Jasper Somsen has been involved as director, production manager, and/or programmer in:
2026 Freedom Dinner
In 2026 Wageningen celebrated 81 years of freedom. One of the main events of the Liberation Day programme of Wageningen45 is the Freedom Dinner. The Freedom Dinner is the longest table during the national Liberation Day events, in the Netherlands, on May 5. The 500-meter-long table, where connection people takes center stage, hosted approx. 1,000 guests of all ages a, a delicious international world cuisine and a diversity of live music and cultural performances. It’s a dinner where the focus is not just about food, but in particular on connecting each and everyone. Guests actively participating in the discussing the meaning of freedom, as part of the events programme. Similar to the Dinner On The Dike events, 200 tickets were made available (free of charge) to people with limited financial means and residents of the local asylum seekers’ center.
Once again Jasper had the lead as production manager, assigned by both Wageningen 45 and Blaauwe Kamer – Food of Cultures, and participated in the Wageningen45 intern programme for HAN students.
2026 Memorial March – Remembrance Day
The annual Memorial March and Remembrance Day on May 4, is a major national ceremony, which is held in most cities, towns and villages all over The Netherlands. The Memorial March and Remembrance Day in Wageningen is a part of the overall programme of Wageningen45, which includes both Remembrance Day on May 4 and the national Liberation Day on May 5. Originally both May 4 and 5 was to commemorate the fallen and celebrate the liberation of Nazi Germany at the end of the second World War. Nowadays both events include those who stood op up and/or fought for our freedom after the World War II. Besides the King’s Commissioner, the mayors and delegations of Mörfelden-Waldorf (Germany) and Gödöllö (Hungary) are amongst the main invitees – actively particpating.
This year Jasper served as production manager, assigned by Wageningen45, and participated in the Wageningen45 intern programme for HAN students.
2025 – 2026 Dinner On The Dike XL
One of the most successful events during the Wageningen Cultural Summer Festival, in 2023 and 2024, was the event Dinner on the Dike. Approximately 1,000 visitors enjoyed a freshly prepared, delicious world-inspired meal, engaging conversations, and live music during sunset—on the Wageningen Grebbedijk along the River Rhine.
In 2025 and 2026, Jasper served as production manager for Dinner On The Dike XL. On behalf of organizer Blaauwe Kamer – Food of Cultures. He was the central coordinator in the collaboration with the Annual Introduction Days of Wageningen University & Research. With 3,000 visitors, the 2025 event sold out. People from all walks of life enjoyed performances by around 30 musicians between 750 meters of long tables. As in previous editions, 200 tickets were made available free of charge to people with limited financial means and residents of the local asylum seekers’ center. The next Dinner On The Dike XL 2026 will be held in August, expecting 3,333 visitors.
Info >> Media coverage NRC (NL)
Info >> Media coverage TV Gelderland (NL)
2020-2024 Wageningse Cultuurzomer
In 2020, Jasper Somsen initiated the first Wageningen Cultural Summer Festival. The broad arts and culture festival aimed to bring local artists/performers and audiences together during the COVID-19 crisis. Under Jasper’s leadership as director of the Cultuurstad Wageningen Foundation, the Wageningen Culture Summer grew into the second-largest festival in Wageningen. In 2023 and 2024, the four-week festival attracted 17,000 visitors, with 28 organizers producing approximately 100 events, including performing arts, outdoor cinema, an arts and culture market, visual art exhibitions, literary events, experimental art and culture projects, socially engaged art initiatives, and collaborations with external partners (such as the international exhibition Beelden op de Berg and the Children’s Culture Summer). Due to the loss of subsidies and insufficient financial resources, a sixth edition did not take place in 2025.
Info >> Media coverage Stad Wageningen (NL)
2014-20 Jasper Somsen Invites …
Since 2014, Jasper has organized his concert series Jasper Somsen Invites …, hosting more than 120 jazz musicians across approximately 60 concerts. Leading figures from the Dutch jazz scene have taken the stage at Café Loburg (Wageningen), including Benjamin Herman, Yuri Honing, Mike Boddé, Anna Serierse, Maria Mendes, Jasper Blom, Toon Roos, Paulus Schäfer, Joost Lijbaart, Angelo Verploegen, Rik Mol, Jeroen van Vliet, and American saxophonist Bob Sheppard.
Live recordings in 2023 and 2024 resulted in the album releases Jasper Somsen Invites … Paul van der Feen & Bert van den Brink and Jasper Somsen Invites … Anton Goudsmit Live! (Challenge Records). The series is made possible through collaboration with Jazz in Wageningen.
2009-2019 Jazz in Wageningen
For ten years, Jasper was one of the driving forces behind the successful Jazz in Wageningen concert series as (co-)initiator, board member, programmer, and head of production. Through his global network, the initially small national concert series—held in the Capitulation Hall of Hotel de Wereld—grew into an international stage at Theater Junushoff.
World wide renowned jazz musicians such as Ron Carter, Perez/Patitucci/Blade, Richard Bona, Yellowjackets, John & Gerald Clayton, Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Mike Stern, Dave Weckl, Jeff Lorber, Joey Calderazzo, Billy Cobham, Enrico Pieranunzi, Jean-Michel Pilc, Bob Sheppard, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, and Simon Phillips performed in the small town along the Rhine.
In addition to his responsibilities as a board member, Jasper was responsible not only for programming but also for directing the entire stage production, hospitality, and communication.
Want to know more or explore collaboration?
Get in touch: info@jaspersomsen.com
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