Seriously popular and controversial: the new “neoklassiek”

The term ‘neoklassiek’, which appears regularly in concert schedules in the Netherlands in 2025, is controversial and should not be confused with the movement of the same name in classical music from the early 20th century. It refers to music that combines contemporary, romantic, and other classical styles with minimal and ambient, which is successfully programmed in large and smaller venues and overlooked by many in the ‘serious’ sector. Neoclassical can take the form of lying-down-concerts or as side programming at pop festivals. It is therefore truly genre-transcending, which is reflected in its registration with BumaStemra; do you register your music there as ‘serious’ or ‘popular’?

Speakers include Frerick den Haan, who as an artist and promoter is involved with Ambitus, the platform that brings together artists from the Netherlands and beyond. Classical programmer Carine Hartman from TivoliVredenburg books concerts from both the Ambitus program and her own Unravel series. Floor Spapens is pop and jazz marketer at the Concertgebouw, where concerts in this style attract a diverse audience. Ralph van Raat is pianist and musicologist.
This panel is moderated by Mark van Schaick, genre manager classical, jazz, world at Buma Cultuur.