PROGRAM 26 SEPTEMBER

DEBATE & Q&A – THE VALUE OF WORDS

Time: 12:15 – 13:15

Location: Slachthuis Café

Host: Remco van Eijndhoven, Culture-crazed caterpillar who likes to make things happen | International Relations Coordinator at Conservatorium Haarlem

Featuring: – Maria Alyokhina (Pussy Riot) – Melanie Schiller - HATOON - MaHA ELJAK

How much influence does a song have? When does a lyric become political? And what is an artist's responsibility in times of injustice?

During this conversation, we delve into the meaning of words in protest music. Together with artists, writers, and thinkers, we explore how language functions as a weapon, a mirror, and a cry. What does a lyric do when the stage suddenly becomes a platform? How do poetry, activism, and the performing arts relate to each other?

We will discuss concrete examples from the past and present, and reflect on current events in which the artist's voice was either muted or amplified.

This session will also be recorded and released as a podcast afterward, for those who missed it or want to relive it.

Admission is free, and you can drop in anytime.

DEBATE & Q&A – BETWEEN STAGE AND PROTEST?

Time: 15:45 – 17:00

Location: Slachthuis Café

Featuring:

– MAria Sanchez Garcia (ProgrammEr PAARD & ITGWO)

– HILLIE ZOETELIEF (Program & Marketing Manager at Patronaat)

– Koos Zwaan (Inholland)

– …and you, the audience

Host: Misha van der Winkel, Artist | Producer | Founder of INI Movement | Project Lead of OSHI | Creative bridging music, culture & community

Also available as a podcast

What does it mean to program a distinctive artist in times of polarization? How much room is there left for activism on stage? And who decides what goes too far?

This debate is about the responsibility—and sometimes the risks—of bookers, programmers, and festivals when they choose activist artists. We'll discuss artistic freedom, reputational risks, cancel culture, and the power of the stage as a public space.

With high-profile examples from today—from Pussy Riot to Kneecap, from Sophie Straat to Bob Vylan—we'll delve into the dilemmas behind the scenes. What's going on behind the scenes at festivals, both large and small?

This conversation will be recorded and available as a podcast starting in October.

Admission is free, and you can join anytime.

FREEDOM LECTURE WITH JIP VAN DEN TOORN

Time: 11:00–12:00 & 13:30–14:30

Location: Slachthuis Café

How can you protest with an image? In her Freedom Lecture, cartoonist Jip van den Toorn (de Volkskrant, Vrij Nederland) demonstrates how drawings can irritate, challenge, and disrupt, thus becoming a powerful weapon in public debate.

The Freedom Lectures inspire young and old to reflect on the value of freedom, with personal stories from well-known speakers. During World Protest Song Day, Jip will share her vision on the role of visual art in activism, humor, and resistance.

Speaker: Jip van den Toorn

Admission is free, drop-in is possible at any time.

EXHIBITION, DOCUMENTARY & Q&A – MOHAMMED AL ZAANOUN

TIME: 09:00 til 17:00 (Ongoing Documentary & Q&A times to follow)

LOCATION: Upper Room, Slachthuis

WITH

• Mohammed Al Zaanoun – award-winning Palestinian photojournalist (Most Resilient Journalist Award 2024, NIAS fellow 2025)

WHAT YOU GET

A gripping visual and cinematic journey through two decades of living and surviving in Gaza.

Mohammed Al Zaanoun is a member of the international photography collective Activestills and has been documenting the reality in Gaza for twenty years: from daily life to the invisible consequences of war and displacement.

In the upper room, he presents:

• A photo exhibition with compelling images that reveal the human side of conflict and resistance.

• The BBC documentary “Our Hearts Are Still In Gaza,” in which he tells his story from exile. • Two Q&A sessions (including a morning session aimed at young people) in which he will discuss art, journalism, activism, and resilience with the audience.

This contribution demonstrates how images can be as powerful as music and words—exactly what World Protest Song Day represents.

Admission is free; the documentary and Q&As are open to everyone.

Talk - LAURENS HAM

Time: 14:45 – 15:30

Location: Slachthuis Café

We are proud that Laurens Ham, author of the book Op de vuist: Vijftig jaar politiek en protestliedjes in Nederland, will give a lecture during World Protest Song Day.

Ham takes us through the rich history of protest music in the Netherlands: from Boudewijn de Groot to Hang Youth, from the sixties to the present. He shows how music not only reflects culture, but can also be a driving force for change.

His book has now become the definitive work on protest songs in our country. During his lecture, he connects historical examples with current events and demonstrates how protest music continues to be relevant time and time again.

Admission is free, and you can drop in at any time.

PROTEST SQUARE: The Entrance to World Protest Song Day

Time: 09:00 – 17:00

Location: Outdoors

As soon as you enter Slachthuis Haarlem, you'll find yourself in Protest Square: the beating heart of World Protest Song Day. This place is more than just a reception – it's a vibrant meeting place where words, images, sounds, and ideals converge.

At Protest Square, you'll find:

A meeting space for artists, programmers, activists, and visitors

And of course: live music, conversations, and spontaneous performances

The perfect place to start your day, exchange ideas, or catch your breath between program components.

Admission is free, and you can drop in at any time.

Films & Documentaries – Protest in Beeld & Geluid

Time: 09:00 – 17:00

Location: Slachthuis Bovenzaal

In collaboration with Beeld & Geluid, we present a carefully curated selection of short and longer documentaries that highlight the power of music as a form of protest. These screenings provide historical context and demonstrate how protest music has been used worldwide and throughout the years as a weapon of change.

Showings include:

What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (2007)

Freedom Songs: A Documentary

Rebel Dread (2022)

The Times of Harvey Milk (1984) – featuring “The Times They Are A-Changin’”

The Protest Playlist (VPRO Dorst / 3FM)

Het Klokhuis: Protest Songs – educational segment for young audiences

Armand – Rebel met een groene geest (2Doc Kort)

Other Times: Protest Songs of the Sixties

The Story of ‘Strange Fruit’ (BBC)

The Power of Protest Songs

The upstairs room of SLachthuis will be transformed into a cinematic listening space full of context, depth, and imagination. Between the clips, there will be time for discussion or a moment of silence.

Admission is free, and you can drop in at any time.

CONCERT - PUSSY RIOT: RIOT DAYS + SUPPORT

Time: 19:30 – 22:30

Location: Slachthuis Café

TICKETS

Pussy Riot: Riot Days

Not just any show, but an explosive mix of concert, theater, and political happening. Riot Days is based on the memoirs of Maria Alyokhina (Pussy Riot) and tells the story of resistance, oppression, and revolution. The internationally acclaimed performance has already been performed over 200 times worldwide.

Slachthuis Café | 9:00 PM

Support: Eric J. Breitenbach (New Age Doom)

Canadian drummer and producer Eric J. Breitenbach (New Age Doom) provides support. His solo drum performance is a raw, experimental mix of percussion, drone, rock, dub, and jazz—a hypnotic live show that surprises musically and visually.

DJs – PROTEST RECORDS TO THE LAST NOTE

Time: 22:30 – 00:00

Location: Slachthuis Café

We'll close out the evening with a selection of DJs from the Slachthuis network. Expect activist grooves, rousing protest tracks, and rare vinyl gems—from classical to contemporary, from soul to punk. Dance, listen, or chat: the protest beat doesn't stop until closing time.