ILOTOPIE ACQUA FORTE PARADE
With the performance ‘ACQUA FORTE Parade’, the theatre makers transform the Leeuwarden city canal along the Noordersingel into a fairytale-like dreamscape that stimulates all the senses.
Ilotopie
Ilotopie—known as ACQUAFORTE COMPAGNIE from next year onwards—originated in the Camargue, a wetland region in the Rhône delta of southern France. Rivers, lakes, and the sea, alongside wooded areas, form—as the theatre company itself describes them—reservoirs of imagination for humanity. They take the audience on a journey through a world of imagination, traversing pristine waters and landscapes.
Ilotopie has been performing worldwide for decades and is internationally recognized as a leading pioneer in water-based (street) theatre. Through large-scale water parades, installations, and performances, the company transforms ordinary waterscapes into imaginative scenes. Using actors who walk on water, floating objects, lighting effects, and music, they create an experience unlike anything the audience has ever seen before.
An ‘aquatic parade’ in the Prinsentuin with a touch of Mata Hari
The ACQUA FORTE Parade is no ordinary parade. Dreamlike imagery unfolds along a 300-meter stretch of the route. Through a combination of striking lighting effects on the water, floating fire, and accompanying music, the audience is transported into the enchanting, imaginary world of Ilotopie. Specially for Leeuwarden—and to mark her 150th anniversary—the legendary Mata Hari is featured as a special element of the parade.
In the run-up to the ACQUA FORTE Parade, Ilotopie will appear at various locations across the city center with surprise performances. This spectacular water-based parade takes place from October 9 to 11, 2026. Ilotopie will perform on the northern city canal, visible from both the Noordersingel and the waterfront of the Prinsentuin. Admission to the event is free, and it is suitable for all ages.