Discover Benelux | The Netherlands | Unmissable Festivals and Events
Photo: Johan Nieuwenhuize
Photo: Claudy Jongstra
A village of design TEXT: CHARLOTTE VAN HEK | PHOTOS: DESIGNKWARTIER FESTIVAL
The Designkwartier Festival (Design Quarter Festival) transforms the lively Zeeheldenkwartier (Sea Heroes Quarters) in The Hague into a playground for leading Dutch designers and emerging talent from 19 to 21 May. This free event fuses exhibitions, activities, presentations and shops into a haven of inspiring and innovative design. During the three-day festival, a route takes you to some 50 different locations, with pop-up stores, design shops, art galleries, workshops and places like residential houses and indoor gardens surprising you behind every corner. Be amazed by innovative objects alongside wonderful everyday design, and hear the stories behind the design from the makers. The festival’s programme is one long list of highlights. To honour the 100-year anniversary of famous art movement De Stijl and its member Piet Mondriaan, an exhibition has been created where contemporary designers bring a tribute to the movement. Others not to miss are the furniture creations from design label VRIENDEN, which can be admired in a very different 32 | Issue 41 | May 2017
setting than your regular showroom. The pop-up store We Love Textiles shows the endless line of possibilities of experimenting with textiles through a collection of which many pieces have been at the Textielmuseum. Always wanted to take a sneak peek into the most beautiful house in The Hague? Now you can: Mary Hessing, founder of magazine WOTH, is opening up her beautiful design residence to the public, allowing people to gaze at (and purchase) design products. The festival was founded by Mei-Lan Tjoa, Susanne Kennedy and Edwin Pelser, the latter owning the eponymous design shop in The Hague. “Our city has so much to offer on the design front,” Pelser starts. “Together with the municipality of The Hague and several other cultural funds, we created a fantastic platform to introduce design to everyone who wants to meet it.” Held at the Zeeheldenkwartier, a district known for its genuine vibe and popularity among the artistic community, the festival prides itself on its small-scale atmosphere, allowing designers to truly interact with their audience. Something that is taken quite literally during the
‘design-quarter’: 15 minutes in which designers take to the streets and stand on a beer crate, telling the people about their work via a megaphone. “The vibe at the Designkwartier is unparalleled,” Pelser concludes. “You only see happy faces, and the whole area flourishes.”
Always been curious about Mondriaan’s peculiar eating habits? Two De Stijl-inspired pop-up dinners will be organised at topsecret locations. Register at www.eventbrite.nl/e/tickets-pop-up-dinermondriaans-maal-33742976150 Ground plans of the festival are on sale for three euros at Café Cortenaer and mobile selling points. www.festivaldesignkwartier.nl