by Camilla Winterhager
It’s not every day that a stranger invites you into their living room, offers you coffee and cake, and welcomes you with live music. But this is exactly what Gluren bij de Buren is about. Twice a year, hundreds of Dutch people organize small concerts in their living rooms and open their homes to friends, neighbours, and people they have never met before. In the most recent edition of Gluren bij de Buren on February 2, 1460 living room concerts took place all over the Netherlands. I went to five of them. Here are some thoughts.
Gluren bij de Buren is an amateur-artist festival where everyone can sign up to perform or host a concert. Performances range from singer-songwriter acts to impromptu theatre or poetry recitals. In the winter, the audience is welcomed in living rooms, while the summer edition takes place in gardens and courtyards. Throughout the entire afternoon, people walk and cycle from one location to the next – no reservation, no tickets, only voluntary donations. The goal is to encourage people to meet their neighbours and to leave their social bubble, but also to provide aspiring local artists with an easily accessible stage. Since 2008, the non-profit organization Stichting de Bühne organizes the festival, funded through subsidies, crowdfunding, and donations.
Overview of all performances in The Hague. Screenshot from the Gluren bij de Buren website.
Since I moved to The Hague, I have been to three editions of Gluren bij de Buren. I’ve always liked it a lot, but somehow, this time was special. First, the music was great. I heard atmospheric indie, acoustic rock, funky rock, soul, and Dutch liedjes. Almost all of the bands played original songs, and some were so catchy I found myself humming them throughout the day. Second, cycling from one location to the next felt like a scavenger hunt for adults. I discovered parts of The Hague I had never been to before. When I rang a doorbell, I never knew what or who to expect behind the door. A child, an adult, a dog? More visitors or perhaps awkward silence? Shoes organized neatly on a rack or a pile of coats and children’s toys? Gluren bij de Buren can be translated as “peeking into your neighbours’ homes,” something you don’t often get the chance to do. There is something private, almost intimate, to a living room. I was impressed by the hosts’ willingness to share this space with whoever decided to come by. This leads into the third, and perhaps most important, point. For me, Gluren bij de Buren epitomised “gezelligheid.”
Left: 10 Ct. Pistol. Right: Horsepower.
“Gezelligheid,” or the adjective, “gezellig,” is one of the first words international students learn in the Netherlands. It’s notoriously hard to translate or define, but if something is “gezellig,” you’ll feel it. According to Wikipedia, “gezellig” can describe a cozy place, a kind and sociable person, a relaxed atmosphere, a fun event, or enjoyable time spent with other people. Gluren bij de Buren ticked all those boxes. While it was freezing outside, the living rooms were warm and inviting, filled up with couches, chairs, and pillows to sit on the ground. At the door, hosts and musicians greeted everyone with a smile, offering coffee, tea, and even homemade cake. This atmosphere made it easy to start a conversation with other audience members. During the performances, I often exchanged a smile with those around me. Sometimes, we picked up on the melody and sang along. Listening to music together in the intimate setting of a living room created a strong momentary connection with people I had never met before.
The band Shifting Weather and their audience. © Left: Camilla Winterhager, Right: Lisa Wamelink.
In big cities like The Hague, loneliness and isolation are widespread. In 2023, almost 30 percent of the Dutch population felt somewhat lonely, according to the CBS. One in ten adults even reported extreme loneliness. This often has to do with urban anonymity: Although we are constantly surrounded by other people, we rarely interact with them in a fulfilling way. Gluren bij de Buren facilitates these meaningful interactions: It’s an easy way to get in touch with our neighbours and to find out how talented, friendly, or welcoming they are. As an international student, I often feel somewhat removed from The Hague and its people. For a few hours on this afternoon, I became a part of it.