Dutch Glass Biennale returns to Amersfoort

After the success of its first edition in 2024, The Dutch Glass Biennale, ‘Living the Glass Age’, returns to Eemklooster (a former monastery) in Amserfoort, the Netherlands, from 20 March to 12 April 2026.

This is the only nationwide art biennale in the Netherlands dedicated to glass in contemporary art. A new generation of national and international artists is set to demonstrate how glass continues to evolve as an innovative and boundary-pushing medium within contemporary art.

The organisers say that Living the Glass Age is not a traditional exhibition, but a platform for experimentation, innovation, and artistic freedom. From delicate sculptures to monumental installations, the biennale showcases the versatility and expressive power of glass while highlighting current developments in glass art. The event is aimed at a broad audience of art lovers, makers, students and interested visitors.

While glass is often associated with functional objects, Living the Glass Age reveals the material’s radical artistic possibilities. Artists work with techniques such as pâte de verre, glass bonding, flameworking, and glass engraving, opening up new visual and conceptual dimensions.

Alongside the exhibition a complementary in-depth programme of events features demonstrations and explanations of these techniques, allowing visitors to not only observe the works but also to gain insight into the creative process.

The 2026 edition will showcase the work of 31 professional artists. After an exclusively Dutch edition in 2024, the biennale takes on a distinctly international character this year. Participants include artists who are still relatively unknown in the Netherlands but enjoy major international recognition, such as the Verhoeven Twins and Winnie Teschmacher, whose work is in leading museum collections worldwide.

In addition, Krista van Norel has created a new, unique artwork especially for Living the Glass Age, which will be unveiled during the opening ceremony.

The educational program has been expanded significantly this year, too. Pupils and students from primary education, secondary education, and vocational education will work with glass in workshops and interactive programmes. There will also be artworks in the show made by academy students, demonstrating how the event is investing in the future of glass art and inspiring a new generations of makers.

Living the Glass Age, the Dutch Glass Biennale 2026 takes place at Eemklooster, Daam Fockemalaan 22, 3818 KG Amersfoort, The Netherlands. For further information see the website: www.livingtheglassage.com

Image: ‘High voltage waggle dance’ by Stef Veldhuis will be displayed at the exhibition. It uses VLF sound recordings within the glass pods.