The Strangest Exhibition in Amsterdam

Two dark buildings in Kruislaan 126, a red brick house and a modern glass structure, make one of the most curious museum of the Capital: the Tot Zover. In the middle of the biggest cemetery of Eastern Amsterdam, the Nieuwe Ooster, stands indeed a permanent exhibition that promotes – at least according to the organizers – an honest and open approach to the funeral culture.

The permanent collection, mostly donated by single persons, includes paintings, death masks, urns and miniatures. But also tools and objects related to different funeral rites: with multicultural spirit are also showed ingredients for a modern Muslim funeral and Chinese funerary tools. And there is more: free audio tours both for the museum and the memorial park, children activities and – this is awkward – a “Funerary Academy” where science and funeral industry seem to meet, sharing their common interest in the death cultures.

Here comes the tip: until April 10^th you will be able to see “Postmortem – Photos full of love and sorrow”: a voyage into funeral rites showing around 185 photographs of dead people from the largest European collection of the kind – owned by the British Paul Frecker – and mostly related to the period 1860 – 1920. More recent photos, even video productions, are also exposed in order to show the visitors glimpses of a “modern” death.

To whom it may concern: the Museum welcomes homemade pictures as voluntary donations to the collection.

By: Paolo