The Electric Ladyland Museum in Amsterdam is truly unique and touts itself as the “First Museum of Fluorescent Art.” The museum, started and operated by artist Nick Padalino, opened in April 1999.
The museum is housed in the basement below Padalino’s art gallery also called the Electric Lady. When entering the basement exhibit, one is surrounded by otherworldly objects, rocks, and shapes that come to life when the regular lights go down and the black lights come on. More than one visitor has described the experience as being akin to an acid trip.
Electric Ladyland - one of the highlights of 8 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Amsterdam (Read all about Amsterdam here)
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Highlights of the Electric Ladyland Museum
The Electric Ladyland Museum is owned and operated by one man. The experience is dubbed “participatory art” and is one of the few museum exhibits in the world where visitors become part of the actual installation.
Besides the main exhibition room, the museum also contains a large collection of elements and rocks that react to UV lighting. It is a surreal experience to see regular, boring grey rocks become vibrant kaleidoscopes under black lights. In addition, the museum also houses an eclectic collection of vintage sets for theater productions and other displays that spring to life once the regular lights go down and the UV lights glow.
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Great information to remember when visiting the Electric Ladyland Museum
Reservations are required to visit the Electric Ladyland Museum, so be sure to check the website on how to buy tickets. Tickets are only available through the museum’s website. Exploring the exhibit should take about an hour, and you can find other nearby attractions, such as both the Tulip and Cheese museums to enjoy an afternoon in the area.
The Electric Ladyland museum is a one-man show, and Nick Padalino handles all aspects of it. He is extremely knowledgeable about fluorescents, stones and UV lights, and his passion for this art form is apparent.
photo by ilovebutter (CC BY 2.0) modified
Electric Ladyland
Location: Tweede Leliedwarsstraat 5, 1015 TB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Open: Wednesday—Saturday from 2 pm to 6 pm
Phone: +31 (0)20 420 3776
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