After a cautions new year’s message, Darklands has changed its tone on social media, showing confidence.

Darklands is Belgium‘s Leather & Fetish Pride (and more) in Antwerp, mostly geared towards men who have sex with men (MSM), although organiser Jeroen Van Lievenoogen aims at incorportating all genders, gender identities and sexual orientations. 

Almost no coronavirus countermeasures

With COVID-19 statistics evolving in the right direction, there is optimism amongst politicians and the people for affairs to go ‘back to normal’, whatever normal is. 

Since Monday 7 March, almost all coronavirus countermeasures have gone, except wearing masks in public transport and in hospitals. A next Consultative Committee of Governments will probable downscale the crisis management to the regional authorities, ending the so-called Federal Fase. 

Russia & Ukraine

As COVID-19 is more or less retiring to the background – for now at least – the conversation is now the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Belarus and Chechnya. Will that war affect all sorts of festivities? 

Knaldrang

So Darklands has been releasing more tickets and has sent reminders ticket sales are going well.

The knaldrang is high. ‘Knaldrang‘ is a Flemish neologism to describe the “urge to bang”. In this case to party. There’s also undoubtedly an urge to bang in another meaning of the word. 

Darklands was the last party before First Lockdown in March 2020. It will not be the first. H.I.M in Antwerp, La Démence in Brussels and others will go ahead earlier. 

Darklands 2022

• Darklands 2022 hints at postponement.
• Darklands 2022 introduces Puppy Walk through streets of Antwerp.
• Darklands 2022: 4 to 9 May at Waagnatie, Antwerp.
• Darklands 2020 was the last dance before COVID-19.

Antwerp Pride 2022 & Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2022

• Full edition ft. parade and festival days for Antwerp Pride 2022.
• Antwerp Pride 2022 from 10 to 14 August for a 15th edition.
• Open Call for contributors for Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2022.
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | De Gerlachekaai at the Scheldt.
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | Sint-Andriesplein.
• Antwerp Pride 2021: “Long time, no see”.

Queer Antwerp

• Rainbow zebra crossings of Antwerp.
• City chronicle ‘De kleur van de stad maakt mijn ziel amoureus’ recounts Queer Antwerp history.
• ‘Masculinities: Liberation through Photography’ exhibition at FOMU, Antwerp’s photography museum.
• Antwerp’s LGBTQI bookshop Kartonnen Dozen looking for a new home.
• Antwerp’s LGBTQI+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen wins Çavaria Media Award.
• PHOTOS | Rainbows lit Antwerp.