Musical walk tells Rotterdam stories at Hofbogen

Between 17 and 26 May, O. Festival for Opera. Music. Theatre. and Rotterdamse Dakendagen organise the Over de Bogen-event. A walking concert where the audience travels two kilometres across the roof of the monumental Hofbogen, right through four city districts.

Walk With Me

Artist duo Strijbos & Van Rijswijk are creating a new version of their project Walk With Me for Over de Bogen, combining ambient sound and spoken text with music. Artist Merel Smitt, herself a resident of one of the neighbourhoods around the line, together with writer Corinne Heyrman is recording stories of residents and those involved in the transformation of this object. These stories highlight not only the rich past of the train connection, but also what this object means for the neighbourhood now and the expectations surrounding the realisation of the future Dakpark Hofbogen.

Walk across the arches

Since the last trains ran over the Hofbogen, the stretch from Hofplein to the motorway has not been opened to the public before. Over the Arches can be visited in two ways between 17 and 26 May. On the first and last weekend, special live performances of the composition can be experienced in the form of a walking concert using headphones, in which the composition will constantly change in interplay with the surroundings.

In addition, visitors can walk along the Hofbogen daily and listen to the music through installations along the route. These special sound screens they encounter will let the music be heard only to the passer-by. Ticket sales for both walks start on 4 April via o-festival.nl, the live performance can also be visited with a day ticket for O.

O. Festival for Opera. Music. Theatre. and Rotterdam Roof Days

Two Rotterdam festivals are collaborating to open up this iconic rooftop. O. is an international festival for opera, music and theatre with a programme full of surprises: from international top to primal Rotterdam and adventurous location projects. From 16 to 26 May, experience more than 60 performances and concerts at 30 diverse locations in Rotterdam.

During the Rotterdam Roof Days, doors are opened that normally remain closed and Rotterdam's 'roofscape' is accessible. On dozens of roofs across the city, in addition to amazing views, you will find an extensive festival programme with knowledge about the city and its buildings, music, theatre, sports, food, drinks, party and more.

Photo: Ossip van Duivenbode