KAZEMAT | WORM x ACHTERBAN

From the 12th to the 30th July 2023, creatives came together from Den Haag and Rotterdam in a celebration of art, music, and creativity at the “KAZEMAT: WORM X ACHTERBAN” multidisciplinary festival.

A three-part collage made of separate images - a white speaker sat on a table, a hanging assemblage of various metallic, wooden and wire parts and a girl with a red skirt playing a guitar.

Hosted by WORM’s Open City, ACHTERBAN was held at the Waterkant venue in Den Haag. The festival was testament to the power of collaboration and the desire to forge deeper connections between these two dynamic cities.

The festival’s mission was to provide a platform for various artistic mediums, including multimedia installations, live performances, music events, and DJ sets. As a result, KAZEMAT: WORM X ACHTERBAN created a unique space for networking and cultural exchange.

All three parties learned from each other, blending their expertise and perspectives to offer their platform to artists from multiple backgrounds and mediums. The commitment to supporting a wide range of artistic practices also underscored the festival’s dedication to inclusivity and diversity within the arts.

Waterkant offered a picturesque backdrop for the art. With its café-kitchen-bar, park-side ambiance, and even a WW2 bunker (featuring three spaces), Waterkant was a great setting for the festival.

A three-part collage of separate images - flowers in a basket on a grey cloth, part of a shopping trolley, a pile of orange life jackets in a cage, a man playing a CD player

In curating “KAZEMAT: WORM X ACHTERBAN,” the organisers looked to acknowledge and celebrate the common artistic and social connections, cultural needs, and tempo shared by Den Haag and Rotterdam. They successfully bridged the gap between these two cities, nurturing a vibrant artistic community while enriching the cultural landscape of the region. This event was a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended, and further cementing the bond between Den Haag and Rotterdam in the realm of multidisciplinary art.

Some of the artists who participated during this first edition: 

Guido Bouwman / Installation

Heidi Hörsturz / Audio visual installation

Sam Janssen / Installation

Smila – Bouwbak / Interactive Playground

Bailey Mees / Vinyl Installation

Mathias Cartier + Gyorfi Kata / Video-Poetry installation

Music:

J.Theodore, Zamba, BenKult, Princess K, Kavian, Youki Flu, Tjetjoebetja, K Cidder, Pettson, Dj Gido.