The festival, which was due to be held 29 January until 5 February 2022, will not continue due to Covid-19 restrictions upheld in the Netherlands

Persfoto Strijkkwartet Biennale Amsterdam_fotograaf Ben Bonouvrier_1 MB

© Ben Bonouvrier

The third edition of the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam has been cancelled, due to continuing Covid-19 restrictions in the Netherlands.

Festival director Yasmin Hilberdink said, ’Cancelling a festival that only takes place once every two years is of course an unimaginable disappointment for everyone involved in the preparation and for all visitors and musicians who had been looking forward to the festival. But with every measure from the government we lose a vital piece of the whole — we can only cut away so much until we’re actually left with something that has nothing to do with a festival anymore.’

While live events will not be taking place, plans are being made to broadcast concerts filmed at the Muziekgebouw, in collaboration with NTR and NPO Radio 4. The programme will consist of a mix of quartets from the original festival line-up.

The organisation have encouraged ticket holders to donate the cost of tickets to go towards compensation for all performers and freelancers that would have been involved in this year’s festival.