While the Hinthamerstraat in Den Bosch is normally quiet on Sunday mornings, this time it is different. At 10 a.m. there is already loud music playing and people are dancing in the La Jeu coffee bar. “We neatly left a note in the mailbox of the neighbors,” says organizer Lowie de Laat with a smile on his face.
Furrowed eyebrows, passersby taking out their earphones and people stopping to take photos. The music that can be heard in the Hinthamerstraat is striking. Just like the many flexible hips and the feet that leave the floor.
“Normally I exercise and then I quietly drink a cup of coffee at home. But with such mood-enhancing music I get energy. A perfect start to the day,” says one man. “I live next door, so I could roll out of bed and have a coffee here. It’s something different than going out later in the day,” says a woman.
“We hope that the artists can profile themselves better.”
The coffee bar has been transformed into a true discotheque, equipped with a DJ booth and mood lighting. The idea of a boiler room is a setting where the DJ stands in the middle and the people stand around it. Bossche Boilers and sustainability festival Zin in Morgen organized the event together. They especially want to give younger artists a place in Den Bosch. “We record their sets and put them on YouTube. This way we hope that the artists can profile themselves better and end up at festivals,” says De Laat.
Wouter Jansen is one of the DJs playing. On Saturday he entertained the audience in Rotterdam, on Sunday he will be in his own city of Den Bosch, where he has only recently moved. “I came across the page via Instagram and I thought it would be a nice place to take a look. I want to find a place where I can share my love for music with people. I think that’s the best part.”
“If they do this more often, it might become a new trend.”
Meanwhile sounds Daddy Cool by Boney M. in the coffee bar and all hands go up. The early time takes some getting used to for partygoers. “I had a difficult start. But in the end I got there and now that I’m there it’s quite nice,” says one woman. “If they do this more often, it might become a new trend,” says another partygoer.
In addition to giving young musicians a stage, the organization also hopes to put Den Bosch on the map by holding boiler rooms in surprising locations. “By showing these beautiful places, we hope to attract more people to the city and thus improve the nightlife,” says De Laat.
Sustainability is also an important aspect of this event. Each visitor has brought their own coffee mug, which can be filled and there are croissants. Visitors agree about the choice of a coffee or an alcoholic drink. “At this time I really go for coffee. I don’t want to think about wine yet,” laughs a woman. “You see that music is the most important thing to get you moving. If it’s good, you don’t need a beer at all,” Jansen concludes.
