Touristico and Gaylive recorded a podcast around Darklands, Antwerp‘s kink and fetish festival. Guests of Sven Boutsen (Touristico & Touristicogay) and Marc Dirix (Gaylive) were Darklands co-organiser Jacques Smet and Mister Leather Belgium 2022 & Mister Leather Europe 2023 Andy Walgraef.

Darkland’s Jacques Smet told the podcast hosts it was A-Stay who asked Darklands to become Darklands: The Hotel. 

“We said yes”, says Jacques. “Hotels love our guests, who are friendly and polite. Hotels are eager to work with us. We are often enthusiastic, but it has to be practical as a shuttle bus service bring hotel guests to Darklands.

Darklands: The Hotel will be a full kink and fetish experience, from breakfast to bedtime. “Co-organiser Jeroen Van Lievenoogen inspected every room type if they can sustain a sling.

It’s sold out, as are many other hotels in Antwerp. 

Novelties

Smet divulged some other novelties for Darklands 2023. 

New merchandise include power banks, T-shirts by Cartoon Called Life, beanies and hoodies. There are the chocolates for vaccines. Darklands will also sell sneakers. The idea of an own vodka bottle has been postponed. 

A new vendor sells naughty Christmas decorations. 

New this year is the silent auction. With this money, Darklands will sponsor other kink and fetish events around the world. 

Darklands 2023

• DARKLANDS 2023 | Programme and schedule.
• DARKLANDS 2023 | A-Stay to become official Darklands: The Hotel.
• Darklands 2023 from Tuesday 7 to Tuesday 14 March in Antwerp.
• MONKEYPOX IN BELGIUM | Darklands warns visitors, as gay men are more at risk.
• Darklands 2023 to and from Deep Space.

Antwerp Pride 2023 & Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2023

• ANTWERP PRIDE 2023 | ‘Braveolution’ to Brave Space Antwerp.
• Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2023 seeks contributors.
• ANTWERP PRIDE | Geert Van Praet succeeds retiring chairperson Bart Abeel.
• PHOTOS | Antwerp Pride 2023 from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 August.
• Antwerp Pride 2022 made big impact with Queertopia, monkeypox highjacked the festivities.

Queer Antwerp

• Antwerp Pride, Jeffrey’s, Marie Antoinette, Armand Everaert win 2023 Touristico Gaylive Awards.
• ANTWERP | LGBTQIA+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen stops.
• Rainbow zebra crossings of Antwerp.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Borgerhout.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Berchem.
• 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 wins Çavaria Media Award.
• PHOTOS | Rainbows lit Antwerp.
• Flemish LGBTQI+ press support rainbow community in Ukraine.
• ALLEMAAL ANTWERPENAAR | Antwerp launches campaign to motivate citizens to stand up against discrimination and intimidation.
• Borgerhout flies intersex inclusive Rainbow Progress Pride Flag for IDAHOT.