Crash Course Collecting
Ready to boost your collecting confidence? Whether you’ve just joined Young Collectors Circle or have been part of the community for a while, our Crash Course Collecting might be exactly what you need. During this special live masterclass, you’ll get up to speed in 2.5 hours on everything you want to know as a (future) art collector.
We’ll take you on a whirlwind tour from the cave paintings of Lascaux to Duchamp’s urinal and the digital art of today. You’ll learn how the art market works (from gallery to auction), discover what materials and techniques reveal about an artwork, and pick up practical tips for presenting, caring for and documenting your collection. The Crash Course Collecting is exclusive to Young Collectors Circle members and is designed to offer you the practical tools and confidence you need. The evening will take place at Tempel in Amsterdam, a vibrant creative hub with artist studios that once served as a theosophical temple, a synagogue, a cinema and a mosque.
Afterwards, you get a chance to purchase Het Grote Kunstkoopboek, the Dutch book we wrote for anyone who wants to learn more about collecting art.
First Saturdays: Gallery Tour
Do you enjoy visiting galleries but hesitate to step inside on your own? Or do you want to catch up on the latest developments in the world of contemporary art? Join our gallery tour, that takes place on every first Saturday of the month.
In the afternoon, you’ll explore the Amsterdam gallery scene together with other art enthusiasts. We’ll visit three galleries within walking distance of each other. Along the way, you’ll discover works by emerging talents as well as established names, and get to know the gallerists better. The selection of galleries we’ll be visiting will be announced soon. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to catch up with fellow Young Collectors Circle members over drinks.
Studio Visit: Isa van Lier
Shortly after the opening of her solo exhibition ‘Lumina’ at the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Isa van Lier (1996) invites us into her studio. There, she will share what it takes for an artist to prepare for a museum show, from the first sketch to a finished installation. Expect an intimate look into her creative process, with test pieces, drawings and works in progress that reveal how her dreamlike worlds take shape, step by step. A unique opportunity to see up close how an artist constructs her own universe.
Van Lier graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague in 2020. She creates ceramic sculptures, installations, paintings and drawings that radiate a sense of softness and wonder. Her work offers an escape from reality, evoking timelessness and childlike curiosity. During a stay in Japan, she became fascinated by kawaii culture and Shinto animism, which holds that even the smallest object possesses a soul. These influences remain visible in her work today.
Following earlier projects at Kunsthal, the Hortus Botanicus and the outdoor exhibition ‘Paradys’, Van Lier continues in Schiedam, to pursue her dream of creating temples: places shaped by calm, attentiveness and imagination.
Img. Isa van Lier, Len Tempel, Temple of Spring
Fair Visit: Art Antwerp
A visit to Art Antwerp is a fixed highlight on our art calendar. This year you can join a guided tour and get to know participating gallerists and artists—making the fair feel far less overwhelming.
Art Antwerp offers an engaging selection of established and up-and-coming artists: 77 galleries from 11 countries—including 19 first-time participants and 14 Antwerp-based galleries—present highlights from their programmes. The selection is carefully curated and by invitation only. Explore the fair with fellow art lovers and wrap up with a drink.
Blue Knowledge Art Collection
On Thursday afternoon, 18 December, we’ll close the year together with a visit to the exhibition space of the Blue Knowledge Art Collection. With a festive glass of bubbles in hand, we’ll toast to the year behind us and to Heidi Hahn’s solo exhibition, Invisible Anatomies.
During these end-of-year drinks, the collectors behind the Blue Knowledge Art Collection will take us into their personal and inspiring journey as collectors. They’ll share what drives them, the considerations that shape the development of their collection, and how it has evolved over the years. We’ll also offer a sneak peek of what awaits us in the coming art year, we can’t wait to experience even more art together in 2026.
In Invisible Anatomies, Hahn explores the layered and often elusive relationship between the physical body and the inner self. Her painted figures feel both present and withdrawn, intimate yet anonymous. They reveal subtle architectures of emotion, memory and identity, with anatomy becoming a metaphor for what usually remains unseen.
We look forward to raising a glass to the arts with you that afternoon!
BRAFA Art Fair
On Sunday 25 January 2026 we will visit BRAFA Art Fair in Brussels. We will start at 1:00 PM with a welcome address and a guided tour along some of the fair’s highlights. Afterwards, you will have plenty of time to explore the rest of the fair at your own pace. We will round off the day together with a glass of champagne at 5:00 PM.
BRAFA Art Fair will once again take place at Brussels Expo, from Sunday 25 January to Sunday 1 February 2026. This new edition brings together over 140 leading galleries from 18 countries. More than 20 disciplines are represented, ranging from antiquity to contemporary art, including Old Master paintings, classical African art, antique furniture and design, silverware, tapestries and textiles, rare books and jewellery.
Please register by Monday 5 January 2026 by sending an email to members@youngcollectorscircle.nl.
Travel: Lisbon
From 28 to 31 May 2026, we’ll travel to Lisbon for ARCO Lisboa, the Portuguese edition of the renowned ARCO art fair. In addition to visiting the fair, we’ll explore leading galleries and artists’ studios, and take a day trip to Quinta do Quetzal in the Alentejo region, where Dutch collectors Cees and Inge de Bruin present their private collection of contemporary art on a stunning estate that brings together art, wine, architecture, and nature.
From 28 to 31 May 2026, we’ll travel to Lisbon for ARCO Lisboa, the Portuguese edition of the renowned ARCO art fair. The fair takes place in the historic Cordoaria Nacional, where a range of international galleries present contemporary art with a strong focus on Portugal, Southern Europe, and the African diaspora. Over the past years, ARCO Lisboa has evolved into a dynamic fair and a fixture on the European art calendar. During our visit, we’ll not only explore the fair but also dive into Lisbon’s vibrant art scene — from tours of the city’s leading galleries to behind-the-scenes visits to artists’ studios.
One of the highlights of our four-day trip is a day excursion to Quinta do Quetzal, a contemporary art center and winery in the Alentejo region. This unique place was founded by Dutch collectors Cees and Inge de Bruin, whose extensive private collection of contemporary art forms the starting point for each exhibition at the Quetzal Art Center. Expect an inspiring combination of contemporary art, architecture, and nature. The program includes a group dinner and a welcome drink at special locations at the heart of Portugal’s art scene.
Interested in joining us? Have a look at our dedicated webpage for this trip for all details on costs & registration.
Travel: Tokyo
Van 10 t/m 13 september 2026 reizen we naar Tokio, een bruisende centrum van de hedendaagse kunst in Azië. We bezoeken Tokyo Gendai, ontdekken toonaangevende galeries, musea en studio’s, en genieten samen van een diner en welkomstcocktail. Als extra optie kun je deelnemen aan een tweedaags bezoek aan het iconische kunsteiland Naoshima.
Van 10 t/m 13 september 2026 reizen we naar Tokio, het hart van de hedendaagse kunstscene in Azie. We starten met een bezoek aan de internationaal gerenommeerde kunstbeurs Tokyo Gendai, die bekend staat om de vernieuwende presentaties. Ook verkennen we de gallery scene van de stad, van experimentele kunstruimtes tot hi-end galleries. Tijdens deze reis krijg je inzicht in de kunstscene van Tokio en ontmoet je opkomende kunstenaars in hun studio en een inkijkje in de vermaarde Takahashi collectie. Tot slot nemen de tijd om enkele van de top-musea van de stad te bezoeken, schuif je aan bij een heerlijk diner en leer je je reisgenoten kennen tijdens onze welkomst-cocktail. Als extra optie bieden we een extra reis-onderdeel aan: op 15 & 16 september kun je aansluiten bij het bezoek aan het iconische kunsteiland Noashima, waar werken van o.a. Yayoi Kusama en Walter de Maria in een prachtige setting te zien zijn.
Omdat Tokio een ontzettend populaire bestemming is raden we je aan om zelf wat extra dagen in te plannen in Japan, bij voorkeur voorafgaand aan de trip. Zo kun je, naast de artsy highlights die centraal staan tijdens de Young Collectors Circle reis, ook de klassieke hotspots ontdekken: van hip Harajuku tot sereen Mount Fuji. We delen natuurlijk graag een lijstje met must-sees met je.
Kijk hier voor alle informatie en de mogelijkheid om je in te schrijven voor deze reis.
Travel: Istanbul
From 25 to 27 September, we’ll travel to vibrant Istanbul, where centuries-old history meets contemporary art. During this trip, we’ll visit both Contemporary Istanbul, Turkey’s leading art fair, and the Istanbul Biennial, where you can discover emerging talent and established artists alike. In addition to these international art events, we’ll also dive into the city’s dynamic art scene — the program includes a visit to a unique private collection and several up-and-coming galleries. We’ll also enjoy a group dinner at an elegant restaurant and kick off the program with a cocktail moment.
From 25 to 27 September 2026, we’ll travel to Istanbul for Contemporary Istanbul and the Istanbul Biennial. The fair takes place in a stunning location right on the banks of the Bosphorus, where international galleries present contemporary art with a strong focus on Turkey and the surrounding region. Over the past years, Contemporary Istanbul has grown into an important platform for art in Southeast Europe and the Middle East. During our visit, we’ll also explore the Istanbul Biennial, with exhibitions spread across the city — from historic buildings to unexpected outdoor venues. In addition, we’ll visit several leading private collections and meet collectors who help shape Turkey’s vibrant art scene. The program includes a group dinner and a cocktail moment.
More information about this trip and registration can be found here.