Real conversation & proper fun. Built in Europe for the world. No tracking ever.

During DDW 2026, Waag is organising a very social party – both online and offline. We’re launching oso.social, a platform that gives everyone access to open social media. Everyone’s welcome; you don’t need to buy a ticket, just create an account on the open social web. The time has come to leave big tech’s social media behind. The time has come to leave big tech’s social media behind. We’ve had enough of toxic content, addictive algorithms, AI slop, and fake news. Online connection should serve us—not the profits of shareholders. That is why Waag is working toward a societal breakthrough: for Dutch society, in close collaboration with Europe, to embrace the open social web. Together with various sectors, we are building open social platforms where we, as a society, set the rules ourselves. At the Open Socials Social Club, we’ll be networking to our hearts’ content, casting our lines far and wide, bringing people together and making connections. With performances by Striptopia, Zobayda, Pelanoir, Gioray, Alles Exploding and more! Dutch Design Week Dutch Design Week (DDW) is annual event showcasing the best of Dutch design. DDW organises and facilitates exhibitions, lectures, award ceremonies, networking events, debates and festivities spread across a hundred locations throughout the city of Eindhoven. Dutch Design Week 2026 will take place from 187 to 25 October.

On Monday 7 September, we will present the first version of 40verse at Garage Noord: an autonomous cultural agenda built on a open social network for the city. After years of technical pioneering, open social networks are beginning to emerge as a serious alternative to the platforms we currently depend on. In Amsterdam in particular, a broad movement is taking shape in which technology, culture and municipal policy are coming together to develop practical alternatives. Together with Waag Futurelab and the City of Amsterdam’s Innovation Department, we would like to show you what this makes possible. We would be delighted to have you there, not only as a guest, but also as someone who, from your own position, can play a part in what comes next. We are honoured that Deputy Mayor Van der Horst, responsible for Digital Affairs, will attend and open the programme. The evening will also bring together a broad group of people from across Amsterdam: large and small cultural organisations, ticketing partners, funds, knowledge institutions, policymakers and those who have supported 40verse from the very beginning. Programme 5:00 PM – Doors open 5:30 PM – Introduction by Deputy Mayor Van der Horst, subject to confirmation 5:45 PM – 40verse presentation ✨ 6:30 PM – The future of open social media and the Culture Coalition 7:00 PM – Drinks, demonstration and Q&A After the presentations, you will be able to create your own account, try out 40verse and continue the conversation over drinks. Practical information Date: Monday 7 September 2026 Time: 5:00–8:00 PM Location: Garage Noord Address: Gedempt Hamerkanaal 40, Amsterdam Background Amsterdam’s cultural sector has become increasingly dependent on a small number of commercial platforms to reach its audiences. As a result, our visibility, audience data and digital relationships now largely lie beyond our own control. During the pre-launch, we will demonstrate how cultural events can be exchanged between different organisations and systems through open social networks. We will also present the progress of the Culture Coalition, a growing partnership working towards a future-proof digital infrastructure for the cultural sector. This evening marks the completion of an important phase in the development of 40verse, but above all, the beginning of something bigger.

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Many people in Europe see the open social web as a path to digital sovereignty. This week demonstrated a problem: the assumption that European governments actually want to be sovereign.

Many people in Europe see the open social web as a path to digital sovereignty. This week demonstrated a problem: the assumption that European governments actually want to be sovereign.

PublicSpaces conference 2026