A tornado filled with poetic hits
After a successful run of theater shows, Kruidkoek and Joost Oomen are done with seated audiences. And honestly, it makes perfect sense — the music they make is basically begging you to dance. That’s not usually the point of poetry, of course, but with these guys, it absolutely is!
Back in 2017, Kruidkoek and Joost Oomen created the musical poetry show Vruchtjes Eten (“Eating Little Fruits”). They premiered it right here at Explore the North, after which 3voor12 wrote:
“At times it feels most like a derailed children’s TV show, with Joost as a kind of Willy Wonka orchestrating all his minions into poetic chaos.”
What followed was a tour through nearly every theater in the Netherlands, appearances at Oerol, Noorderzon, De Parade, and Lowlands, two follow-up shows (Tuut tuut kwantumschuim and Liefde in tijden van hopjesvla), and — perhaps most importantly — a huge treasure trove of new songs.
The very best of those tracks are now being brought together in a new show where dancing isn’t just allowed — it’s encouraged. So do a few squats to warm up, eat a banana, or sneak a little taste of something sweet, and throw yourself into the whirlwind. Bonus: your Dutch teacher would totally approve.
During Explore the North Festival, you’ll get a first-ever preview of this show, which will hit music venues and festivals in 2026.
Language: Dutch
It makes for a sizzling night, packed with music and poetry from five men who create a universe you’ll never want to leave. – de Theaterkrant on Liefde in tijden van Hopjesvla
De Makers
Joost Oomen is a poet, writer, and theater-maker. His critically-acclaimed books and collections have been nominated for several prizes. As a theater-maker he, along with garage jazz band Kruidkoek brought the whole of the Netherlands to a halt. Joost is also a part of several productions with Explore the North, including Vruchtjes Eten and Tuut Tuut Kwantumschuim (ft. Kruidkoek), Blabbermouth, Liefde in tijden van Hopjesvla and LORCA.
Kruidkoek is a derailed boyhood dream. Four close friends found their musical outlet in a band where they can push their limits and broaden their horizons in a visually-appealing way without making concessions. Dance videos, jazz clubs, self-constructed lightboxes, pop festivals, poets, kid’s shows, bickering in the studio, and laughing on the tourbus: it’s like a 90’s MTV on-the-road reality show.
Since 2014, the boys have been steadily building their career. They’ve released 3 EPs and 3 albums, with countless adventures along the way, through their own blend of jazz, rock, Tarantino films, and their own bizarre concoction were renamed GarageJazz.
