De Voorleestent

It started with a simple idea:
What if we could give parents superpowers when reading to their children?

Years ago, I imagined a pop-up book that would trigger light, sound, and wind with every page turn. Placing the reader at the heart of a magical story. That early prototype was chaotic, full of wires and wonder. But the dream stayed alive.

Years later, together with my friends at Q42, we brought the idea back. This time for the Kinderboekenmuseum (Children's Book Museum) in The Hague. Instead of a connected book, we created an entire tent that responds to the reader.

Inside De Voorleestent, children and adults can choose a story setting. Light, sound, and subtle effects create an intimate, dreamlike world. As the story unfolds, children can trigger sounds themselves, adding a sense of play and discovery.

It’s a place that celebrates the art of reading together. Where imagination meets technology, and every story feels like your own.