Nature Festival, Dauwtrappen and Ladysmith Black Mambazo: outings in Groningen and Drenthe

Dew steps through awakening nature

The habit of getting up early for a walk in nature on Ascension Day is widely known as dew stairs. The sun rises around Leekstermeer at 5.45 am on Thursday, which means that the IVN’s Dew Staircase and Bird Walk will start even earlier. From Nienoord (start in front of the Nienoord Information Center) you first walk through the forest at 5:00 am where the birds wake up. From there you cross to the open meadow area on the Drenthe side of the Leekster Hoofddiep. When the weather is nice you can see the ground mist with the treetops floating above it, with deer still eating a snack of grass in the meadows. This early in the morning, many birds that have just woken up also make themselves heard.

Continuing along open meadows and water you will come to patches of swamp forest. It is always a surprise what is seen and heard there. After passing the site of recreation entrepreneur Cnossen, you return, first along a wetland area with water birds, then past grasslands with possibly a significant number of meadow birds. As part of the walk is on grass paths, waterproof footwear is recommended. The route is approximately seven kilometers long, registration is not required.

Leek – Landgoed Nienoord, Thursday 5 hours, 2.50 euros, IVN members free

Paula Biemans and Klaas Oosterhuis

Paula Biemans and Klaas Oosterhuis have been working together since the summer of 2022. In the Upper Room of Pictura, the two artists show videos under the title Time Under Construction . In the Boardroom downstairs in Pictura is the work with the title Broken Game , an installation including a replica of a toy gun. It symbolizes the irrevocable moment when the realization dawns that the childish fantasy world is finally over and transitions into the realization of the reality of ‘real life.’ Time Under Construction is On view until May 26 at Kunstlievend Genootschap Pictura.

The continuous performance will take place on Sunday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Letter to You can be seen in the Upper Room. This performance can be seen again on the last day of the exhibition. The exhibition is also at Pictura Twelve years in Ter Apel to see.

Groningen – Kunstlovend Genootschap Pictura, Wed to Sun 1-5 p.m., 3 euros, friends free

Ladysmith Black Mambazo brings love

Calling the South African company Ladysmith Black Mambazo a choir is an understatement. This musical company is a cultural institution. For more than five decades, the harmonies have been embraced by audiences, supported by vocal power, signature dance moves and charming on-stage interaction.

The big break came in 1986, when Paul Simon enlisted the help of Ladysmith Black Mambazo for the legendary Graceland. The group has now received five Grammy Awards and is touring all over the world with their message that is needed now more than ever: Peace, love and harmony.

Groningen – SPOT/Stadsschouwburg, Thu 8:15 p.m., 32 euros

Margaretha Consort plays Monteverdi

The Margaretha Consort will perform Monteverdi’s Marian Vespers in Coevorden on Friday. After four centuries, this collection of Marian songs gives many goosebumps. The mix of old and new styles, exuberant choir parts and delicate solo pieces are the ingredients that Monteverdi used for his Marian Vespers. With its unique atmosphere and a rich palette of emotions, this score remains one of the most monumental works in music history to this day.

Marit Broekroelofs, founder and artistic director of the Margaretha Consort, has once again joined forces with conductor Jos van Veldhoven. The Margaretha Consort consists of 9 singers and 16 instrumentalists and promises a rich performance with a range of classical instruments.

Coevorden – Reformed Church, Fri 8 p.m., 35 euros (children up to 12 years 5 euros)

Nature festival in the largest sheepfold

Ascension Day is a great day to experience the beautiful nature of Bargerveen. Various organizations, including the Drentse Veenland Foundation, Moor-Veenland Nature Park, the Veenloopcentrum and Staatsbosbeheer Veenland, will organize the Family Day, as the starting signal for the Peat Week that takes place from 9 to 20 May at Schaapskoor Bargerveen. The theme is again ‘nature experience, educational and exciting kids activities’, for the whole family.

The Dutch-German nature festival takes place at the largest sheepfold in the Netherlands. The day starts with Dauwtrappen at 6:00 am (registration is required via [email protected]), after which activities can be enjoyed all day long for all ages, such as cuddling goats, building a bird box or making your own whistle from rowan.

Weiteveen – Sheepfold Bargerveen, Thursday 10 am – 4 pm, free