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The Den Bosch COVID19 Summer Programme
Published on 12 November 2020
Netherlands
Noord-Brabant
Marieke Muilwijk
Cultural heritage and spatial planning expert
About this good practice
Due to the Covid19 pandemic all cultural summer festivals 2020 were cancelled.
The Municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch, the inhabitants and local entrepreneurs and associations in the hospitality industry, retail, cultural sector, sports and neighbourhood activities together with entertainment agencies, technical producers, audio-visual companies, and tribunal builders managed to achieve a successful Covid19 proof cultural summer programme.
Terraces were laid out over the waters and the Zuiderpark was transformed into a picnic paradise, on the Pettelaarse Schans there was a Ferris wheel where it was possible to have a safe lunch, drink or dine with menus from a wide variety of catering establishments. All performances in the Summer Theatre in Scala were sold out within an hour. A complete fair was set up near the Brabanthallen, which was also accessible by water taxi from the city centre and cycling and walking tours were organised along local cafés. A rooftop bar was set up on the roof of the city car park and at the Tramkade we organised 'Costa del Silo' with a programme for young people every evening.
With so many different venues created, every entrepreneur from 's-Hertogenbosch has had the opportunity to plug-in on the survival concept and thus be able to get to work and make a turnover.
The Municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch, the inhabitants and local entrepreneurs and associations in the hospitality industry, retail, cultural sector, sports and neighbourhood activities together with entertainment agencies, technical producers, audio-visual companies, and tribunal builders managed to achieve a successful Covid19 proof cultural summer programme.
Terraces were laid out over the waters and the Zuiderpark was transformed into a picnic paradise, on the Pettelaarse Schans there was a Ferris wheel where it was possible to have a safe lunch, drink or dine with menus from a wide variety of catering establishments. All performances in the Summer Theatre in Scala were sold out within an hour. A complete fair was set up near the Brabanthallen, which was also accessible by water taxi from the city centre and cycling and walking tours were organised along local cafés. A rooftop bar was set up on the roof of the city car park and at the Tramkade we organised 'Costa del Silo' with a programme for young people every evening.
With so many different venues created, every entrepreneur from 's-Hertogenbosch has had the opportunity to plug-in on the survival concept and thus be able to get to work and make a turnover.
Resources needed
€300.000 funded by the Municipality for external programme management and costs for taking physical measures in the city to comply with the new rules regarding Social Distancing. Other temporary investment costs were covered by entrepreneurs from the city.
Evidence of success
The Den Bosch Summer Programme was rated overall with an 8.7 (out of 10) and 96% of the visitors made use of the various catering establishments.
Local entrepreneurs and politicians are looking into the possibilities to host The Den Bosch Autumn and even Winter programme. As Covid19 measures are still necessary, stakeholders are eager to continue the concept of an outdoor cultural programme. That is the best compliment the team of the Summer programme could get.
Local entrepreneurs and politicians are looking into the possibilities to host The Den Bosch Autumn and even Winter programme. As Covid19 measures are still necessary, stakeholders are eager to continue the concept of an outdoor cultural programme. That is the best compliment the team of the Summer programme could get.
Potential for learning or transfer
1. Covid19-proof organisation of cultural events.
2. Organise the cultural events in residential areas to reach inhabitants that normally do not visit cultural events; improve sense of neighbourhood.
3. Organising cultural events don’t need 3 year planning; when there’s a common goal, regulations officials and entrepreneurs can come up with practical and safe solutions together without filling out dozens of permits.
2. Organise the cultural events in residential areas to reach inhabitants that normally do not visit cultural events; improve sense of neighbourhood.
3. Organising cultural events don’t need 3 year planning; when there’s a common goal, regulations officials and entrepreneurs can come up with practical and safe solutions together without filling out dozens of permits.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
Municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch
Netherlands
Noord-Brabant
Contact
Marieke Muilwijk
Cultural heritage and spatial planning expert