The Bluest Monday

From 16 to 29 January, De Hallen in Amsterdam will be dedicated to mental health. In a program of free exhibitions, film screenings and workshops, taboos around mental vulnerability will be broken through conversation with participants and audience.

The third Monday of the year is Blue Monday – the day we are most depressed, according to British psychologist Chris Arnell. The Bluest Monday seizes this period to present a multifaceted program in De Hallen and its surroundings, together with program partners Beeldend Gesproken, the OBA, House of Denim, De Filmhallen and Thrive (Amsterdam Mentally Healthy).

The program includes exhibitions by Joanneke Meester and Esmay Groot Koerkamp, audio tours by Sophie Jurrjens, Fashion Against Depression by students from House of Denim, Spoken Word by Wilde Woorden Amsterdam and documentaries by Hanna Verboom and others.

The full program can be found on The Bluest Monday website. Note: (almost) all program elements are free, but sometimes a reservation is required.

Four in ten of all Dutch people face mental vulnerabilities in life and at least 45% of Amsterdam residents feel that they are not okay. Being mentally healthy is not at all self-evident. 18% never talk about it and at least half of young people see mental health as a taboo subject. A good conversation can instantly give a lot of air. The Bluest Monday wants to promote this conversation.

The Bluest Monday is an initiative of Beeldend Gesproken and is organized together with De Hallen, Cinetree, Get it done, Denim City and Thrive.

The Bluest Monday is made possible thanks to support from the City of Amsterdam, Social Run and Sabawas.
Beeldend Gesproken is a gallery and art loan for artists with psychiatric backgrounds.