Every September, the cultural institutions of Utrecht open their doors and invite the public in for a free look at what the next season of events promises.
With music, theatre, kids' entertainment, literature events, comedy, cabaret, films, workshops and so much more, you'll not find a second of the day wasted during UITfeest. Hosted in 26 different venues across the city of Utrecht, over 100 events will take place on Saturday, September 7. Over 30 of these are marked as suitable for English speakers, so it's the perfect event for expats to immerse themselves in.
Take the opportunity to explore behind the scenes at Utrecht's theatres, drop in on a workshop in a small atelier or see a different side of one of the city's many museums.
Children are extremely well catered for, with lots of interactive art workshops and shows aimed at kids. They can make a lantern for Sint-Maarten's night, get busy painting or take a dance class. For those who like to watch, there are lots of plays and storytelling sessions for kids of all ages.
There are events all over the city! Some are in places you might expect, such as the TivoliVredenburg or the Theater Kikker, but lots of other places are getting involved. There is an open-air cinema at the water at the Weerdsluis, a party on the Domplein, and stages at Neude, on the Berlijnplein, and in Overvecht. Here's a selection of some of the venues taking part in UITfeest:
Utrecht has the busiest train station in the Netherlands, so is easily reached from other Dutch cities by public transport. The city itself is small and pleasant to walk around, so no need to drive.
All the events are free to attend and no tickets are required. To take part in this joyous celebration of the arts scene in Utrecht, you just need to turn up. The online programme has a hand filter to show those shows suitable for English speakers, so you can turn up knowing you'll understand what is going on! You can find out all the details on the UITfeest website.