Open Friday Tour - Hydroponics Edition
Discover the wonders of our hydroponics during our weekly Friday tour! Peek inside our urban farm, and learn about the innovative bio-art installations around the Biotoop with our greenhouse and garden coordinator.
Mediamatic has its own urban agriculture system in the form of a now Hydroponics greenhouse at the Biotoop Dijkspark, near Amsterdam Central station.
The greenhouse has gone through many transformations over the years, each reflecting our ongoing experimentation and curiosity about sustainable growing in the city.
We first started with an aquaponics system, which is a way to grow plants and fish together in a closed system. The fish excrete ammonia, which gets transformed by bacteria into nitrate, the latter being used from the plants. After considering the ethical implications of keeping fish and facing some practical challenges, we decided to explore other approaches.
For a while, we experimented with anthropoponics — using nutrients from human urine alongside canal water — before finally transitioning to hydroponics. This method uses only canal water and added nutrients to grow plants, making it efficient, flexible, and suitable for year-round cultivation.
During the tour, you'll get the chance peek inside our greenhouse, in which you'll be invited to taste different herbs, and explore the possibilities of sustainable urban farming. Our greenhouse manager will explain more and answer questions about our ongoing research and innovative and unconventional methods.
During the walk, we will also talk more about our current research, exhibitions and growing art installations that you find both on the outside and inside of our building. At the end of the tour, we'd like to invite you to stay for a tea from our herbs in the greenhouse!
Information
Friday Tour at 12:00
Tickets €4,50 (including drink)
Please note that, unless everyone speaks Dutch, this tour will be held in English.
For questions, please send an email to program@mediamatic.nl.
Mediamatic Biotoop, Dijksgracht 6, Amsterdam
Click here for the route
