16 april 2025
Darklands: a Unique Seven-Day Event where freedom, kink and connection come together
Event type
Kink festival
Visitors
27.000
Duration
5 days
Services
Tactile eco-system
Darklands is an event unlike almost any other—and therefore difficult to capture in a single term. It is a seven-day event that runs 24 hours a day, featuring three stages, an erotic party, an extensive kink expo with 56 vendors, and 65 masterclasses. At the end of February, the heart of Antwerp becomes the setting for this all-encompassing experience.
Jeroen van Lievenoogen
Founder Darklands
The festival originated sixteen years ago within the gay scene in Belgium, driven by a clear need for visibility and connection within the kink community. What began as an erotic event aimed at a specific audience has since grown into a large and inclusive platform for a much broader community. Darklands brings together people from different sub-communities in a safe environment where there is room for relaxation, culture, education and enjoyment. Visitors come from all over Europe, with diverse backgrounds and cultures, all sharing the same goal: to be part of this special seven-day experience.
An event with a mission
Jeroen is the founder of Darklands. He grew up within the gay scenes of Amsterdam and Berlin, where he was inspired by the atmosphere and openness of the events there. That inspiration led to the creation of Darklands: a place where people and sub-communities can come together.
“We no longer wanted to stay behind closed doors or in obscure locations,” he explains. “It had to be out in the open, visible and accessible.”
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In its first year, the festival attracted around 600 visitors and had a predominantly erotic character, focused on the gay community. Today, it has evolved into a place where people can develop both sexually and personally. It is a safe setting in which open-minded individuals meet, share experiences and truly be themselves.
Behind the scenes: connecting and organising
Jeroen works full-time for Darklands and knows better than anyone what it takes to organise an event of this scale. With a background in multimedia design and graphic design, he has broad interests and a strong talent for connecting people, from technical suppliers such as lighting and sound to creatives working on marketing or event design.
The team behind Darklands consists of a core group, supported by freelancers and 56 coordinators. Together, they ensure the festival runs smoothly, from building the expo floor to managing volunteers.
More than a party: a place for wellbeing and dialogue
Darklands is not only a festival, trade fair and educational platform, but also a place where mental wellbeing is taken seriously. Visitors can connect with professionals from various disciplines, and since last year there has also been space for dialogue between visitors and service providers. These conversations offer valuable insights that help organisations improve their services.
The diversity of the festival is remarkable. From classical music performances to demonstration areas where visitors can, under professional guidance, experiment with techniques such as bondage or vacuum cubes. Even the food offering reflects this versatility, ranging from quick snacks to elaborate culinary dinners.
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Darklands primarily sees itself as a facilitator of the community. Anyone who wants to contribute is welcome to do so. There are free spaces for foundations, and a large part of the revenue is reinvested in the community or used to sponsor smaller events throughout the year.
Change and progress
According to Jeroen, Darklands is never the same from one year to the next. The organisation strives to improve every year, but that ambition also brings challenges. It was clear that communication with visitors, especially younger generations, is becoming more important. Where people previously discovered the kink scene through friends, including its norms and rules, younger visitors now often arrive independently. This calls for clear communication and open dialogue. Only this way, misconceptions can be addressed and visitors can safely immerse themselves in the experience.​
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There are also continuous developments on an organisational level. Until recently, Darklands used vouchers and plastic tokens as payment methods at the expo floor and bars. In practice, this proved inconvenient: vouchers get wet and tokens take up a lot of space, far from ideal given certain outfits or activities. The 15th edition of Darklands therefore marked a moment of innovation, with the introduction of a fully cashless payment system.
Visitors could pay using a personalised wristband, which could be topped up in advance or during the festival. These wristbands were also used for access to different zones and activities. The transition was received positively. Not only were digital check-ins faster than the old colour codes or text labels, they also offered greater safety and clarity. For the first time, the organisation had an accurate picture of the actual number of visitors, and that number even turned out to be slightly lower than expected.
Collaboration and co-creation
The organisation chose Tactile, an experienced provider of digital payment systems. Their involvement went beyond technology alone: they provided on-site support during the festival and even worked behind the bar. This hands-on approach and willingness to think along made all the difference for Jeroen.
Darklands has since grown into an icon within the global kink scene. For the organisation, this is confirmation that they are on the right path, especially as they increasingly see their approach and communication reflected in other, similar events.
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Jeroen therefore looks back proudly on the anniversary edition: “It was more than amazing. Visitors were able to explore their sexual identity, and as a result, they feel stronger and more confident in their personal lives as well.”
