Park 't Zoet is a stage for the city
It will still take years before the final layout of this new neighbourhood takes shape and substance. Until then, enjoy music, theatre, exhibitions, and film here during the season. Something for everyone, and preferably not too commercial. With the Grote Kerk on the horizon, a drink in your hand, and if possible, the sun on your head 'because we are definitely a good weather location'.
It doesn't all have to be so slick here, and that's also the charm of this place
Opportunities in vacancy
"You have so many vacant sites in Breda. At the same time, there is always a shortage of space in the city. So it's a shame not to do anything with them! Owners are often hesitant about this. They prefer to put a fence around it, afraid they won't be able to get rid of the users. Whereas that is precisely the whole idea of what I do and create - that it is temporary. It is sustainable until the specific site is given a different purpose. Then I simply move on elsewhere.”
For Park 't Zoet, that relocation will still take some time. “I expect at least another 10 to 15 years before this site is fully developed. In the meantime, our stage moves with the developments and we relocate across the site. It is 26 hectares in size, so you would expect that there is always a spot available to be cleared.”
Really, you can do lots of fun things with not too much
'Stadjutten'
As an architect, Tim is skilled in reusing materials. He is proud of the way the incubator Stek was created, the creative industrial area on Veilingkade. "At the time, Piet Hein Eek was asked to build a creative village at that location. But they were quite taken aback by the costs. ‘I can do that for free,’ I told them. We started scavenging in companies: what surplus materials do you have? We built with that. Honestly, you can do a lot of fun things with little."
It still has to be fun
Park ’t Zoet is a good weather location, ‘only open in the season’. “And we work with volunteers, about fifty people who occasionally step in. Very cool, and we all enjoy it. But I do keep a close eye on what we do, it has to stay fun. If the city prefers it differently, larger and open more often, that’s really possible. But that also needs to be facilitated.” For Tim, though, it doesn’t necessarily have to grow. “You know, if you make something too big, you also lose touch with the essence.”
Tim draws his inspiration from other cities. De Ceuvel (‘playground for innovation and creativity’) in Amsterdam, for example. “What’s nice about it is that they’ve also planted the site, with vegetation that purifies the soil. So you're doing something good for the ground you're working on.” And GOUDasfalt, in Gouda, which after ten years finally received perpetual ground lease. “It’s amazing what they’ve achieved there. And that the municipality dared to do that, too.”
The stiffness needs to go, here in Breda
Collaborate
Something that, according to Tim, is often denied but we are really good at – in Breda: collaborating. “Truly, that is a hidden strength of this city. And we truly demonstrate it here at ’t Zoet. We programme with, among others, MEZZ, POB, Phoenix, Bloos, Chassé Theater and IDFX. With this, we have a well-balanced platform for the city. For the established names, but also for the experimental creators.”
The programming ("we organise around 25 events per year”) is carefully curated by the ‘curators’ club’. “We want to reflect what’s happening in the city, nice and diverse, for everyone to enjoy and not too commercial.” Also, or perhaps especially, new creators are given space. To try out and experiment. Because ‘it’s also fine if it doesn’t succeed’. “It doesn’t all have to be polished here – and that’s also the charm of this place, the edge.”
The rough edges give a city character
The city could use more of these kinds of incubators, thinks Tim. But the rigidity needs to go, here in Breda. “Look, I’ve got things somewhat under control now. People trust me - and I’ve dealt with similar challenges before. But newcomers also deserve a chance. So come on, lose the fear-mongering. If you really want something, almost anything can be fixed. And it’s precisely the rough edges that give a city character. You just need these kinds of places.”
Check the agenda at parktzoet.nl and @parktzoet
ZigZag through Cultural Breda
Cultural Breda is surprisingly versatile. There is truly everything to discover and do here. Check out what events are happening in the city over the coming months. Art, dance, film, music, history, theatre... big or small that makes a big impression: there’s definitely something for you. And why not try something new!
