For 32 years, Over the IJ Festival was a playground of artistic and current social engagement in the urban public space. Over the IJ grew into a platform for talent development, with every opportunity for research and experimentation for new and - until 2 years back - (more) established creators. Over the IJ developed and presented projects that could only stand in our context such as: Noordwesterwals by Dogtroep where the floodgates opened and the Y ramp flooded (1994); Wanna Fight Again (2009) by YoungGangsters that started in the Zeecontainer programme and grew into established makers over the years within our programme; Wandelen op de Champs-Élysées (... ) when everyone is drunk with which the Flemish FC Bergman broke through in the Netherlands (2010); the international collaborative project FAÇADE by the Moroccan Les Anciens Abattoirs / Over het IJ in which visitors rode around the NDSM wharf in old taxis (2014); City artist Massih Hutak who started Verdedig Noord, a hotbed for resistance (2018); DEGASTEN who in collaboration with Theatre LeBelle created the performance BREKEN in Cordaan's swimming pool (2018); Marte Boneschansker developed and presented her work at Over het IJ from 2014 o. a.o. BLOOS (2018); Bart van de Woestijne grew into the programme through the Atelier Oerol / Over het IJ, including the iconic In order of disappearance (2019); Collectief Walden / Over het IJ's 30th anniversary project EILAND, a conversation starter about rising sea levels and climate (2022); City artist Hilda Moucharrafieh with Longing To Cross The Horizons (2022, 2023); No Matter What by R3LN4CHT, in which the Docklands on the NDSM wharf acted as a club scene where queer friendship was explored (2024); and alongside them countless other creators that the festival has been rich in, who were given every opportunity to develop their work and makership with us.

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In order of disappearance, Bart van de Woestijne / Over het IJ, Oerol & Festival Cement (2019) Photo by Moon Saris

Verdedig Noord, Massih Hutak / Over het IJ (2019)
Photo by Moon Saris

No Matter What, R3LN4CHT / Over het IJ & Likeminds (2024)
Photo by Moon Saris

EILAND, Collectief Walden / Over het IJ (2021)
Photo by Moon Saris

Working with many partners, we were an important incubator for the theatre field for many years.

Together with creators and audiences, we explored the city's potential. Within this, we created other or new realities and added new stories and perspectives to an infinite list of locations such as, for example: the Y-slope at the NDSM wharf, the football field at IJplein, the Vliegenbos, the IJ, Crossfit aan ‘t IJ, the Tolhuistuin, Plan van Gool, Draka, Noordoogst, Tuindorp, De Bongerd, Buikslotermeerplein, Waterlandplein, the swimming pool at Cordaan, Damen Shiprepair and the ferry.

Text continues below the photos.

BREKEN, DEGASTEN / Theater LeBelle (2018)
Photo by Moon Saris

Festivalhart in 2012
Photo door Saris&DenEngelsman

We have renewed ourselves numerous times and have always kept looking at what the cultural field, the city and society needed and responded with our various programmes and development paths.

In recent years, Over het IJ has also focused on more knowledge sharing with the field through, for example, a Makersloket and Makersmeetings. Something we are taking into account in exploring a relaunch within a Development & Advice Platform for location theatre, in which IJ Productions wants to keep the core: talent development and making work on location in the urban context. This involves different working processes and non-standard ways of organising and producing. The commitment is to continue sharing this accumulated expertise as widely as possible with the latest generation of theatre makers and our many collaborative partners.

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Zeecontainerprogramm
Photo by Saris&DenEngelsman

BLOOS, Marte Boneschansker (2018)
Photo by Moon Saris

With our heads held high, we look back on 32 years of Over het IJ Festival. And with a heart filled with pride we look at everything this festival has caused in the past, present and future. Thanks to all (former) team members, (former) board members, volunteers, makers, partners and financiers who have made Over het IJ Festival meaningful all these years. We have one last wish: let art, and with it imagination, exist in unexpected places in the city.

Festivalhart 2019
Photo by Moon Saris

FAÇADE, Les Anciens Abattoirs / Over het IJ (2014)
Photo by Saris&DenEngelsman

SAVE THE DATE: on Saturday 15 February, we will celebrate 32 years of Over het IJ Festival during Over het IJ(nd).

Put the date in your calendar! For further information, follow @overhetij.nd on Instagram and keep an eye on our website www.overhetij.nl.