The Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam is hosting an exhibition about Josephine Baker. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Josephine Baker, one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century. She was a dancer, singer and one of the first black film stars.

In addition to her artistic career, Baker was a passionate activist. She fled the racist United States to live in Paris. Baker was ahead of her time as an activist for equal rights in many areas. She was also active in the resistance against Nazi Germany, and she had a connection with Amsterdam.

During the Second World War, she joined the French resistance. She used her fame to smuggle secret information and worked as a spy for the Allies. Her courage and commitment in the fight against Nazi Germany were later recognized with various awards. After the war, Baker continued to campaign for civil rights and equality. In 2021, she was buried in the Paris Panthéon with great honors as the first black woman.

The exhibition also pays special attention to the great influence that Josephine Baker has had on later generations. Her iconic appearance and self-confident charisma are still an important source of inspiration for fashion and pop culture today. World stars such as Beyoncé, Madonna and Diana Ross have been directly inspired by her.

Josephine Baker. A life full of resistance, until November 9, 2025, Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam, Plantage Kerklaan 61