IASP 2024 World Pain Congress Brings Pain Experts from Around the Globe to Amsterdam: Free Activities for Residents

Programme for Amsterdammers

Dance, movement, music and its influence on pain in Vondelpark by the Picasso statue
Dates: Tuesday 6 August and Thursday 8 Aug at 18:00 hours

Tour: Pain in Art at the Rijksmuseum
Dates: Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th August at 15:30
From 9th August - 27th December, every Friday at 14:30
Free tour excluding admission ticket

Comedy Show: Tragedy + Time = Comedy at Boom Chicago
Dates: Wednesday 7 August and Thursday 8 August at 20:30

Science: Humour as Pain Therapy in NEMO
Data: during Museum Night on 2 November, 19:00-02:00 hours

From 5th to 9th August, the capital will welcome thousands of international pain experts for the IASP 2024 World Pain Congress at the RAI Amsterdam. Unique to this edition is the offering of (free) activities for Amsterdammers: for people in pain, their loved ones, and other interested individuals. This congress, which features Nobel Prize winners Ardem Patapoutian and David Julius as speakers, promotes exchange and collaboration among thousands of researchers, doctors, caregivers, and policymakers worldwide from various pain disciplines. The programme for residents includes dance workshops in Vondelpark, tours in the Rijksmuseum, and comedy shows at Boom Chicago. These activities aim to raise awareness of pain and pain management among the general public in an accessible and positive way.

In support of the IASP (International Association for the Study of Pain), a Local Advisory Committee (LAC) has been established for the World Pain Congress. The Amsterdam Convention Bureau (ACB), the congress bureau of amsterdam&partners, has asked them to align with IASP’s mission of ‘together alleviating pain’ by bringing the knowledge from the congress to the residents of Amsterdam. This way, not only the hospitality industry, the hotels, and the attendees of the congress (researchers and healthcare professionals) benefit from the arrival of the IASP congress, but the residents can also experience a positive impact. In collaboration with the Pain Alliance in the Netherlands (PAiN) and with the support of amsterdam&partners, they have developed free activities for Amsterdammers to discuss pain and pain management in an accessible and positive manner. This has led to the creation of the  PA!N IMPACT 2024 Programme.

Since 2016, the ACB and the RAI have been working towards the arrival of the IASP and are coming to Amsterdam specifically for their 50th anniversary. It is of great importance to the ACB to bring themes such as pain research and pain management to the city, given their relevance and impact on society. Together with the RAI, the ACB has actively pitched at international fairs to bring this congress here, as it aligns with Amsterdam's focus on innovation, health, and well-being.

PA!N IMPACT 2024 Programme

This programme focuses on the residents of Amsterdam and aligns with the city's health policy. This ensures that the conference not only reaches academics and medical professionals but also has a positive impact on the local community.

The programme offers four unique components focusing on the themes of movement, laughter, art, and science. On Tuesday 6 and Thursday 8 August, participants can enjoy the dance workshop ‘Moving, Music, and the Influence on Pain’ organised by SANCTUM in Vondelpark, where movement, meditation, and dance are central. On Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 August, the English-language comedy show ‘Tragedy + Time = Comedy’ takes place in Boom Chicago, where the audience is inspired to empathise with tragic stories that prove that humour truly is the best medicine. Tour guides at the Rijksmuseum offer a free one-and-a-half-hour guided tour titled ‘Pain in Art’ on 6, 7, and 8 August at 15:30, and starting Friday 9 August, for 19 weeks, every Friday afternoon at 14:30. During this interactive tour, the way pain has been depicted and interpreted throughout the centuries in various artworks will be explored. Finally, NEMO will host the interactive experiment ‘Science: Humour as Pain Therapy’ on 2 November during Museum Night, examining whether humour has an impact on visitors' pain thresholds.

Quick facts: Amsterdammers with pain

- 1 in 5 Amsterdam residents suffers from chronic pain
- Pain is the #1 reason to visit the doctor
- 30% of people with pain experience it for more than 2 years
- The societal costs of pain in the Netherlands amount to no less than 20 billion euros annually, which is higher than for cancer, diabetes, or heart diseases
- Pain is often not visible, which means that people with pain also face stigma
Source:  PA!N - Pain Alliance in the Netherlands