Publications
Mirror of Amsterdam – History of Felix Meritis
Publication in the framework of the 230th anniversary of the Felix Meritis society and the 220th anniversary of the building.
The publication Spiegel van Amsterdam - Geschiedenis van Felix Meritis (Mirror of Amsterdam - History of Felix Meritis) tells the story of all those people who lived and visited the building Felix Meritis in the last 230 years. This story is connected with the cultural and social history of Amsterdam.
The Felix Meritis building at Keizersgracht 324 was inaugurated by the affluent citizens of Amsterdam with an interest in the arts and sciences in 1789. The various rooms of this ‘Temple of the Enlightenment' were used for concerts, literary meetings, debates and other functions. Concerts given by the Felix Meritis society set the tone for musical life in the Dutch capital until late in the nineteenth century. After the dissolution of the Felix Meritis society in 1888, the building was purchased by Holdert and Co printers, who demolished a large part of the interior. A fire destroyed much of the front façade in 1932. However, the building was restored, and after the war the Communist Party of the Netherlands moved into Felix Meritis, where the Communist daily De Waarheid rolled from the presses. During the turbulent 1960s the building was turned into a cultural palace under the name of Shaffytheater. It was the venue for many performances of experimental dance, mime, theatre and music by artists such as Ramses Shaffy, Randy Newman, Chick Corea, Ron Vawter, Bob Wilson, and many other well-known and lesser-known personalities. Since 1988 the Felix Meritis Foundation has continued these activities in a contemporary form as a European Centre for Arts, Culture and Science.
Authors: Loes Gompes & Merel Ligtelijn
Publisher: Rozenberg Publishers
Price: € 35.00
ISBN: 978 90 5170 979 7
Only available in Dutch.
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