At a time when polarization is on the rise and more and more people are feeling lonely, the Goudse Schouwburg has chosen to literally make room for people to come together. During the free World Food & Film Festival on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, at GOUDasfalt, the focus will therefore not only be on music, film, and world cuisines, but above all on the people who bring Gouda a little closer together every week: the neighborhood chefs.
These volunteers cook in community centers, mosques, neighborhood centers, and gathering places for people who might otherwise never meet. Seated at a single table, conversations unfold between neighbors, newcomers, and lifelong residents of Gouda. Language barriers fade away, cultures draw closer together, and a meal becomes the start of new connections.
“Neighborhood chefs are perhaps the most underappreciated connectors in our city,” says Marcel Kamphuis, program director at the Goudse Schouwburg. “They ensure that people meet each other without the need for complicated projects. Especially now, in a society where differences sometimes seem greater than similarities, we want to bring their stories to light. They show that connection often begins with something as simple as eating together.”
During the festival, various neighborhood chefs will therefore be given a prominent place. Dila Kasımoğlu and Melike Sazil, Mohammed and Hamza, Amal Massaoudi and Hwida Aayek Almkahel will not only share dishes from their own kitchens but also personal stories about their backgrounds, hospitality, and the meaning of cooking together. In doing so, they are part of a program in which culture isn’t viewed from a stage but is experienced at the table.
The evening program ties in seamlessly with this. On Saturday evening, film director Uriël Matahelumual will join host Eva-Nicole Leroux for a conversation about the role of food as a vehicle for memories, identity, and cultural heritage. This will be followed by a screening of *Signalen van Boven* (Signs from Above), a film that focuses on Moluccan heritage and the stories of future generations.
The World Food & Film Festival takes place on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, at GOUDasfalt in Gouda. Admission is free. For the complete program, visit: www.worldfoodfilm.nl
Posted on July 14, 2026
