Amsterdam’s New Sensory Feast: Where Art Gets a Whole New Flavor
Just about to change the way museums tickle your senses, Utrecht Central Museum has rolled out a daring exhibit called “The Blind Spot.” Visitors claim it’s a bit cheesy—literally—and surprisingly, that’s the kind of compliment the curators were hoping for.
What Makes It So Poshly Peculiar
Picture the classic 1610 Still Life with Fruit, Nuts, and Cheese by Floris van Dyck, but now with extra layers: sound, scent, and—most importantly—tactile. The museum’s mission? Make the walls a playground for everyone, especially those without sight.
Happy? Absolutely. Imagine wearing a blindfold as you dive into a canvas, feeling the texture of cheese, grapes, and bread rolled out like a museum snack. You might think, “This is too good to be true,” but it’s as real as the cinnamon in the air.
Key Features, Reimagined
- Touchy‑feely art – Your hands truly meet the exhibits.
- Aromatic stops – Experience the nose‑tingling aroma of ripe cheese.
- Audio overlays – Listen to whispered narratives that let the still life sing.
- Blindfolded challenge – Even sight‑seamed visitors get a hands‑on, senses‑all‑engaged adventure.
What One Guest Tasted
Farid el Manssouri, who’s lived his whole life with limited vision, says it was “something that hit me first.” He couldn’t help but grin as he went around a cheese patch and a bread roll translated from Van Dyck’s masterpiece. “I actually smelled the cheese… and felt it too,” Farid chuckled.
For a few hours, the museum became a sanctuary where every sense—eyes, ears, nose, and touch—can savor art in a way that feels both familiar and startlingly fresh.
Ellie’s Surprise Table: How a Tilted Dish Became a Sensory Delight
Picture this: a tiny table that tilts so far the hummus practically defies gravity, yet the food stays perfectly where it’s supposed to. “It was like a magic trick in a glass bowl,” recounted… whatever name that was, not sure the correct spelling, probably “El Manssouri.”
The Brainchild Behind the Blur‑Bashing Experience
- Jasper Udink ten Cate – the artist who wanted to fire up an art piece with a special dish.
- Jeroen Prins – the designer who had the “no‑fool proof” idea that would keep every bite glued to life.
- Both did mid‑night research on how a blind guest’s eyes (or lack thereof) sparked a whole new way to taste art.
“It was a light bulb moment,” Ten Cate said, half‑laughing. “Those little diners flipping the plate like a magic trick? That was the spark.
Not‑Just Forward in the Aesthetic Department
Steffie Maas is the head of inclusivity at the museum, but she’s not just the “Nice People” officer. “Blind Spot is a test run,” she explains. “We’re aiming for a full exhibit where everyone can feel the vibe without visual dependency.”
How the Crowd Reacted
There’s one guy who was particularly thrilled: Bas Suurland.
“It’s like a sensory roller‑coaster; the eyes are in a movie, but the other senses dance the floor!” he says, while sipping on his spicy pizza.
The Bottom Line
It’s more than an art display – it’s a playful, sensory‑first experiment that makes a lasting impression. Such unique experiences are still rare in the Netherlands, and this one definitely gets the crowd talking.
