The final edition. This is how the last edition of festival Live in Hoorn was announced. The arrival of more than 600 homes on the Pelmolenpad puts an end to the successful event. Or is there a future?
Last time Live in Hoorn? – NH News
Pleasant crowds on Thursday morning on the Pelmolenpad. The huge blue tent is now proudly standing, the site is being further decorated, the first food trucks arrive and the immense stage is being worked on. Little by little, the site becomes a festival site. Ready to welcome about 9,000 enthusiastic visitors on Saturday.
Live in Hoorn has been sold out in recent years, but is probably still the final chord. The construction of some 600 homes at the current location seems to put an end to a successful formula. Because the search for an alternative location turns out to be a difficult one.
Since the start in 2007, the organization has been in the hands of Kees Verbeek, Marinus Zoutendijk and Rob Ursem. Kees Verbeek: “Our concept is that all artists are on one stage, in one tent. We are very fond of the new city beach. You could launch a very nice new concept there: Hoorn at Sea. That would be very nice for us , but the municipality has made agreements with residents that no major events will be held, so that is complicated. We do not see other locations at the moment.”
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Juliana Park for example, falls off. “Then we would have to go to several stages and the question is whether you should want that. That is less suitable for us.”
Sounds that the start of construction at the current location will not start until November next year, offers hope for the 2024 edition. “Perhaps something can still be done here, but we assume that it will be the last edition on the Pelmolenpad.”
Whole village
In the meantime, there is a lot of work being carried on, building up and laying out. “There is quite a bit involved,” says Rob Ursem. “Think of electricity, water, fences. You can actually build an entire village here in a week.”
Is that the last? Kees Verbeek is not yet resigned to a farewell: “I think it would be a shame if it stopped. But you really need a place where you can put this whole circus. Because it has become that.”
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Response municipality of Hoorn
The start of construction on the Pelmolenpad starts at the Prisma location. This means that the event site and parking facilities will still be available in 2024. We have also discussed this with the organizers of Live in Hoorn. The layout or ‘map’ of the event will probably have to be arranged differently, we also have to look at the feasibility in that regard. Unfortunately, it is not possible on the city beach within the current frameworks / permits.