The Gashouder at Westergas Cultural Park is one of the most unique spaces you’ll find in the city. The building dates back to 1880, when the site was still a gasworks. In the early 2000s, it was converted into a cultural village, but the Gashouder itself will reopen in 2026 as a new cultural center. Unfair26 is one of the first major events to be held there, and it’s a great way to get to know the space.
Unfair was founded in 2012 by artists, and you can tell from the way it’s structured. There are no shared booths where you see works by ten different artists all mixed together. Each participant gets their own solo presentation, and the selection process is overseen by a Curatorial Advisory Committee. This ensures that careful thought goes into who is featured and why. One of this year’s participants is Benjamin Francis, a multidisciplinary artist who creates installation art and participatory performances. His work explores dyslexia and societal norms, and requires active engagement from the visitor. Also participating are Zwaantje, Lakisha Apostel, and Eva van Bemmelen, alongside more than fifty other selected artists.
The fact that there are more than 60 artists, each with their own presentation, gives you, as a visitor, the chance to walk from booth to booth and step into a different world each time. No “white cube” vibe, no gallery owner peering over your shoulder. You simply talk to the artist themselves. That’s exactly what Unfair has strived to be from the very beginning: a direct connection between artist and audience, whether you’re a collector or someone stepping into an art fair for the first time. Over the past decade, the platform has provided a stage for more than 650 artists through over 70 events.
Unfair26 calls for active engagement from visitors: you simply talk to the artist directly, not to a gallery owner.
Westergas Culture Park is located in the Staatsliedenbuurt neighborhood, within walking distance of the Jordaan. The site offers that rare combination of industrial architecture and green outdoor space that has always made it a pleasant place to spend an afternoon or evening. Unfair26 gives you a good reason to visit in September.