Music at the Table

Muziek aan Tafel, a place in the Haagse Hout district where music and meeting come together

In the Haagse Hout district, at Podium NOORD in Mariahoeve, Muziek aan Tafel takes place every second Friday of the month. It is an accessible initiative where residents can join in for music from another continent, a simple meal, and each other's company. In this way, the theater becomes an accessible place where people from the neighborhood meet and discover something new together.

Muziek aan Tafel shows how culture can bring people closer together in a relaxed way. For Tara Reece is that exactly why this initiative is so valuable. She sees how residents, families, and children enter a theater they may never have been to before in an accessible way.

That way, we learn a little more about each other every time.

Proud of Muziek aan Tafel

Music from all over the world

Initiator Mart Nooijen is a program maker at Podium NOORD and organizes Muziek aan Tafel as a recurring moment for meeting and culture. Every month, music from a different continent takes center stage. Musicians are given the space to try out new things, while visitors can listen, eat, and engage in conversation.

The strength lies precisely in the combination of music, food, and meeting. Visitors sit down for soup, discover new sounds, and naturally strike up a conversation with one another.

Easy access to join

Muziek aan Tafel was started with the desire to make beautiful music accessible to everyone. For a small fee, residents can take a seat, and with the Ooievaarspas, the entrance fee is even lower. This makes it possible for more people to experience culture close to home.

That accessibility is important. The initiative connects people with music they may never have heard before, but also with each other. This creates space to share stories, backgrounds, and inspiration.

A relaxed place for meeting

What makes Muziek aan Tafel special is the relaxed setting. You don't have to formally attend a performance, but can simply pull up a chair at the table. While music plays, there is time to eat, listen, and get to know new people from the neighborhood.

That is precisely why visitors return more often. With every edition, new encounters take place and the connection between people from the neighborhood and the city grows.

Proud of what is created together

Within Nieuw70, Muziek aan Tafel is an example of how culture can contribute to encounters, curiosity, and connection in the neighborhood in a simple way. The initiative shows that music is not just something to listen to, but can also be an opportunity to get to know each other better.ara and Mart are visibly proud of it.

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