How to prepare for Noorderzon?

A lot of my friends in Groningen are already talking about Noorderzon. Since it is just a few weeks away, we are all excited to enjoy this Performing Arts Festival in Noorderplantsoen park in Groningen. Did you know that most of the program was already published on June 22, 2024 and that they have published their magazine yesterday. 

Noorderzon Magazine

The program magazine is complete, check it here. You will find it gracing various spots throughout the city: at Forum Groningen, the Grand Theatre, the VRIJDAG Theater, and more locations. Naturally, you can also pick up a copy during the festival.

Noorderzon Timeline 

We made a really cool timeline to check out, an impression below and you can check the link if you want to wander through the Noorderzon timeline.

Some of you may come mainly for the drinks and food, but most of you will be there to experience the wonderful performances at Noorderzon. For those interested, we highly recommend viewing our Timeline or Block Schedule for an hour-to-hour and day-to-day schedule! This will help you decide which tickets to purchase. 

The Noorderzon Festival 2025

The Noorderzon Festival 2025, officially known as the Noorderzon Festival of Performing Arts & Society, is set to take place from August 14 to August 24 in Groningen, Netherlands. This festival is a unique blend of an international performing arts festival and a large-scale summer celebration.

Held annually in Noorderplantsoen park, Noorderzon attracts over 135,000 visitors who come to enjoy a wide array of performances, including theatre, dance, music, literature, and interdisciplinary arts. The festival features both local and international artists, making it a diverse cultural event. Performances are held in tents and on outdoor stages throughout the park, as well as various locations in the inner city of Groningen, known as Noorderzon DownTown.

Noorderzon 2025 Fully Commits to Sustainability

During its 35th edition, the festival grounds will run for 80% on green grid power, with quieter HVO 100 generators as backup. The Noorderplantsoen is now largely equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting. Artists and crew are transported entirely by electric vehicles, internal logistics are increasingly electric, and behind the scenes, operations are fully paperless.

Crew shirts are made of organic cotton and designed for reuse, while visitors bring their own clothing or have second-hand items printed with Noorderzon elements. In collaboration with ReFood, kitchen waste and organic leftovers from caterers are converted into biogas and natural fertilizer. Waste separation is actively encouraged through clear signage and dedicated waste hosts.

Sustainability also means social inclusion: through projects such as Geef een Toegift ("Give a Bonus Ticket") and cooperation with the Food Bank, people with a limited budget or refugee background can attend the festival for free. In addition, a large part of the program remains freely accessible. Read further.

What to expect?

The festival also offers a lively atmosphere with outdoor cafés, food stands, and artistic installations scattered throughout the park. A notable feature is the Dok, a special music stage set above a pond where evening performances can be enjoyed from the water or the surrounding area.

When to buy tickets for Noorderzon?

Tickets for the main programme went already on sale in June , and the full programme will be available from July. The festival is known for its accessibility, as a lot of events and activities in Noorderplantsoen are free to the public. But be aware, you don't want to miss the theatre, acrobatics, dance and other cultural and internationally perfomances of this unique high level!

 

Noorderzon received positive advice from Raad voor Cultuur

The Raad voor Cultuur advises that Noorderzon should once again be included in the Cultural Basic Infrastructure (BIS) for 2025-2028 and is extremely enthusiastic about the festival in its current form and the plans for the coming years. This means that Noorderzon, if the minister adopts the advice of the Raad voor Cultuur, can also count on structural funding from the government for the years 2025-2028.

Recent News about Raad voor de Cultuur

Recently, the Raad voor de Cultuur has been actively working on making culture more accessible throughout the Netherlands. On April 5, 2024, the Raad voor de Cultuur presented its advice on 'Access to Culture' in the Tweede Kamer, highlighting the need for more balanced cultural funding across all regions and the inclusion of diverse art forms. This initiative aims to make it easier for new creators to receive support and calls for an additional 200 million euros to be allocated for cultural development [source].

Additionally, Danielle Arets was appointed as a new member of the Raad voor de Cultuur starting February 1, 2024. Arets brings extensive experience in design research and journalism, focusing on the impact of Artificial Intelligence in these fields [source].

The Raad voor de Cultuur also published its assessment framework for the Cultural Basic Infrastructure (BIS) for 2025-2028, emphasizing the importance of geographical distribution of cultural resources. This framework outlines the criteria for institutions to qualify for state subsidies, aiming to ensure diverse and accessible cultural offerings across the country [source].