Hasselt's Theater op de Markt Festival Draws 125,000 Visitors

Hasselt's city center transformed into a vibrant open-air theater for the 13th edition of the Theater op de Markt festival, drawing an impressive 125,000 visitors over five days. From Wednesday to Sunday, the festival showcased 43 performances featuring 200 artists from Belgium and abroad.

Gert Nulens from Theater op de Markt expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting it was comparable to previous editions. "People remain hungry for circus and theater," he said, highlighting the festival's mission to bring art and culture directly to the public. This year, a notable trend was the increased audience participation, with many artists actively involving spectators in their acts.

Visitors like Gon and Louis from the Netherlands, who have attended for ten years, praised the event's consistent quality and variety. "There are fewer large spectacular shows than in other years, but there is a lot of variety in the types of performances. That still makes it fun," Louis commented.

Marleen and Monique, attending after a performance by cie NDE, were enthusiastic. "This performance was fantastic," Marleen said, praising the dance, music, and the artist's juggling-like movements. Monique added, "As a Hasselaar, I find it wonderful that I could enjoy the performances every day for the past few days. It's also an event where you always meet people you haven't seen in a long time."

Sisters Anne and Veronique highlighted the festival's accessibility, noting that the prevalence of non-verbal performances allowed for easy understanding despite the international lineup. They emphasized the focus on experience and imagination, making it enjoyable for all ages and creating a complete picture with diverse generations in the audience.