Summer at Nest

This summer, Nest presents a program full of diverse collaborations.

You can take part in the special collective creation process of Draden van ons Nederlandse Slavernijverleden, attend the launch of a publication about the history of Dutch Brazil, enjoy musical outings with the Down The Rabbit Hole festival and Club Laak, and go on a mini-vacation through Laak in the audio walk by Pavèl van Houten. In short: in June, July, and August, there’s a lot happening in and around Nest. Our opening hours are adjusted during this period: Nest is only open during scheduled programs taking place at Nest.

20 June: Rubber & CAF? present Officium (live)

On Friday evening, June 20, Nest presents a concert in collaboration with The Hague-based music label Rubber and the Swiss label CAF?. The performance features Officium, a project by multi-instrumentalist Alban Mercier. The concert will take place in the club space at Laak.

23 June - 27 June: Draden van ons Nederlandse Slavernijverleden

Nest opens its doors for a special collective creation process: Threads of Our Dutch Slavery Past. For five days, the exhibition space will be transformed into a working studio, where a monumental wall tapestry will be created to visualize the colonial slavery history of South Holland. Read more about this special week here.

1 July: Free Heri Heri during Keti Koti

To conclude the collective creation week, we warmly invite everyone to a communal meal on Monday, July 1, in honor of Keti Koti – the commemoration of the abolition of slavery. We will share heri heri, a Surinamese dish that originated in the colonial plantation society and is now eaten and shared as a symbol of remembrance, connection, and healing.

From 1 July: Pavèl van Houten - Bureau Kleine Reizen in Laak

In collaboration with artist Pavèl van Houten, Nest presents an audio walk through the Laak neighborhood this summer. In Bureau Kleine Reizen (Bureau of Small Travels), children and adults share stories about special, interesting, or cool places or things in their neighborhood. With guided assignments from artist Pavèl van Houten, participants are encouraged to observe and listen more closely to their everyday surroundings.

Residents share their perspectives in audio fragments recorded by the artist. These recordings will be combined into one audio walk, available this summer to anyone who wants to get to know Laak better – or is simply curious about the stories that are told about the neighborhood. This way, everyone can become a tourist in their own area!

Note: this programme is available in Dutch only.

3 July - 6 July: Nest at Down The Rabbit Hole

Nest returns to Down The Rabbit Hole festival as part of the visual arts program. Following the activation of Joeri Woudstra’s RADIATE IV last year, a new version of the installation will appear in the forest of the Groene Heuvels. In addition to elements from Woudstra’s recent exhibition Thin Air – You’re Gonna Carry That Weight, the installation will also serve as a space for a musical and performative program curated by Nest and Woudstra. RADIATE V explores various perceptions of time, shaped by intense experiences, euphoria, or meditative states.

Ongoing: Exhibitions at the Palace of Justice in The Hague

The Palace of Justice in The Hague will undergo extensive renovations starting in 2026. Leading up to the renovation, Nest and the Chief Government Architect are organizing a series of art presentations at various locations in the building.

This summer, two exhibitions are on view: one by Christie van der Haak and one by Marleen Sleeuwits. Christie van der Haak’s exhibition takes place in the public waiting area of the palace and is not freely accessible. Marleen Sleeuwits’s work, however, is visible from the outside every day until 11:00 PM.