Unwary pedestrians, tram passengers, and motorists look on in surprise when they see a spectacle rolling through the center of Amsterdam. In the “March through Amsterdam” that took place on Friday, December 6, 1963, but the march did not have a demonstrative character; it is nothing more than a formation of six gentlemen who are apparently deliberately following a route.

The playful and absurd happenings orchestrated by Willem de Ridder and Wim T. Schippers, were both notable figures in the Dutch avant-garde art scene. During the 1960s, these artists were known for staging events that blurred the lines between art and everyday life, often provoking the public with unexpected and humorous interventions in urban settings.

The “March through Amsterdam” is an example of these unconventional happenings, where the seemingly nonsensical act of a small group following a route challenges ordinary perceptions of public order and performance.