about brainwash
We are Brainwash. We invite the world’s most influential artists and thinkers to share their ground-breaking insights and visionary ideas. Since 2015, we have been welcoming the biggest names in philosophy, literature, theatre, science and politics from Europe and beyond.
With our events, festivals, articles, podcasts and television broadcasts, we challenge you to think about the state of the world. We offer unexpected insights on economy, ecology, democracy and (mental) health. And we explore the future.
brainwash festival
Every year in October, we organise the Brainwash Festival, the largest thought festival in the Netherlands and Belgium. Our festival brings together writers, poets, philosophers, scientists, artists and theatre makers from the Netherlands and beyond, in the heart of Amsterdam.
Every year, the festival consists of over 100 speakers, 80 programs visited by approximately 5,000 visitors. Speakers at our festival have included Mariana Mazzucato, Slavoj Zizek, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Kate Raworth, Michael Sandel, Thomas Piketty and Bernardine Evaristo.
brainwash specials
Throughout the year we host Brainwash Specials. During these events we research the most urgent themes of today through conversations, performances and talks. From the loneliness crisis to filter bubbles, new economic systems and inequality.
For the Brainwash Specials we invite the most prominent guests to speak about these themes. In the past thinkers such als Louis Theroux, Richard Dawkins and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have joined us for these events.
brainwash night
Every year in April we organize a Brainwash Night in a nightclub in Amsterdam. The most talented young philosophers, performers and writers come together to share with you their ideas for the future. A night full of visionary talks, dance performances and, of course, beer.
And there is more!
Our Brainwash Specials are recorded three times a year and broadcasted on the Dutch national broadcaster’s channel NPO2 by our media partner Human. And on the platform brainwash.nl you can find our podcasts, Brainwash bits and articles.