Melissa Fortes is a dynamic multidisciplinary artist who uses her voice to build bridges between worlds. Raised in a Cape Verdean-Dutch family in Rotterdam, she weaves the warmth of the islands together with the pulse and rhythms of the city in her work. On stage, all her disciplines converge. As a singer, actress, songwriter, and…
The Herds – life-sized animals move through the city During the 10th anniversary edition of the International Community Arts Festival (ICAF), monumental animal figures will move through the streets of Rotterdam. Operated by an international team of artists and one hundred Rotterdam residents, these sculptures are crafted from fragile, ecological materials. Fleeing the impacts of…
Free program for the city Het festival komt er weer aan! More information From March 16 through March 29, 2026 Kom allemaal kijken
Sarah Kaushik is an artist and scenographer based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. She holds a Master’s degree in Scenography from HKU (2020–2022) and has worked as an artist and designer since 2010. Originally from India, she began her career as an exhibition designer, collaborating with curators, craftspeople, and artists engaged in traditional craft practices. Her…
Haags Verhaal is an initiative that helps residents discover different worlds within their own city. Moving through The Hague like a travelling storytelling circus, it organises storytelling gatherings, events, publications, community art projects, and dialogue sessions. Through these activities, Haags Verhaal reaches the heart of the city’s social fabric, uncovering stories that might otherwise remain…
Eva Koopmans (1993) is a relational artist and designer. With a background in scenography, she focuses on spatial interventions that bring people and places into contact with one another. Facilitating encounters forms the common thread throughout her work — whether in theatres, at festivals, or within organisations. Eva uses art as a means to participate…
Het Markttheater is a theatre collective that brings new life to the tradition of market theatre, performing with the spirit of the street and engaging directly with the world around it. Led by artistic directors Sean Hauser and Justin van der Veen, together with business manager Sofie de Vroom, the company works with a broad…
The mission of R.A.A.F. (Roots, Authenticity, Agape, Freedom) is to foster connection, healing, and self-expression through dance, while strengthening the role of art and movement within healthcare and well-being. This vision grew out of the project “Dance! with F|Fort”, developed with young adults living with and beyond cancer (AYA’s – Adolescents & Young Adults). The…
Sophie Mantel (1989, Sassenheim) is a theatre maker, visual artist, and the artistic director of Heem. She grew up in a Christian family and has been fascinated since childhood by the rituals and experiences within the church. Through her initiative Heem, she creates art projects across various disciplines, often centered on interfaith and philosophical encounters.…
With a background in theatre-making and further studies in journalism, Bart Huijser combines creative dramaturgy with journalistic craftsmanship. His work focuses on telling stories from his own neighborhood, Feijenoord in Rotterdam, a place where many regional and national developments intersect in everyday life. As a journalist and audio maker, Bart documents the lives and experiences…