Last week, Subterra officially opened its doors. This new musical incubator is located in a unique setting: the former nuclear bunker “Noodzetel,” beneath the former Ministry of the Interior on Schedeldoekshaven. The official opening took place with a full evening program in De Kern, the former bunker canteen, now transformed into a meeting place and dance hall. Once designed as a refuge for government officials during times of crisis, it now serves as a hub for The Hague’s music scene, radio, and late-night programming.
Alderwoman Saskia Bruines (Culture): “Subterra is a unique place in The Hague, even in the Netherlands! We’re preserving a special piece of The Hague’s history underground here, while simultaneously giving local musicians the space to develop and inspire each other. The Hague is the cradle of Dutch pop culture, and we want to keep it that way. Good rehearsal spaces and a safe place for equipment are incredibly important in this regard. I’m pleased that we’ve achieved this here in collaboration with the Noodzetel Foundation.”
From government bunker to creative base
The bunker dates back to the Cold War and was built as an emergency administrative center in case of a national crisis. The 2,000-square-meter space has been vacant since 2013. After fourteen months of renovation, the recording studios and rehearsal rooms are now fully operational. All studios have been rented, and there’s even a waiting list.
Subterra has thus become a unique place where history and contemporary culture come together, two floors below street level.
Studios, radio and space for musical development
The bunker’s transformation has led to the creation of fourteen professional production studios, three rehearsal rooms, and De Kern: an intimate space for listening evenings, radio sessions, album releases, and events.
The studios are housed in the bunker’s former sleeping quarters and sickbay. Original features, such as steel doors and thick walls, have been preserved. Subterra offers musicians a permanent workspace they can make their own. It also serves as a cultural meeting place where creators can inspire each other and new collaborations emerge.
The Hague cooperation
Subterra was created by a collective of Hague-based creators and entrepreneurs: Joris Hoefnagel, Benjamin Havenaar, Lounes Doulache, Stefan Hagesteijn, and Marieke McKenna. The rehearsal spaces are managed by the Noodzetel Foundation, which supports musicians in The Hague and fosters cultural entrepreneurship.
Marieke McKenna: “Our vision and hope is that Subterra will put The Hague on the map internationally as a leading music city, where there is room for experimentation and innovation.”
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Text: Gemeente Den Haag. Translation: The Hague Online. Photographer: Martijn Beekman.
