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Archive 2025

At the heart of the 2025 Holland Festival was Welcome to Asbestos Hall by associate artist Trajal Harrell. Over the course of 18 days, he presented works in development—the so-called visits—as well as guest performances by choreographers and artists who inspire him. With this project, he concluded his long-term research into the Japanese dance form butoh. 

Alongside the intimate and fragile qualities of butoh, there were also many large-scale productions, such as ROHTKO by Polish director Łukasz Twarkowski, a four-hour multimedia theatre journey about art and authenticity. Another example was Bérénice by Romeo Castellucci, known for his spectacular staging, featuring Isabelle Huppert. 


Grand and immersive—and for the first time in 35 years staged outside Amsterdam—was Star Returning by Lemi Ponifasio, in which he explored the myths of the Yi people. 


A recurring theme throughout the festival was female strength and resistance, seen in the powerful The Brotherhood by Carolina Bianchi, the moving Told by My Mother by Ali Chahrour, and Otemba – Daring Women. As part of Amsterdam 750, this music theatre production about colonialism and female autonomy was included in the programme. 

Theatre

Music

Dance

Opera

Do-it-yourself

Film

Music theatre

Multidisciplinary

Welcome to

Asbestos Hall

Talks

Interviews

Interviews

Interviews

The Holland Festival is always artist-driven. Read interviews with artist and creators and find out more about the backgrounds of their performances.

 

Michel van der Aa - From Dust
Jan van den Berg en Janine Brogt - Otemba – Daring Women
Carolina Bianchi - The Brotherhood
Romeo Castelucci - Bérénice

Ali Chahrour - Told by My Mother

Trajal Harrell - Welcome to Asbestos Hall

Geumhyung Jeong - Under Construction

Takao Kawaguchi - About Kazuo Ohno

Pichet Klunchun - Cyber Subin

Miranda Lakerveld - Ring of Our Time

Hani Mojtahedy, Andi Toma, Golfam Khayam and Nader Adabnejad - Forbidden Echoes

Łukasz Twarkowski - ROHTKO

Gisèle Vienne - Extra Life

Eric de Vroedt -The Seasons

Watch & Listen

Watch & Listen

Watch & Listen

Atlas Orkest - Het Concertgebouw, 21 June 

Meet the Associate Artist: Trajal Harrell - De Balie, 18 June

VPRO Holland Festival TV-Special - 15 & 22 June

VPRO Holland Festival with Cesar Majorana

When We Were Trees - Abel Selaocoe, Kate Moore, Ensemble Resonanz - Het Concertgebouw, 14 June

Listening Night: The Sonic Connections of Craig Taborn - murmur, 22 June

De Groene Amsterdammer podcast introductions