Oorkaan celebrates: anniversary celebration at the Concertgebouw

In 2026 we celebrate a special double anniversary: 25 years of Oorkaan and 5 years of the Oorkaan Ensemble. On January 2, the Oorkaan Ensemble, together with guest musicians Valentine Blangé and Jan van der Plas, played an intimate concert in the Kleine Zaal - exactly where it all began 25 years ago.

We heard music from the brand new EP “Moving” and excerpts from the radio play “Bird Child and Mammoth Tree“, with spoken word artist Jeannine Valeriano. Speakers Caecilia Thunnissen (director-director), Maaike-Merel van Baarzel (manager artistic affairs & education) and Simon Reinink (director of The Concertgebouw) took us through the history and future of Oorkaan.

Many thanks to all creators, musicians, (former) colleagues, programmers, supporters and partners of the first hour. Without you there would have been no 25 years of Oorkaan and no 5 years of Oorkaan Ensemble.