndersteBoven
+31 6 50 567 256