A full day of concerts is undoubtedly a celebration. But if forced to name a downside, all the sitting might be it. Fortunately, composer Sophie Jurrjens is here to get festival visitors moving. She has designed a special Soundwalk for the occasion. Guest curator Helena Basilova knows firsthand how enriching these auditory walks can be—Sophie is her sister.
The idea behind the Soundwalk is that music and environment interact meaningfully, transforming a simple stroll into an immersive experience. While walking through a tree-filled setting, listeners enjoy music composed specifically for those locations via headphones, allowing them to experience The Hague in a new way.
Helena Basilova: “I enjoy giving the audience something active to do, not just sitting in a hall and listening. Isn’t it lovely, a walk in the middle of the day? You also experience the city in a completely different way. The route naturally passes beautiful trees, which have often been here much longer than we have. I find that a thrilling idea: they were already here, they’ve seen more than we have. They are witnesses to everything that has happened in their surroundings, even the bad and traumatic things. With so much going on in the world, so much war, I often think about that.
The walk starts at De Nieuwe Kerk, moves through the Palace Garden, and returns to Korzo. To begin, scan the QR code via the festival’s website or the OFF Track app. The app will remain available for a month, so visitors can revisit the Soundwalk even after the festival.
You will need a phone and earphones for the walk.
The sound walk is only accessible to holders of a passe-partout or a day pass.