................................................ And what if we were to give Water a voice by reading a novel together, out loud? ................................................ Le Parlement de l'Eau is a novel with three storylines which, just […]
About Rif
Rif is a workspace for music theater. — a place where contemporary music theater is created that amazes, moves, sparks the imagination, and invites reflection. We explore the musical power of theater and the theatrical power of music.
Like a coral reef, Rif grows through connection and collaboration. It attracts life and also lets it go. A reef is at once a place, a process, and a community — a home, a breeding ground, and a source of energy.
From this image, Rif aims to be a living whole, built by and for artists, local residents, and researchers. Our work is rooted in the Deurneleitje in Mortsel, not as a finished house but as an open environment where ideas, people, and structures can attach, branch out, erode, and come to life again. Rif is not a closed-off institution, but a shared and ever-evolving artwork, shaped by the contributions of many.
This is how Rif stays in motion: a place where art and community constantly question, challenge and inspire each other. The road to this has been rich: thirty-five years of making, searching, playing and growing are behind us in the fascinating archive of music theater WALPURGIS.
Team
Artistic core & artistic coordination
Toon Callier
Lucas Van Haesbroeck
Jutta Troch
Angel Calvo Perez
Business Coordinator
Renild Van Bavel
board
Ilse Muysers
Els Roobroeck
Tijl Bossuyt
Alexandra Meijer
Leentje De Wachter
Zoöp responsible
Didier El Bacha:
Mobile: ++ 32 (0)478 55 49 90
Email: didier@hoparchitectuur.be
Practical
ADDRESS
Rif
Deurneleitje 6
B2640 Mortsel
OPENING HOURS
Rif is an artist-run house. Because of the staff's flexible schedules, the office is not open full-time. So you may have to wait a little longer for an answer.
ACCESSIBILITY
by bike
Follow the bike lane past Berchem station (12 min) to Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg station and turn right into Deurnestraat or take Grote Steenweg/Antwerpsesteenweg at Singel/St Willebrorduskerk until just past Agfa Gevaert (15 min).
by tram or bus
Trams and buses stop around the corner.
Gevaert stop:
tram 7 Mortsel-Islandje
tram 15 Boechout-Linkeroever
bus 90 Lier-Antwerp
bus 91 Waarloos-Mortsel-Berchem station
bus 92 Kontich station-Mortsel-Berchem station
Deurnestraat stop:
Bus 33 Ekeren-Merksem-Wilrijk-Hoboken
by train
Mortsel (5-minute walk)
Mortsel-Oude-God (15-minute walk)
Berchem (10-minute bike ride)
Antwerp Central Station (20 min by tram 15 to Gevaert stop)
by car
As the number of parking spaces in the area is very limited, we strongly recommend everyone to come by bike or public transport. This is also to avoid inconvenience to our neighbours. Rif visitors cannot park in the Deurneleitje itself. If you do come to Rif by car, you can park at the Parking Krijgsbaan, Krijgsbaan, 2640 Mortsel (5 minutes' walk to Rif): https://maps.app.goo.gl/5rGJUZDvHraB95oB6
Zoöp
In 2025, RIF is taking a unique step: we will become Belgium's first official Zoöp. A Zoöp is an organisational governance model for the collaboration between human and non-human life that champions the interests of all zoë (Greek for ‘life’). The Zoöp model helps us to shape our operations in such a way that they strengthen ecosystems and make room for regenerative collaboration between art, buildings, communities, and the life that surrounds us. On this page, you can read more about how such a Zoöp model works and how we at Rif try to put that philosophy into practice.
The Zoönomic Institute (Rotterdam) forms the root system of the Zoöp movement: this supports all Zoöps with knowledge and expertise. The Zoönomic Institute helps organisations implement the Zoöp model and thus reverse their ecological impact. It is committed to the growth of the Zoöp network and also regulates the use of the Zoöp name and logo through certification. An organisation may call itself a Zoöp when it includes an independent expert in its organisational structure who ensures that the interests of non-human life are heard in the decisions the organisation makes. Together with the organisation becoming a Zoöp, the Zoönomic Foundation chooses which expert would be the best fit, depending on what the organisation needs most. This could be, for example, an ecologist, but also a lawyer or another expert. In this way, the Zoöp model anchors the voices and interests of nature within the organisation, without changing the organisation's existing goals. At Rif, architect Didier El Bacha takes on this fascinating commitment.
From 2026, Rif will translate this philosophy into concrete actions: we will raise awareness, strengthen the involvement of the neighbourhood and visitors, de-pave and green our site, build microhabitats for animals and plants, make our water and material flows more sustainable, and make Rif a place where human and non-human life forms co-create the future. Rif will thus continue to grow into a healthy ecosystem: an arts venue that not only creates, but also listens, cares, and builds together towards a future where all life counts.
This ecological perspective also takes centre stage in our artistic residencies. For example, Johannes Westendorp and Zwerm in Calling Songs Looking for ways to make music with DIY electronics alongside existing frog and insect choruses. Rose van de Leest uses a gigantic miniature landscape made from waste from the River Scheldt to encourage critical reflection on our waste management policies. Jenna Vergeynst explores the hidden sounds of the deep sea, where music and the vulnerability of endangered ocean life converge. Thus, music theatre at Rif becomes a space where human and non-human life meet, influence each other, and unlock new insights.
Read about Zoop's concrete ambitions for 2026 in our Reef Zoonomic Annual Plan 2026 Browse through our cyclical Zoöp logbook and discover season by season how we strive to put the Zoöp philosophy into practice at Rif:
Also meet the other Zoöps here!
Contact details for Didier El Bacha:
Mobile: ++ 32 (0)478 55 49 90
Email: didier@hoparchitectuur.be
©Johannes Westendorp
©Patricia de Ruijter
Patricia de Ruijter
©Patricia de Ruijter
Angel Calvo Perez
©Johannes Westendorp
© Olympe Tits
Patricia de Ruijter
© Olympe Tits
© Olympe Tits
© Judith Vindevogel
©Hop & Rowline
Support us
Do you love surprising music theater and prefer to experience everything from the front row? Then you can help make a difference!
To support the artists in our performance series RUISGEWAS and to make our neighborhood-accessible (roof) garden a reality, we are always looking for additional support.
With your contribution, you help make dreams come true and give oxygen to a vibrant place where art and community come together.
Make a donation - big or small, every support counts.
For now, we cannot yet provide a tax certificate, but you will receive our eternal gratitude in return.
Account
Triodos: 523-0800571-08
IBAN: BE63 5230 8005 7108
BIC: TRIOBEBB
Would you rather help out in a hands-on way? Volunteers are also very welcome. Feel free to send us an email via info@rif.be.
Together, we make Rif grow!
Rif does not currently have any vacancies available.
© Olympe Tits
