BINNENHOF DOCUMENTARIES – ART PARADE
During the large-scale renovation of the Binnenhof, the Binnenhof Art Parade takes place: a public program in the area surrounding the Dutch seat of government. At the invitation of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Council of State, the Ministry of General Affairs and the Municipality of The Hague, various renowned artists are creating new temporary works in and around the Binnenhof.
Commissioned by the Atelier Chief Government Architect (Atelier Rijksbouwmeester), NEWTON film creates a short documentary for each artistic intervention. Each film shows the context, the creation process and the final realization of the work. We collaborate with various (emerging) documentary makers who bring a unique approach, tailored to the specific artwork and the artist’s vision. Each documentary aims to translate the layered meaning of the work to a broad audience.
Commissioned by the House of Representatives
Duration: 22 minutes
In FANFARE, artist Aukje Dekker brings together twelve musicians and twelve singers from across the Netherlands for a unique musical performance — without a conductor, without rehearsal. Dressed in custom-made costumes, they meet for the first time at the Schelpenpad by the Hofvijver. The documentary captures this exciting encounter and shows how Dekker translates the theme of “connection and bridging” into a disorienting, collective moment. The film captures both the vulnerability and beauty of attempting harmony — a poetic look at the political symbolism of the Binnenhof.
Commissioned by the Ministry of General Affairs
Duration: 15 minutes
This documentary follows artist duo Lukács & Broersen as they create The Court of the Lion, a virtual artwork inspired by lion bones found near the Binnenhof. They develop a 3D animation in which a lion, white ravens, and a prophetic whale roam through a dreamlike Binnenhof. The film follows the process from sketch to premiere and explores the work’s historical and symbolic layers – from Goethe’s Faust to the words of Johan de Witt.
Created in collaboration with Naomi White, the documentary captures the depth of this digital fable and reveals how fiction in art can raise both political and ecological questions.
Commissioned by the Council of State
Duration: to be announced
In GRANITE, artist Arlon Luijten explores the future of citizenship and the mutual relationship between citizens and the rule of law. Is citizenship passive or active and sustaining? Can we still live from ideals in a time of individualization?
The documentary, created in collaboration with filmmaker Cleo Julia Mullis, follows Luijten during this public exercise. The project invites reflection and explores whether a new shared narrative is possible — one larger than ourselves.
Commissioned by the Senate
(Documentary not produced by NEWTON film)
The first edition of the Art Parade was created by Tirzo Martha. Together with residents, he built a temporary sculpture from chairs on Het Plein in The Hague — a reflection on what it means to take a seat in the Senate. Is sitting in the Senate a passive position, or an active one? Martha’s work gave a powerful start to the entire artistic series.
The Binnenhof
The Binnenhof has been of great importance to the Netherlands for over 800 years — not just as a center of democracy and governance, but also as a place of gathering. Each year, the complex attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the heart of The Hague. The ongoing renovation offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the history and symbolic value of this location for Dutch democracy, the rule of law and society.
Visual Art Funding Scheme
The Binnenhof Art Parade is part of the Visual Art Percentage Scheme of the Central Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf) and tied to the renovation. During the renovation period, recurring art parades take place.
Through art, the artists reflect on the significance of the Binnenhof. Just like in a parade, each work follows the other — each with its own moment of public engagement. This way, the Binnenhof remains a place of encounter, even during renovation.
The ‘Art Parade Binnenhof Renovation’ is an art program around the Binnenhof. At the invitation of the Rijksbouwmeester’s office, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Council of State, the Ministry of General Affairs, and the Municipality of The Hague, various artists are commissioned to create new works during the renovation of the Binnenhof.
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