Havensafari

During the very first edition of Haven Safari in 2009, Amsterdam’s harbor area was opened up to the public in a surprising and engaging way. Organized as a journey of discovery across water and land, the safari guided participants past impressive industrial landscapes, hidden heritage, and innovative art.

Artist DSTRUCT (Thijs Kelder) contributed a powerful visual work: a series of enormous banners featuring portraits of dockworkers. These life-sized faces, installed at strategic locations throughout the harbor area, confronted visitors with the human side of industry. The raw, characterful visages gave the often-anonymous port a personal identity and served as a tribute to the workers who keep it running.

The combination of art, cultural history, innovation, and storytelling made Haven Safari much more than a boat tour — it became a visual and conceptual expedition that encouraged people to see the area in a completely new way. The art projects, including DSTRUCT’s contribution, played a key role in this and marked the beginning of a broader vision for the future of the North Sea Canal region.

Mothership acted as curator and was responsible for the coordination and production of the project.