On October 3, 4, and 5 TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht, The Netherlands presents Orange Jazz Days, a festival whose lineup revolves around the best jazz the lowlands have to offer. Dedicated to showcasing the versatility, innovation and rich tradition of the Dutch jazz scene, Orange Jazz Days welcomes exclusive premieres, unique collaborations, and household names alongside brand new names. Explore new compositions and arrangements by Eric Vloeimans, Yuri Honing, Han Bennink & Hans Dulfer, Tineke Postma & Marc van Roon, Vernon Chatlein, Boy Edgar winner Tony Roe, and many others.
Bigbands galore
Orange Jazz Days opens with Nu-Art Orchestra, TivoliVredenburg’s new ensemble in residence led by Marike van Dijk. Following an in-house live recording session in July 2025, the group presents its first-ever live album, chock full of brand new music. The iconic Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw presents a fresh approach to the legacy of Misha Mengelberg, and Paradox Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to legendary Dutch film music composer Ruud Bos. These bigbands and large ensembles are at the core of Orange Jazz Days.
Paving the way for a new generation
Besides these big names, Orange Jazz Days celebrates the next generation in Dutch jazz. Bands such as PARRA.DICE, .multibeat and WAAN combine jazz with funk, electronics or hiphop, crafting fresh new sounds of their own. Chatlein i su Zumbi, led by Vernon Chatlein, takes audiences on a deep dive into Afro-Curacaoan traditions and connects its music with jazz and Latin.
Saxophonist Loek van den Berg brings his Quintet to present Seafarer, perhaps one of the most captivating releases of 2025.
New compositions: the future of Dutch jazz
Orange Jazz Days prides itself in its focus on new music. We commissioned trumpeter Eric Vloeimans to compose a new Dutch Jazz Suite, challenging him to summarize the diversity of the Dutch jazz scene in one compelling program. Nu-Art Orchestra, in turn, stimulates its
musicians to innovate: everyone is equally welcome to compose, arrange, and perform new music. Kika Sprangers will also present new work at Orange Jazz Days, showcasing the lyrical, layered style she is known and loved for. Finally, Jeroen van Vliet previews a new composition, which premieres at November Music.
All of these new pieces illustrate how open and dynamic the Dutch jazz scene can be.
Benjamin Herman’s European Alto Festival
On Sunday, October 5, we close Orange Jazz Days’ first-ever festival weekender with Benjamin Herman’s European Alto Festival, which will exclusively feature Dutch compositions this time around. Guest soloists include Erena Terakubo, one of the most exciting young saxophonists on the Dutch scene today. With Herman’s own band and a selection of some of Europe’s best alto saxophonists the European Alto Festival playfully and energetically closes the first edition of Orange Jazz Days.
This festival aims to provide Dutch jazz with the platform and audience it deserves. When you put all of these groups, artists, and ensembles together, it becomes apparent how broad and colorful our scene really is. Orange Jazz Days wants to question what Dutch jazz really is. Perhaps we won’t be able to answer that question this weekend, but at the very least, we will have enjoyed a fantastic festival.
Join us on October 3-5. Tickets are on sale now, here.
