Four Splanekor participants visited one of the most renowned water-based art events in Europe
In May, a four-member delegation from Slovakia took part in a study visit to the Dutch city of ’s-Hertogenbosch, where they had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the Bosch Parade project. This event is considered one of the most renowned water-based art festivals in Europe and serves as a major source of inspiration for Splanekor.
The participants attended the Garden of Earthly Delights program, which serves as a kind of prelude to the main Bosch Parade festival. It is also a creative and community space that functions as an open hub for the entire festival. The site includes workshops, rehearsal spaces, concerts, discussions, and artistic projects being prepared for the Bosch Parade procession itself. It is here that artists, volunteers, organizers, and visitors come together, creating the unique atmosphere of collaboration that characterizes the festival.
Over the course of several days, the participants actively contributed to the preparation and operation of InstruMEN II, an interdisciplinary artistic performance combining music, movement, vessels, and visual art. The Slovak participants became involved not only during the preparation phase but also in the performances on the water themselves. This gave them the opportunity to experience the festival from the perspectives of organizers, artists, and performers alike.
When a Festival Becomes Part of a City
One of the things that impressed the participants most was not only the vessels themselves, but also the way the Bosch Parade project has been systematically developed over many years.
The city has a dedicated space that serves as the festival’s base throughout the year. It includes storage facilities, workshops, and workspaces where artists often prepare their projects for months before the event takes place. Bosch Parade is therefore not just a weekend festival but an ongoing process of creation, collaboration, and community building.
For the Splanekor participants, it was particularly interesting to see how systematic, long-term work can create the conditions for producing high-quality artistic works while also supporting the continuity of the event. They were also impressed by how naturally the festival is connected to the city’s identity and how, over the years, it has built its own infrastructure and a community of people who regularly contribute to its preparation.
Art on Water as Inspiration
The artistic quality of the vessels themselves also left a strong impression. Many of them function not merely as means of transport on the water, but above all as complex works of art that combine visual arts, performance, music, and interaction with public space.
This aspect is one of the reasons why Splanekor is gradually seeking to develop in a direction that more closely connects community engagement, creativity, and artistic interventions on the water.
Another interesting topic was the financing of similar projects. Bosch Parade has long relied on various grant schemes and international partnerships that make it possible to realize ambitious artistic projects and create opportunities for international cooperation. Participants were particularly interested in the fact that a significant portion of Bosch Parade’s international collaborations and artistic projects are made possible through grant programs focused on cultural exchange and international cooperation.
What Comes Next?
Most importantly, the knowledge and experience gained will not remain in the Netherlands. Three participants from this exchange are already actively involved in the preparation of their own vessel for this year’s Splanekor 2.0, and the experiences from the Netherlands can serve as valuable inspiration in its creation.
The longer-term goal is to continue building relationships between the two projects, support the exchange of experience, and explore new opportunities for cooperation. If even a fraction of the energy, creativity, and artistic courage that participants experienced in the Netherlands can be brought to Trenčín, it will make a significant contribution to the further development of Splanekor.
The study visit was made possible thanks to the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Slovakia, which supported the connection between the Bosch Parade and Splanekor projects and created space for the exchange of experience between the two countries.
