Yesterday night, Door Open Space in Amsterdam Noord filled with familiar faces, the low hum of bass lines, and the glow of projected portraits as Johnny Blood unveiled CLUBCULT, an immersive exhibition, performance, and book launch. Former club-goers, artists, and friends gathered in celebration of the city’s underground nightlife, reliving the energy of a space that once defined an era. For many, it felt like returning home.
When the legendary club De School closed its doors in January 2024, four photographers and two filmmakers, together with Johnny Blood, captured its 66-hour closing weekend, portraying more than 200 clubbers over three nights. This community, usually hidden from view by the club’s strict no-photo policy, was invited into the studio to be photographed, their energy, style, and vulnerability immortalised on film. The result is CLUBCULT, a visual tribute to the faces, energy, and spirit of Amsterdam’s underground.
With the support of a deeply engaged community, the project was brought to life through a successful crowdfunding campaign that enabled the production of the accompanying CLUBCULT book. A carefully curated selection of portraits offers a rare glimpse into a world that usually stays unseen, celebrating music, freedom, and identity.
At Amsterdam Dance Event, CLUBCULT transforms into an immersive installation where large-scale projections of photography and slow-motion video fill the warehouse space. With music curated by Beste Hira, the experience captures the intimacy and elusive energy of Amsterdam’s nightlife. The project features photography by Lonneke van der Palen, Barrie Hullegie, Tim Verhallen, and Jorre Janssens, and video by Jelmar van Belle and Dorith Mous.
Founded by sisters deeply rooted in the city’s rave scene, Johnny Blood is an Amsterdam-based fashion label that merges fashion, art, and nightlife. The duo made their runway debut during Amsterdam Fashion Week 2024 with Ephemeral, a collection presented in the basement of the now-closed De School, where raw underground energy met poetic elegance. With CLUBCULT, they continue that story, expanding their creative practice beyond clothing into a broader reflection on community, identity, and belonging.
The exhibition remains open throughout Amsterdam Dance Event, from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 October at Door Open Space in Amsterdam Noord. Alongside CLUBCULT, visitors can experience A Scan Through Dutch Rave Culture, a digital archive capturing the visual history of electronic music, and The Grid, an installation by Victor Dissel and Bram van Ravenhorst that merges movement, light, and sound into a fluid, ever-shifting space.
Together, these projects form a collective exploration of Dutch club culture; a celebration of its creativity, freedom, and enduring sense of community.