Vrij Denken. Hoe de ideeën van Luther en Erasmus de wereld verander(d)en'

Opinions in the Netherlands seem to be becoming increasingly harsh and extreme, and the division between groups appears to be growing. Young people, too, are experiencing this polarization and are seeking connection. How can you take a stand without losing your ideals? This is the central theme of the exhibition Vrij Denken (Free Thinking). Discover how public debate on major themes took place 500 years ago. How do you remain in dialogue with one another, even when you are diametrically opposed? Vrij Denken: an exhibition at the Luther Museum

What does free thinking mean when beliefs clash? And how do you stay in dialogue with people who think fundamentally differently? In the exhibition, visitors discover the historic debate between Luther and Erasmus. How did these two scholars communicate in their time, and what was the influence of these writings? Through unique objects, the visitor discovers the viewpoints of Luther and Erasmus.

In the second part of the exhibition, we engage with visitors by exploring questions such as "How do you speak out?" and "How far will you go for your ideals?" We bring different target groups together, and at the end, there is a special card game that allows the conversation to continue—whether in the museum or at home.

Masterpiece

The highlight of the exhibition is a rare printed work by Erasmus in which Luther made handwritten notes. In addition, original prints by Erasmus from the collection of the Rotterdam Library are on display, as well as historical portraits of both thinkers.

Art assignment to Annabelle Binnerts and Lennart Lahuis

The public knows the Luther Museum for the connection between heritage, current events, and art. In this case, the museum has commissioned an artwork from artist and writer Annabelle Binnerts (1995). Words are central to her work, which she executes on walls, textiles, and in books. Binnerts views words as shape-shifters that lead a double life, evoking ideas, objects, or experiences that exist elsewhere. In doing so, her work aligns directly with the central question of the exhibition: how do words shape our view of the world?

Work by Lennart Lahuis

In the garden, there will be a special weather vane by Lennart Lahuis (1986). Specifically for this exhibition, he is creating a sculpture of a so-called 'saying band'. He primarily uses natural processes such as erosion, evaporation, melting, and combustion, but also delves into subjects such as transience, time, disintegration, and history. For 'Free Thinking', Lahuis is showing brand-new work, which he was able to create in collaboration with a traditional ornamental blacksmith thanks to a voucher from the Mondriaan Fund.

Mirror

This exhibition is not a history lesson, but a mirror. Five centuries after their famous debate, Erasmus and Luther help us reflect anew on conviction, nuance, change, and the question of how we deal with differences.