ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN

ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN (Summer of Antwerp) is a cultural festival that spans the summer season of July and August and engulfs the city, popping-up in all sorts of extraordinary locations. The festival reflects the co-operation between disparate groups to bring an eclectic range of multidisciplinary and diverse performances and events; often free of charge and catering to all ages and tastes, ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN is deeply rooted in the city.

Theatre - Music - Circus - Movies

ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN  reflects the global nature and atmosphere of the city. Comprising music from all corners of the globe, open-air movies presented against the startling background of the river Scheldt, the pick of the international contemporary circus scene dotted around the city, strong visual theatre both inside and out, dance extravaganzas at the most unexpected locations and countless other surprising and memorable events.

One-off extravagant projects such as ‘The Elephant' or ‘The Giant' stimulate the festival atmosphere and remain the talk of the town long after.

Unusual Locations

Site specific performances are ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN‘s core.  Concert halls and theatres make way for tents, hangars, derelict buildings and open-air locations. Projects are tailored to a specific location or space, situated both in the centre, in the suburbs or on more deserted sites.  Working and performing on particular locations creates a ‘new reality' for both actor and spectator and gives performances an unexpected profoundness.

Diverse Audience

Day after day the festival throws its doors open to people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. By focusing on providing a wide range of cultural experiences at multiple locations in and around the city and at prices that beggar belief (from free to € 8) ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN targets the widest possible audience. Accessibility to events for those with disabilities is an important aspect of any successful festival, and ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN takes every measure to ensure the participation of this section of the audience is appropriately catered for.  

Hundreds of Co-workers

Apart from the foreign productions, projects are realized in co-operation and co-production with local cultural institutions and social organizations (e.g. neighborhood committees, social clubs ...). Their active co-operation and presence during the festival assures ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN of a strong foothold in the city and its suburbs.

And of course, no summer is complete without volunteers - hundreds and hundreds of happy, dedicated volunteers thriving on the boundless energy that ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN generates.

A sustainable Festival

ZOMER VAN ANTWERPEN's ecologic responsibility is realized through a ‘lead by example' approach focusing on staging a sustainable festival limiting its impact on the environment. From relying on durable and ecological materials for project-site construction and printing communications to encouraging visitors to come by bicycle or public transport and offering fairtrade products, the festival's commitment to staging a sustainable festival continues year on year.