News

As of 1 January 2026, Zeno van den Broek will succeed Fedor Teunisse as the new artistic director of HIIIT.

“By bringing Van den Broek on board, HIIIT welcomes a composer and audiovisual artist who has a keen sense of the contemporary zeitgeist and of the relationship between humans and digital technology. Under his leadership, the ensemble will continue to surprise, challenge, and inspire audiences,” says Teunisse.

Zeno van den Broek (Rotterdam, 1982) is based in The Hague and trained as an architect. His compositions and audiovisual performances, presented throughout Europe, explore the tensions between humans, space, and technology. Van den Broek and HIIIT have previously collaborated on productions such as Ma(n|chine) and, more recently, Ways of [ ].

Van den Broek: “HIIIT was the first ensemble to ignite my passion for contemporary music, combining tremendous craftsmanship with energetic live performances and a genuine rock ’n’ roll attitude. I think it’s wonderful to now, decades later, have the opportunity to explore innovative interdisciplinary paths and sonic worlds together with this team.”

A special period lies ahead for HIIIT, founded in 1977 as Slagwerkgroep Den Haag: in 2027 the ensemble will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Van den Broek will help shape the artistic direction for this milestone. “I look forward to building with the musicians and makers on HIIIT’s rich tradition and repertoire,” says Van den Broek.

Next year’s programme includes, among other things, a new performance of Ways of [ ], a revival of Louis Andriessen’s monumental De Materie, and several new theatre productions co-produced with NITE and Schweigman&. HIIIT is known for its innovative approach to contemporary music and multidisciplinary projects. With Van den Broek as artistic director, the ensemble will continue along this path both nationally and internationally.

The installation Battles and Silences can be visited in St. John’s Cathedral during November Music in Den Bosch.
The installation can be experienced daily between 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM until Sunday, November 16.

(Photo: Jostijn Ligtvoet Photography)

“Bad Nature” is raw, poetic, hypnotic, and intensely physical.
★★★★ Trouw

“Groningen-based dance company Club Guy & Roni are magnificent in this enchanting, pitch-black spectacle.”
★★★★★ Dagblad van het Noorden

“With Bad Nature, Club Guy & Roni once again prove their artistic originality.”
★★★★ de Volkskrant

We’re just as proud of Bad Nature as the critics are. The new co-production with Club Guy & Roni, the Australasian Dance Company, and Studio Boris Acket premiered in the Netherlands last month, following its first week at the Brisbane Festival. A selection of tracks from the performance is now available on various streaming platforms and on our Bandcamp page.

What is unfolding in Gaza today defies all imagination. Innocent lives are being destroyed, communities are violently torn apart. This ongoing suffering is unbearable and unacceptable.

As a music ensemble that seeks connection, we cannot remain indifferent. Therefore, we are suspending all our professional relationships with institutions that are directly supported by the Israeli government. This decision is not directed against individual artists or independent initiatives – on the contrary, we stand in solidarity with those who, from within, strive for justice and peace.

We call upon the Dutch government to do everything in its power to bring an end to the bloodshed in Gaza – through diplomacy, international cooperation, and political pressure. Every act of humanity, every voice for peace, matters.

What we can do, we do through sound. Through music that invites listening – to sorrow, to hope, to one another. Amid violence, we search for resonance, for a tone of humanity and nuance that will not fall silent.

For us, music is a space without borders or labels, where voices meet and differences find meaning.
Because music stands for connection – and connection remains our strongest response to injustice and violence.

Are you someone with a distinct artistic vision on music, sound, and form? Do you have an open outlook, a deep artistic compass, and the courage to embrace both tradition and the future? HIIIT is looking for an Artistic Director to continue and renew our innovative course.

The application process for the artistic leadership of HIIIT has begun. We are being supported in this by DDJ& (Dixon & De Jaeger), an agency with extensive experience in the cultural sector. The full vacancy can be found here. The first interviews will take place on Thursday, October 16.

Fedor Teunisse, artistic director of HIIIT, has informed the Supervisory Board that he will step down from his position as of November 2025. This marks the end of nearly thirty years of dedication to the ensemble.

“When I started as a performer in 1997, I had no idea that this ensemble would come to play such a significant role in my life. Now, almost thirty years later, I look back with deep gratitude on everything we have built together. There is still so much artistic ground to explore, but it feels like the right time to make space for new voices and energy,” says Fedor.

HIIIT’s upcoming 50th anniversary marks a moment of renewal – both organizationally and artistically. With a new name, a clear vision for the 2025–2028 period, and a strong network of inspiring partners, HIIIT is ready for the next phase. In 2024, Fedor had already proudly said goodbye as a performer with a memorable rendition of Timber by Michael Gordon – composed especially for HIIIT – in the Nieuwe Kerk in Groningen. Now, he is also handing over the artistic leadership, making room for fresh ideas, new voices, and new energy.

Fedor leaves behind a strong and distinctive artistic signature. Since his start in 1997, and especially from 2005 onwards as artistic director, he has unmistakably left his mark on the ensemble. Under his leadership, HIIIT evolved from a specialized contemporary percussion sextet based in The Hague into an internationally acclaimed collective that pushes boundaries and continues to develop. Each year, HIIIT reaches tens of thousands of audience members with innovative, multidisciplinary productions.

We look forward with excitement, building on the solid foundation of what has already been achieved. Recent highlights include the powerful Battles & Silences, the Loading Dock Sessions created during the COVID period, and a sustainable collaboration with partners such as NITE and Asko|Schönberg. The future is equally promising, with upcoming performances such as the five-show run of Nachtwacht at Carré, co-produced with NITE, and the premiere of Ways of [ ], an audiovisual composition by The Hague-based artist Zeno van den Broek, in collaboration with Les Percussions de Strasbourg and Production House Muziekgebouw.

An open application procedure for the new artistic leadership will begin soon, supported by DDJ& (Dixon & De Jaeger), a consultancy with extensive experience in the cultural sector.

We are deeply grateful to Fedor for his tremendous commitment, vision, and passion, and we wish him all the best and much enjoyment in his ongoing work at Het Muziek.

“Someone delivering a monologue while doing a backward somersault over a colleague’s back: you don’t see that often. Astonishing.” (NRC)

CONTRA, a co-production between Wabi Sabi, Het Houten Huis, and HIIIT, is off to a flying start. The site-specific performance premiered last month at Donderboerkamp in Drenthe and, after four sold-out shows at Festival Karavaan, is heading to Terschelling for Oerol in just a few days. There, the cast will perform the poetic production 16 times over the course of 9 days. We wish everyone with a ticket lots of enjoyment—because they’re completely sold out. In July, CONTRA travels on to Festivalderaa in the Drenthe stream valley landscape—tickets are still available there. A theatre tour will follow in 2026.

What does it mean to enforce the law in a world full of chaos? How does an officer remain human in a system that’s cracking?
In a thought-provoking blend of dance, text, and live music, the performance offers a glimpse into the minds and hearts of several police officers.