DARKLANDS 2024

Once again, Antwerp is hosting Darklands, Belgium‘s large and very international fetish, kink and leather pride. The venue: the Waagnatie near the Scheldt. The dates: Tuesday 27 February to Monday 4 March 2024. This year’s theme is ‘The Void‘.

“Choosing the right date is always the first real challenge as preparations for the upcoming edition of Darklands kick-off. Dozens of factors are crucial to that choice and led to the first weekend of March 2024 as the perfect date that suited all our partners and suppliers”, organiser Jeroen Van Lievenoogen says in the elaborate Darklands 2024 Festival Guide.

“Except for that one phone call from Mister B‘s owner Nelson, in which he said the company was planning to celebrate its 30th anniversary that same weekend. However, the solution was simple and Mister B was invited to celebrate their anniversary at Darklands. After all, Darklands might never have existed without Wim Bos, former owner of Mister B. In addition to his sponsorship, he offered an extra guarantee two years in a row in case the event was not a success”, Jeroen continues.

“Wim has never had to chip in. It is with great pleasure and honour that we celebrate one of our most supportive sponsors with various activities throughout the weekend, including an anniversary dinner and the rebranding of our entire entrance in honor of Mister B.

“Uniting the community has been one of Darklands’ main goals since day one. Bringing different subgroups of our diverse community together under one roof has certainly helped build bridges and respect for each other.”

“The result will become even more visible this year with new socials, new community stands and activities as more tribes settle in Darklands. My team is excited to show you what they have planned this year. A new Mr. Fetish World election, an expansion of the Mr-S-Leather stage and vendor market, the fourth Mister B stage, a series of entertainment shows and performances, and so much more”, Jeroen concludes.

What is Darklands anyway?

Darklands is a festival for people with kinks and fetishes. Mostly geared towards men who have sex with men (MSM) but Darklands makes efforts to be more gender(fluid) inclusive.

During the day Darklands is a trade fair. Shops, brands and other commercial initiatives promote their products. Think of (sex) toys, clothing and other gear.

On several stages, there are elections such as Mr. Leather Belgium, European Puppy, European Handler, European Bootblack, International Mr. Rubber and Mr. Superhero Fetish Europe. But there are also performances, interviews and (sexual) acts.

And then there are the playrooms, the play areas or the darkroom. Where people cruise and have sex. At night, there are huge dance parties and there is more sex.

This sounds off-putting. I can see you grimace. Yes, it takes an open mind to attend and to enjoy.

Inclusion

But oddly perhaps, Darklands is very friendly and gentle. Darklands is an incredible safe space where you will not be judged for who you are, what you are, what you wear, what you like or how you look. Darklands is a much safer space than many other LGBTQIA+ events where there is often judgement for being too queer or the opposite: not queer enough.

That is the magic of Darklands. And yes, you can easily attend without having sex. Consent is king.

“Diversity and inclusivity of all are not just positives for those who are often underrepresented among our number, but enhance our whole community by expanding the ethos and feel of Darklands. Diversity of community helps us as organizers bring more diversity of thought to the table, which ultimately leads to more exciting and creative activities for all”n the festival guide says on the matter.

“Not every event has to be designed to fit everyone, but keeping diversity & inclusivity at the forefront of our minds when planning Darklands will help us continue to move forward as a broad & beautiful community of fetish people. We expect all to follow these values, and to respect and treat everyone as we would like to be treated.”

For disabled people, there is an allocated parking place. Guidance dogs are allowed on the festival grounds, but Darklands asks them to be recognizable as such. There are adapted toilets all over the festival site.

Darklands makes an effort to keep cables, wires and drains in the air above people’s heads as much as possible, or when that is not possible build a ramp or cable/drain tray and provide alternative routes.

During the daytime festival several parts of the program will be offering an interpreter for our guests with hearing difficulties.

People taking medication should bring a valid medical certificate to show it’s not something else. The same for food allergies. You’re not allowed ti bring own food and drinks, unless you can prove you have medical reasons to do so.

Neurodivergent

Darklands uses strobe lighting and loud music during the evening parties, and the space during the daytime can get busy.

The merchandise shop offers earplugs. “If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you are always welcome to leave and come back as you please. There are plenty of quiet, cool spaces outside the venue.”

Trans+ guests

Darklands is about gay sex(uality) so what about trans people? “Trans+ including, but not limited to, trans males (a man who was assigned female at birth), trans females (a female who was assigned male at birth), non-binary (an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t fit comfortably within ‘male’ or ‘female’) etc. are more than welcome in our spaces during the daytime events.”

“Our parties are designated as male-centric and are for those comfortable in a male-centric space. Therefore anyone who is encompassed within this designation is welcome to attend our parties including cis men, trans men, masc and androgynous presenting non-binary people, etc. Trans women, cis women and those of other non-masculine identities are very welcome to join the Darklands daytime festival, or any of the designated mixed parties.”

For female visitors, the same policy applies. “The daytime festival is open to all. Due to the nature of the parties at night are specifically male-centric and are for those comfortable in a male-centric space. We hope to find a strong partner in the near future to offer mixed parties for trans women, cis women and other encompassing identities.”

The same was said last year.

New in 2024

Darklands blends familiarity with new additions to the programme. So, what’s new in 2024?

Thirty years of Mr. B.
Four stages.
New socials: American, cigar, hypnokink and disabled.
Mr-S-Leather stage expanded.
Mr. Fetish World Election.
‘Beyond Classic’ moves to Saturday.
Live audience podcasts: three podcasts will be recorded live.
Even more vendors.
Earlier opening on Wednesday.
‘Darklands Has Talent’.

Masterclasses

Besides partying and socials, masterclasses are an important part of Darklands. Living your kink(s) and fetish(es) inside and outside the community doesn’t go without challenges.

An array of masterclasses will broaden your knowledge on many subjects.

Catering

Obviously there are many options to drink and eat. The restaurant is staffed by Kohlberger Catering, who designed several menus with comfort food, taking into consideration many allergies or lifestyle choices.

Besides the restaurant, there will be other food stands.

Citywide activities

One doesn’t necessarily want to be confined to the Waagnatie premises, so there is a myriad of activities outside Darklands proper. ‘Fetish City Walk‘, ‘Ivana’s Crazy Bus Tour‘ or ‘Beyond Classic‘.

Let’s not forget the Puppy Walk, which raises visibility. The Puppy Walk is scheduled for Saturday 2 March, at 1.15 PM at Falconplein. The puppies walk to Darklands.

Beyond Classic 2024

At ‘Beyond Classic’ professional, qualified and internationally distinguished musicians and performers take stage in fetish outfits. “Classical music is mixed with contemporary performing arts taking you to places you’ve never been before”, the website says.

“Baroque music is very far away from us in many ways, but in some ways it is also very close, almost inspiringly current: on the Baroque opera stage we find a gender fluidity that can hardly be imagined in modern times. Men sing to women in dresses, women sing to men in pants, and the highest paid of all are castrated men who impersonate women like men and, above all, gods.”

“The artificial counts much more than the natural, the artificial is valued much more than the unworked. In addition, the Baroque opera stage is full of heroes. Superhuman powers defeat demons, and manga like Marvel Comics still use the same fantasies today.”

In their new show, Fetish Baroque presents the superheroes of the baroque era in a very modern look. Accordion player Ivan Trenev will be there for the first time, interpreting a double concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach together with Michael Hell. And once again we will have a star from the Antwerp and Brussels music/theatre scene as guest : Jaouad Alloul says with David Bowie‘s ‘We could be heroes’.

‘Beyond Classic’, Saturday 2 March 2024, AMUZ, 7.30 PM. Tickets.

Dresscode

Yes, there is a dresscode for the parties. Not for the daytime festival. Enforcement is not ‘strict’ at all, but it’s essential you get into the spirit of Darklands. It’s the only way to keep Darklands a safe space for fetish lovers and kinksters.

Darklands 2024 Festival Guide

It is impossible to condense 168 of a programme guide into one blogpost. There is too much going on at Darklands.

So, take a look at the festival guide for the full programme, maps of the premises, a schedule, a list of co-operating hotels and so on.

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