About The Caravan Hitchhiking Project

The Caravan Hitchhiking Project travels along the three European Capitals of Culture. Utrecht-based theatre artist Tjerk Ridder makes this journey with a caravan, dog and guitar, but without a car. He is accompanied by Peter Bijl. On January 3rd 2010 the project left from Utrecht Dom Square. Tjerk then hitchhiked through wintery Europe to Ruhr2010, ending in Pécs2010 in Hungary in February. After a brief intermission in Shanghai, Tjerk and Peter left again from Pécs on June 10th, and are now on their way to the third European Capital of Culture, Istanbul2010.

Symbolic Journey
To reach their travel destinations, Tjerk and Peter depend on people willing to take him and his caravan to the next spot. The voyage is a metaphor, which literally shows that you need others to get further. Along the way Tjerk asks the people giving him a lift about their dreams. These dreams, and other roadside stories form the inspiration for a music theatre show that will be performed at several European locations at the end of the project.

European Capitals of Culture
In this unique and personal way the Caravan Hitchhiking Projects connects the three European Capitals of Culture of 2010: The Ruhr-Area in Germany, Pécs in Hungary and Istanbul in Turkey.

Environmentally Sustainable
Tjerk’s voyage will be realized as environmentally friendly as possible. The roof of the caravan has been outfitted with a daylight solar panel, so that lighting, laptop and telephone operate on solar energy.

The Caravan Hitchhiking Project Team
Team Tow Bar Needed is an initiative of a number of cultural entrepeneurs from Utrecht and surroundings.

- Tjerk Ridder – Tjerk Ridder
- Peter Bijl – Twitter
- Johanneke Minnema – Faem | Cultural Projects
- Danielle Arets – Capada
- Remco Timmermans – Expedition Factory

Caravan Hitchhiking History
Two years ago, Dennis Nolte of VIPbus – after inventing the concept – hitchhiked with a caravan from Utrecht to Terschelling (Dutch Wadden Sea island), followed by Peter Bijl a year later with a caravan hitchhike from Utrecht to Berlin.