The must-attend events and dates for your diary this October!

Karel Martens – Unbound
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
to 26 October 2025

The first retrospective of Karel Martens, one of the most important post-war Dutch graphic designers, known for his idiosyncrasy and his playful and experimental way of working. Karel Martens has trained and inspired generations of younger designers in the Netherlands and internationally. The exhibition is a journey of discovery through the oeuvre that Martens built up over 65 years — from his adventurous lettering on buildings to books, typography, postage stamps, telephone cards and wallpaper.

Evert Bloemsma, Type and Ideas
Enter Enter, Amsterdam
3 October – 2 November 2025

Evert Bloemsma (1958-2005) was ‘one of a kind’ type designer. He is still regarded by his peers as a pioneer and innovative thinker, as evidenced by his own writings  and his activities as an educator and photographer. The time has come to reassess his contributions to his professional f ield, in the context of a major technological shift from analog to digital typography between the 1980s and 2000s.

Opening: Fri. 3 Oct. 6-8 pm. Finissage: Sun. 2 Nov. 6-8 pm. Guided tours with the curators Jaap van Triest and Sébastien Morlighem: Sat. 25 Oct. 2-4 pm / Sat. 1 Nov. 4-6 pm / Sun. 2 Nov. 4-6 pm

AFFR
LantarenVenster, Rotterdam
8 – 12 October 2025

World’s largest film festival on cities and architecture celebrates its 25th anniversary: 25 years of carefully curated films, debates, masterclasses, and special collaborations that offer fresh perspectives on the built environment. AFFR takes over LantarenVenster with a captivating program featuring over 80 films, including documentaries, fiction, shorts, and classics. Expect architects’ portraits, premieres, in-depth conversations with filmmakers, introductory lectures, and urgent debates.

SOFTER Social
Kas Hoftuin, Amsterdam
17 October 2025, 19:00-00:00h.

How can we add more softness to the world of tech? Born in Copenhagen and making its mark in London, SOFTER – a movement for shaping softer digital futures – is finally coming to Amsterdam. To celebrate the arrival of SOFTER, we are inviting you to an evening of connection, exploration and soft vibes at Kas Hoftuin, a beautiful venue at the heart of Amsterdam.

​The evening runs from 7–12PM and unfolds through a program of community voices exploring “softness” in tech. Full schedule to be announced soon.

Dutch Design Week
Various location Eindhoven
18 – 26 October 2025

From 18 to 26 October 2025, the Dutch Design Week will take over Eindhoven, with over 2,000 designers showcasing their work. The theme of this 25th edition is the past. Present. Possible. This theme invites you to look at things differently, and the Dutch Design Week is all about experimentation, new ideas, and exciting visions of the future, rather than perfectly finished products.

• – Create your personal route on designweekmap.com
• – Attend the AI as your creative counterpart workshop with Jeroen Disch on Tuesday 21 October at 09:30 till 10:45

KIKK Festival
Namur, Belgium
23 – 26 October 2025

The KIKK Festival is an international festival of digital and creative cultures that explores the crossovers between art, science and technology. It covers creative coding, art, web and UX design, AI, data visualisation, storytelling, research, interactive experiences, graphic and motion design, VR and XR. This year, the KIKK Festival is delving into the world of sound and acoustics, examining the profound relationship between rhythm, sound and life itself. Rhythm is an invisible force that orchestrates our world, from circadian rhythms that guide sleep and wake cycles, to tides, changing seasons and the revolutions of celestial bodies. It is the pulse of existence, woven into the lives of plants, animals and even the smallest organisms.