Maarten Bel goes camping – Heëlesj style

Heerlen-Noord is a district currently receiving a great deal of attention. As stated on the website of the National Programme Heerlen-North (NPHLN): “Children growing up in Heerlen-North today have, on average, far fewer opportunities for a decent income, a proper home, or long-term health than elsewhere in the Netherlands.” At the same time, it's an area where many residents creatively navigate challenges such as living on a tight budget. What we call ‘Heerlen-North’ comprises fourteen neighbourhoods and a total of 56,000 residents. With 69 percent of all Heerlen households located here, one might ask: shouldn’t we just call it ‘Heerlen’?

One of the initiatives in this district is Camping - Heëlesj style: a temporary neighbourhood campsite at Sportpark De Varenbeuk, from 1 to 3 August. Organised by De Buurttuin, the campsite offers an accessible space where neighbours can connect. For a small fee, everyone is welcome to join and pitch a tent.

Maarten Bel will be part of the campsite, bringing with him a rather unconventional entertainment team. Think pancake tower building, DIY tent-making, and other offbeat activities. Through this interactive work, he invites participants to playfully reflect on their neighbourhood and the stories it holds. Humour and lightness help open up difficult topics, while maintaining a strong sense of engagement. This project is part of ArtBase, a pilot program by the Mondriaan Fonds in which SCHUNCK explores how the collection can also function outside the museum.

Maarten Bel goes camping – Heëlesj style marks the lead-up to his upcoming exhibition in the Glaspaleis vitrine, on view from 26 October 2025 to 1 March 2026.