Beautifica is a multi-sensory 360° journey through worlds real and imagined, designed to be a celebration of life. This family-friendly seated experience is a feast for the senses which will leave your spirit refreshed and your face grinning ear to ear.
Beautifica 360 follows the #1 fastest selling planetarium music experience of all time, Mesmerica 360. Behind both, is the inspiration of visionary composer James Hood in conjunction with some of the world’s finest motion animators. Comprising a 360° journey through worlds real and imagined, the show is designed to promote joy with fantastic imagery in a planetarium experience.
The last few years have been an extremely challenging and fearful time for humankind and following the success of Mesmerica, which had truly captivated and delighted its audiences, it was time for James to go deeper as both an artist and composer. What could assist humanity in recovering from the profound effects of a global pandemic and lockdown? His answer was Beautifica.
“I would like to invite you to join me on this adventure. Come celebrate the Beautifica of being alive!” – James Hood.
Beautifica 360 is the perfect night out and family event (ages 6+). Running time of 60 minutes
James Hood James Hood is a renowned versatile musical pioneer. A drummer and percussionist, he has played with the British-American rock band The Pretenders and for more than two decades, masterminded the visionary ambient/electronica act Moodswings, and created an expansive array of soundtrack projects. James’ albums Ceremony and Pure Ceremony, reached #1 on World and New Age charts in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. The story continued with the release of Mesmerica, the global smash-hit that gave rise to the now record-breaking immersive 360°experience. During the pandemic and as a response to it, James created the album and sister show Beautifica, an evolution of his sound and a euphoric celebration of life also now showing in select cities.
The Stage is Open in The Hague! Music, spoken word, dance & more. Come and experience all the amazing talent in our city.
Join us for The Hague Open Stage, a night where creativity takes center stage! Hosted by The Hague Creators and The Social Hub The Hague, this event is all about celebrating local talent, from musicians and spoken word artists to dancers, live performers and more. Whether you’re performing or cheering from the crowd, this is the perfect place to connect, create, and express yourself!
📅 Date open Stage: May 28th, 7-9PM (doors open at 6PM) 📍 Location: The Social Hub The Hague 🎟 Free entry
Open Stage (7 – 9PM, doors open at 6PM)
Expect a lineup of incredible performances—live music, spoken word, dance, drag, and more! Every performer gets 10 minutes to shine.
This event is free to attend, but if you’d like to support, we have a pay-what-you-candonation option. Every bit helps us keep these creative gatherings alive!
🖤 Community First This event is made by creators, for creators—no salesy sponsors, just pure community vibes. Whether you’re performing or just soaking it all in, you’re part of something special.
📲 Stay Connected! Follow @thehaguecreators on Instagram for updates, performer announcements, and behind-the-scenes content.
Let’s create, connect, and celebrate together. See you on stage! 🎭🎶✨
Two striking concerts form the beating heart of the fourth edition of the Davidsbündler Festival: a spectacular musical journey to the moon with Beethoven and a daring program in which the music of Nina Hagen is transformed for string quartet. With top artists Anna Fedorova and Ellen ten Damme, the festival promises to be a groundbreaking celebration of musical freedom.
Davidsbündler Festival
From May 20 to 25, the festival tours the Randstad under the title Carnival of Sounds! Internationally renowned musicians and young top talent meet in a program where classical music, experimentation, and theatrical imagination come together.
Beethoven to the Moon – Music Between Rockets and Stars
The festival opens on Wednesday, May 20, with a unique premiere at the Space Expo in Noordwijk. In this special setting, surrounded by rockets and space capsules, Beethoven: Destination Moon will be performed – a concert inspired by NASA’s Artemis II mission. Pianist Anna Fedorova and bassist Nicholas Schwartz will share the stage with leading musicians and young talents from the Davidsbündler Academy. “In addition to music by Beethoven, works by Vivaldi, Mancini, and John Williams, among others, will be heard, featuring an iconic finale from the Star Wars films,” says Annelaure Cazin, producer at the Davidsbündler Academy. The concert represents a rare cross-pollination of science and music, in which the audience is taken, literally and figuratively, beyond the boundaries of the Earth.
Nina Hagen in string quartet – a musical kaleidoscope
A second highlight of the festival takes place in the intimate Small Hall of the Concertgebouw, where the theme Carnival of Sounds! comes fully to life. Anna Fedorova and Ellen ten Damme share the stage with internationally acclaimed musicians and young talents from the Davidsbündler Music Academy. Central to the program is Schumann’s masterpiece Carnaval, Op. 9 : a lively series of musical miniatures full of masked figures, dancers, and dreamers. With its playful character, rich imagination, and surprising twists, the work fits perfectly within the colorful world of Carnival of Sounds!
The program takes the audience on a journey through various styles and atmospheres: from the dreamy Walking in the Air to the compelling chanson Milord , and from Chopin’s refined virtuosity to Fedorova’s sparkling Hymne à la joie de vivre . Nina Hagen’s Naturträne also finds a special place in a daring arrangement for string quartet. The raw energy of the original takes on an intimate classical sound, creating a surprising encounter between punk, performance, and tradition — entirely in the spirit of Carnival of Sounds!
Carnival of Sounds!
Surrounding these two concerts, a rich program unfolds featuring performances by Daniel Rowland, Dana Zemtsov, Benedict Kloeckner, and Maja Bogdanović, among others, alongside promising young musicians from the Davidsbündler Music Academy. In this fourth edition of the Davidsbündler Feest, the boundaries between genres and styles blur, and musical traditions are turned upside down with a wink. Anything goes, anything is possible. The festival invites the audience to let go of boundaries and experience music in a new way: playful, surprising, and without rules.
About the Davidsbündler Academy
The Davidsbündler Academy in The Hague offers high-quality education in classical music, with a special focus on pianists and string players. The academy is headed by the American Nicholas Santangelo Schwartz (bassist with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) and the Ukrainian concert pianist Anna Fedorova.
During HOOGTIJ you can visit more than 20 locations in the inner-city of The Hague: from white cube to underground; from established art in galleries and institutions to installations and performances in artists initiatives. Free entrance. Free tours for those who wants it.
Startlocation 6.30-7.00 PM: Ruimtevaart (Helena van Doeverenplantsoen 3). Free art tours start here at 7 PM, booking can be soon!
Participants: …ism project space, 1646, Atelier Ferron, Billytown, Bronco, Das Leben am Haverkamp, Durst Britten & Mayhew, EnergieKas, Galerie Maurits van de Laar, Galerie Sophie, Kunstbar, Maldoror, Nest, Page Not Found, Paradise, Parterretrap, Projektruimte WEST END, Quartair, Refunc, Rijksmuseum van het Boek, Ruimtevaart, Sis Josip Galerie, Stroom Den Haag, The Grey Space, West Den Haag.
+++ HOOGTIJ#85 29 May HOOGTIJ#86 25 Sept HOOGTIJ#87 27 Nov
FEATS is an annual English-language One-Act play competition staged across 4 days. Amateur teams from across Europe perform short plays (roughly 35-50 minutes long). A Guild of Drama adjudicator is on hand to assess each performance. Ticket holders can also enjoy a non-competitive Fringe program. The festival is located in a different European city each year.
The Hague-based theatre association, the AATG, are proud hosts in 2026, and are thrilled to be partnering with Theater Diligentia and Theater PePijn.
Visit the Theater Diligentia website to buy your tickets for FEATS 2026. Tickets are now on sale!
How much are tickets?
FEATS tickets vary depending on when you’re coming and what you want to see. This year, single tickets cost 30 euros, giving you access to our Fringe Program and Main Stage shows on a single day. Season tickets cost 100 euros, covering all four days. Ticket holders will receive a free drink during the evening program.
