STROOM launches 2026 program
It’s finally here! We are thrilled to unveil the STROOM 2026 lineup: a celebration of classical music, innovative sounds, and inspiring encounters along the Scheldt Valley.
This June, the Scheldt Valley National Park turns into a bustling cultural oasis, featuring world-class performances in breathtaking settings. From the impressive opening night with the world premiere of Uw vlees en bloed, to the beloved STROOMboot cruising from bank to bank, and underSTROOM, an immersive experience blending art, nature, and reflection that will change how you look at the Scheldt. It promises to be a truly captivating edition!
18.06 Uw vlees en bloed – World Premiere
Leading the way, Jef Neve presents Uw vlees en bloed : a modern and profoundly human Passion moving between innocence and today's defining challenges. Vocal Ensemble Reflection, Baroque Orchestration X (B.O.X.), and An Pierlé bring this new work to life under the baton of conductor Patrick Windmolders, featuring text by Jeroen Olyslaegers. A hauntingly beautiful opening night that will set the tone for an extraordinary festival!
19.06 & 20.06 Water Ripples in Antwerp
As the sun begins to set, join us at the Scheldt quays of Nieuw Zuid for two exclusive sunset concerts. As DOMNIQ, percussion wizard Dominique Vleeshouwers takes you on a journey through unknown sonic worlds, blending instruments, electronics, and endless imagination to bring the magic of the deep sea to life.
You can attend the concert on either evening for free.
21.06 On the Road with Les Âmes Perdues
@ Wout Vloerberghs
On Sunday, June 21, we welcome Les Âmes Perdues to the enchanting gardens of De Notelaer for an open-air musical experience. Using voice, accordion, cello, piano, and recorder, this Antwerp-based music theatre trio will guide you on a musical walk past the pavilion and along the Scheldt. Their playful repertoire effortlessly glides between Renaissance dances, French chansons, and Dutch-language classics.
You can catch the performance by Les Âmes Perdues at either 11:00 AM or 2:30 PM.
24.06 schntzl on the water
Also joining the lineup is Belgian duo schntzl with their new album, Fata Morgana. Staged in a setting that feels just as illusory as the music itself.
With the musicians performing on a raft between water and sky, the audience floats right in the middle of the soundscape. Hendrik Lasure and Casper Van De Velde craft live electronic music that moves seamlessly from trance to improvisation and full-blown explosion, balancing the playful with the confronting, the intimate with the immersive.
25.06 An experience at Roosenberg Abbey
With Memories of Trees, the Ragazze Quartet unfolds a musical visual narrative centered on the extraordinary woods used to craft their string instruments. In collaboration with composer Kate Moore and audiovisual artist Jurjen Alkema, they create a multi-layered performance where image and sound intertwine, making our deep connection to nature, craftsmanship, and fragile ecosystems tangible.
You can combine this performance with WALD or a guided tour of Roosenberg Abbey.
@ Malou Van den Heuvel
In the double bill WALD x Memories of Trees, the Korpus Kwartet and Ragazze Quartet give a voice to the trees. Four horns and four string players unfold two sensory soundscapes where wood, nature, and imagination merge. Ranging from an immersive forest landscape to a multi-layered musical visual narrative about the origins of their instruments. Prepare for an evening of wonder, where sound takes root.
Calling all architecture enthusiasts, STROOM has something special for you too. Combine the performance of Memories of Trees with a guided tour of Roosenberg Abbey by Herita. A guide will unveil the visionary world of Dom Hans van der Laan, where space, silence, and spirituality seamlessly merge, followed by the Memories of Trees concert
27.06 & 28.06 The Penultimate Carnival of the Animals
@ Kris Van Exel
We are wrapping up STROOM beautifully with The Penultimate Carnival of the Animals.
As nature faces increasing pressure, master storyteller and festival thinker Jeroen Olyslaegers steps into the shoes of a ringmaster. Armed with a brand-new text, music from Camille Saint-Saëns’ Le Carnaval des animaux, and a top hat aimed squarely at the senses, he presents this 'penultimate' carnival. An ode to our planet that is as funny as it is confronting.
June 27: Catch the performance in a circus tent in Merelbeke-Melle.
June 28: The performance takes place at Fort Liefkenshoek in Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht
Riverside Concerts
From June 20 to 28, the STROOM-boot will once again set sail through the Scheldt Valley National Park. Stopping at a new spot along the river every day, the boat brings you a series of free Riverside Concerts. It’s a unique gathering of artists, nature, and listeners, where the deck becomes a floating stage and the beautiful riverbanks form the scenery. Join us and experience live music right by the water. All riverside concerts are for free.
As a duo, jazz vocalist and composer Anaïs Vijgen and versatile guitarist Haroun Iqbal weave together original songs, chansons, and classic jazz standards. Engaging in an intimate dialogue with each other and the audience, their performance captures the very essence of the riverside concerts. Close, authentic, and inspired by the surrounding landscape.
When classical meets contemporary, you get Two Systems.
From Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to Max Richter’s minimalist reimagining and Uroš Rojko’s surprising accordion textures: a thoughtfully curated program that brings together nature and modern tonal colors.
Duo Tokar – from classical to jazz, from Europe to South America. Clarinet and guitar meet in a colorful repertoire, spanning from Bartók and Villa-Lobos to Piazzolla and Thielemans. Folk melodies, classical forms, and jazz influences blend seamlessly into a global musical journey.
onderSTROOM
Immerse yourself in underSTROOM, as festival thinker Jeroen Olyslaegers blends art and nature for a vibrant reimagining of the Scheldt. Deep within the Scheldt Valley, three unique rituals reshape the river from an industrial pipeline into a living, breathing pulse of resilience. Allow yourself to be swept up in this artistic current, and see with fresh eyes how nature reclaims its place.
Tickets
The ticket sales for STROOM are officially open and flying off the shelves!
You can secure your tickets via the link on each concert page.