TURF: the breeding ground for Breda
First things first: what is TURF?
For anyone who has been living under a rock for the past three years: Breda has gained a leading event! TURF has established itself in the city as both an event and a platform that showcases Breda’s strength: it creates a place where emerging talent, leading companies, educational institutions, thinkers and doers come together to exchange ideas, share visions and celebrate life. During the TURF event, these people take over the city and show what can happen when you experiment, dare to colour outside the lines and welcome everyone.
Noa and Pien in the starting line-up with Honk Twee Breda
For Noa and Pien, TURF did not come out of nowhere. The two founders of Honk Twee were already working on various social and creative initiatives that are also significant for Breda. One example is Breda Beats, a platform that gives young DJ talent the opportunity to develop further within the music industry.
Through this initiative, they came into contact with Rik, director of MEZZ Breda. At the time, he was working with six other founders on the concept for TURF. Noa and Pien were soon brought on board. Noa explains: “We got talking to Rik through Breda Beats. Initially, he asked us whether we wanted to organise the talent programme with Breda Beats. Two weeks later, we were at the helm alongside the founders. Pien took care of the business side, including sponsors, grants and partnerships. I immersed myself in curating a fully fledged programme that would really put TURF on the map.”
The breeding ground and inspiration for TURF
Peat was a major driver of Breda’s prosperity for centuries. It also played a role in the recapture of the city from the Spanish, with the peat barge serving as Breda’s version of the Trojan Horse. That history is an inspiration for TURF, the event that temporarily takes over the city. “TURF has several layers. You can see peat as fertile ground: the soil where all kinds of things grow,” Noa explains. “Above ground, you see the established companies, such as CM.com and Handpicked. But underneath are the young professionals and start-ups, and deeper still, the raw talent of artists, creators and the cultural sector. Those layers often remain invisible, even though they are essential to the city’s growth. With TURF, we are trying to connect all these worlds and make them visible.”
It’s [the raw talent of makers and artists] that often remains unseen. With TURF, we’re trying to connect all those worlds and bring them into the spotlight.
TURF is back—and stronger than ever
This year too, the programme will once again feature a full line-up of applied technology, creativity, talent and music. Each day will have its own character, so that a wide range of audiences can find their place within TURF. Noa explains: “We noticed that the way we structured the programme last year worked well. That’s why we’re sticking with that format this year. We’re dividing the programme across different target groups. One day, for example, will be entirely dedicated to business. We’re creating spaces where young professionals can meet one another and organising a range of high-profile talks. On Friday, we’ll focus on the music industry and the cultural sector. Just as with the example of the breeding ground, we’ll go one layer deeper. We’ll give talent and creators a platform here. On Saturday, around 90% of the programme will consist of free activities in the city centre. Think of the familiar pop-ups and venues where talent is invited to programme something themselves. Night-time culture will also be an important focus here.”
Compact and central
Anyone who has visited an earlier edition of TURF may still remember locations such as the Triple O Campus and CM.com. Wonderful places to showcase technology and creativity, but the distances between the different locations sometimes made it difficult for visitors to experience everything. The organisers thought this could be done differently.
That is why TURF is taking place much more in and around the city centre this year. The various hotspots are closer together, making it easier for visitors to walk from one programme item to the next. “This year, we’re bringing the entire conference to the city centre,” says Noa. “Expect an exciting programme at locations including De Rooi Pannen, the Grote Kerk Breda, Hotel Nassau and De Avenue. From a historic building to an educational campus, and from a unique venue to an event location. I think that diversity also reflects what TURF stands for. Different audiences come together in a wide range of places. And that is precisely what makes it special: the TURF format works in all these different locations.” During a day at TURF, you can easily alternate an interesting talk with a live concert or a surprising pop-up event. So you don’t have to choose between technology, culture and music.
TURF is still far from reaching its full potential
Noa looks back on the previous editions with satisfaction. Not only because of the programme, but above all because TURF is becoming increasingly intertwined with the city. A solid foundation is emerging on which the organisation can continue to build. “I’m pleased that we’ve now found a blueprint for how we want to shape this metropolitan event,” she says. “This means we can involve more and more organisations from the city, creating an increasing sense of togetherness. The event is increasingly being embraced by the city. That’s exactly what we want. And of course, it also helps that this year we chose to organise everything in a more central location.”
But for now, sitting back is not an option. There are still plenty of dreams and ambitions. Noa sees plenty of opportunities for Breda’s nightlife, for example. “It would be wonderful if we could revitalise Breda’s nightlife with a dedicated night-time programme. At the moment, the ‘TURF by Night’ programme is provided by partners and established names such as MEZZ and Ploegendienst. That’s obviously fantastic, but having a TURF night of our own would be a great next step. We want to develop an increasingly distinct voice in defining who we are as TURF and what we stand for. Rather than being a collective event for everything that is already being organised in Breda, we also want to contribute something ourselves.”
Discover TURF 2026
From new encounters and surprising ideas to music, technology and creative talent: at TURF, discover how much is growing and thriving in Breda. Curious about the programme and the various venues? Be surprised and discover what TURF is bringing to the city this year!
