How art transformed our hotel during Amsterdam WorldPride

Imperfect Beauties: How The July Boat & Co celebrated WorldPride through art

When Amsterdam made history by hosting WorldPride for the first time in Summer 2026, the celebrations extended far beyond the canals and parade routes. Across the city, galleries, cultural institutions and creative spaces came together to celebrate identity, self-expression and community through art.

As part of the official Pride Art Route, we opened our doors at The July - Boat & Co to Imperfect Beauties, a solo exhibition by ceramic artist Laurent Muller. For over two weeks, the hotel's public spaces became home to a collection of expressive ceramic works that encouraged guests and visitors to embrace vulnerability, celebrate individuality and see beauty in imperfection.

Its themes reflect something we believe is central to The July: creating spaces where people feel comfortable being themselves and where meaningful cultural experiences become part of every stay.

Bringing contemporary art into the hotel experience

At The July, we believe travel is about more than discovering a destination. It's about connecting with the people, creativity and communities that shape it.

That's why The July - Boat & Co regularly partners with local artists, giving guests the opportunity to experience contemporary art in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Rather than existing behind gallery walls, exhibitions become part of the everyday rhythm of the hotel, encountered while enjoying breakfast at Vessel, returning from a walk through Houthavens or settling into the lobby after a day exploring Amsterdam.

Meet Laurent Muller

Originally from France and based in Amsterdam, Laurent Muller has built a distinctive ceramic practice centred around authenticity. His work challenges traditional ideas of perfection, embracing the unpredictable qualities of clay to tell deeply human stories.

Rather than disguising cracks, fingerprints or unexpected textures, Laurent celebrates them. Every mark becomes part of the finished piece, reflecting the experiences, resilience and individuality that shape each of us.

Speaking about the exhibition, Laurent shared:

"This exhibition is an exploration of playfulness and what it means to be truly authentic in a world obsessed with flawless lives. Clay records every touch, crack and collapse. Our scars and irregularities are what make us complete, alive, unique and beautiful."

It was a message that resonated particularly strongly during WorldPride, where authenticity, visibility and self-expression sat at the heart of celebrations across Amsterdam.

Finding beauty in imperfection

Throughout Imperfect Beauties, Laurent invited viewers to reconsider what beauty really means. Playful installations such as Tutti Frutti and Stap voor Stap transformed individual ceramic fragments into evolving compositions that rewarded curiosity and encouraged visitors to explore each work from different perspectives.

Elsewhere, It's Not All Pink presented expressive human figures with broken limbs, exaggerated forms and uneven glazes, partially veiled beneath soft pink paint and touches of white gold leaf. Rather than hiding imperfections, the sculptures celebrated them as reminders of resilience and personal growth.

Why art matters at The July - Boat & Co

For us, hosting exhibitions is about much more than filling walls with artwork.

Creative collaborations help shape the atmosphere of our hotels, giving guests new reasons to pause, explore and connect with the neighbourhood around them. They also provide a platform for local artists whose work reflects the values we hope every guest experiences during their stay: openness, curiosity and belonging.

As an official stop on Amsterdam's Pride Art Route, The July - Boat & Co welcomed not only hotel guests but also local residents, art lovers and visitors exploring the city during WorldPride. The exhibition became another way for people to experience Houthavens, introducing many first-time visitors to both Laurent's work and our waterfront hotel.

Our commitment to supporting local creativity continues. From exhibitions and artist collaborations to neighbourhood partnerships and cultural events, we're always looking for new ways to celebrate the communities that make each July destination unique.

Stay connected

Whether you're planning your next stay in Amsterdam or simply looking to discover what's happening in Houthavens, The July - Boat & Co continues to host experiences that bring together hospitality, design and local culture.

Keep an eye on our events and stories to discover future exhibitions, neighbourhood collaborations and cultural moments taking place at The July - Boat & Co in Amsterdam.