On May 5, you can join one of the more than 100 Freedom Meals in the city. Enjoy food and drinks together, along with a music or other performance. At the same time, there is a city-wide outdoor exhibition addressing the question: what does freedom mean now?
The Freedom Meal. Link opens an external page can be a breakfast, lunch, drink, or dinner, and is almost always free. However, you must register in advance. The meals are about eating and drinking together and getting to know each other. There is often also a cultural program, such as live music or spoken word. The largest meal is at OASE. There are also meals at places like Bigi Prisiri, at the Grotekerkplein, at Buitenplaats Brienenoord, and at countless other locations.
Freedom is not a given
Another component of the Freedom Meals is the cultural program Freedom Works. Link opens an external page. In it, Rotterdam artists create new work about freedom and unfreedom. Because freedom is not a given. With the Freedom Works, Rotterdam creators ask themselves: what does freedom mean now? This year, these are photographers Nicky do Rosario and Naomi van de Burgt, spoken word artist Angelika Geronymaki, and social designer Head&Tail.
Powerful Rotterdam Women
Angelika Geronymaki wrote this year the Freedom Poem. Link opens an external page, which will be recited at each Freedom Meal. Head&Tail will, together with other performers, address gender inequality playfully on the street on May 3. And the photographers Naomi van de Burgt and Nicky do Rosario both created a portrait series of powerful Rotterdam women sharing their stories about freedom.
Creating Freedom
‘The women I have portrayed are all, in their own way, working on creating freedom and opening doors for themselves and others. I wanted to let them know that they will not remain unseen. Literally putting them in the spotlight,’ says Naomi van de Burgt. The portrait series. Link opens an external page is part of the growing series Freedom Stories, for which the Freedom Meals invite different photographers each year. The series can be seen from April 21 to May 12 at OASE, Dudok Rotterdam, and on the street in various shop windows and poster frames.
Special Freedom Soup
Every year, the organization presents a different Freedom Soup that is served at almost every Freedom Meal. This time it is minestrone soup. The soup is also available in cans with a Piet Parra design. The cans can be purchased from April 29 to May 5 at places like LantarenVenster. But with the recipe. Link opens an external page you can also just make the soup yourself.