The Gathering –
Friday 3 - 5 September, 2021!
Time in nature. Honest food. Immersive workshops. Inspiring talks. Memories made by the campfire.
The Gathering is where it all began. From it, the whole Campfire Stories concept was born. We are that 2021 is our fifth year of holding our big annual event.
Set in the Dutch countryside, The Gathering welcomes people to share in a weekend full of inspiration, ideas, nature, craft and outdoor fun. It has been mindfully designed to be an intimate and immersive experience, with only 100 tickets available and an exciting line-up of storytellers, changemakers, creative doers and thinkers who will share their stories and skills. It’s an opportunity to press pause on our busy lives, reconnect with ourselves and nature and enjoy the good things in life.
The weekend is centred around immersive workshops, inspiring talks, honest food cooked over fire and time spent outdoors. Come join in the fun, September 3 - 5, 2021.
Talks & Workshops
Talks and workshops run throughout each day. Our inspiring storytellers and workshoppers will challenge you to think in new ways, support you in learning new skills and comfort you in stepping outside your comfort zone. We ask our storytellers to give talks they’ve never done before and open up in an intimate setting – with no slides, no movies. Expect to hear stories from the heart and tales of passion, resilience and compassion. Our workshops are run by talented and passionate people who are keen to share their skills. Expect workshops on spoon carving, botanical foraging, fire starting, ice bathing, storytelling, ukulele strumming, veggie fermenting, Haka stomping, conscious living, happiness and kindness, adventures with purpose, tiny house dwelling, sustainable design, morning yoga, stargazing and more.
Time in Nature
In nature, we come alive. Our senses heighten, our gaze widens, our breath deepens as fresh air fills our lungs. We slow down and find calm in the outdoors. Our busy minds quieten, and we make space for curiosity and creativity – many great ideas are born from time spent in nature. Campfire Stories is held at Roggebotstaete, a young nature reserve and experimental garden in the Flevoland polder – an oasis in the reclaimed land taken from the sea. Roggebotstaete believes that if you are connected to nature, you will make choices that are healthier for you and the planet. Roggebotstaete invites you to stroll in the woodlands, through the flower fields and along the lakes, and discover how people and nature can bring the best out in each other. The campground is intentionally back-to-basics. For some, this may push you outside your comfort zone, but after that first night out in your tent, you’ll feel great. The hot water for the showers is heated over fire, and you will experience lathering up and rinsing off amongst the trees. You will spend the whole weekend outdoors or under canvas, most likely near one of the many fires that will continue to burn for the duration of your time with us.
honest Food
All cooked meals are prepared over fire. All our food and drink has a story. Food is an extremely important part of Campfire Stories and is expertly prepared by our outdoor chefs. Most meals will be vegetarian, centred around the fresh and organic vegetables grown either in Roggebotstaete’s vegetable garden or by local producers. The meat we do use also comes from Roggebotstaete; this may be lamb tended to by the on-site shepherd or bacon from the pigs that live in the woods of Roggebotstaete. All ingredients will be Dutch in an effort to reduce our footprint. We work with companies with great values. The wines are carefully selected by our wine expert Wendy and all have a great story and winemaker behind them. Our cocktail bar is manned by Maidie from Blossombar, who forages botanicals to craft floral syrups and create delicious flavours.
Memories Made by the Campfire
Throughout our history, fire has been elemental to humans. We cook over it, stay warm by it, and tell stories around it. Yet we often forget this. Not at Campfire Stories though. Here, the fires are always burning and are an essential part of the weekend. As well as preparing all our meals over them, the campfires are a natural meeting place for new friends, where we can share stories, drinks and experiences. And no matter the weather, you will always find a dry and warm spot with a burning campfire. With only a limited number of attendees, Campfire Stories offers an intimate setting. You can choose to be as involved as you like, but don’t be surprised if you leave with a number of new friends. People bond over shared experience and the glowing light of the campfire. To read more testimonials, please visit our Testimonials page.
The Lineup
For 2021, we’ve got another incredible lineup of talks, workshops, activities and food experiences in the works.
Check out our first-look lineup.
Where & When
Friday, September 3rd from 10:00 hrs – Sunday, September 5th, 2020 until 16:00 hrs.
Roggebotstaete
Vossemeerdijk 6, 8251 PN Dronten, The Netherlands
What’s included
All workshops, talks, activities, meals, hot drinks and your camping spot are included in your ticket price. All you have to do is turn up – we will take care of the rest. Alcohol is extra.
The Location
Campfire Stories Gathering is held at Roggebotstaete, a unique and beautiful 52-acre nature estate in the Flevoland polder. Roggebotstaete is a living laboratory for sustainable food production, with a food forest, vegetable and herb garden, fields of grains, a lake, beehives, livestock and lots of flowers and birds.
What to Expect
Workshops and talks will run throughout the weekend, with multiple running simultaneously. You choose the ones you want to attend. The program will begin bright and early for the early risers and will continue into the evening, with scheduled interludes for meals. Remember, there’s only 100 tickets available – the events is purposely designed to be intimate and friendly, and many people opt to come solo.
Friday: Pitch your tent, workshops, lunch, workshops and talks, dinner, campfire and drinks.
Saturday: All-day program
Sunday: We will close around 15:00 hrs. There will be plenty of time to pack up your things and say goodbyes after lunch and the program finishes.
Camping & Glamping
The campsite is set in the heart of the nature estate and is back-to-basics. There’s enough space for each ticket holder to pitch a two-person tent, or if you’d prefer to bring your camper, caravan or a large tent let us know.
If you’d prefer a little luxury then we have glamping bell tents available. You can book these when you book your ticket – please note, there’s limited glamping tents available.
What to Bring
Bring all your usual camping gear – you can find a packing list here. And of course, you can bring your camper if you’d rather not pitch a tent. Email us to let us know so we can save you a spot.
Please leave your kids at home – minimum age is 21. You may bring dogs (if they are well-behaved and can stay on a leash). Also leave behind generators, sound systems and large trolleys.
Remember, there will always be crew members around to assist you should you need assistance with anything.
Getting there
Public Transport: Take the train to Kampen or Dronten and take bus 143 to “Roggebotsluis”. From here, it is a two-kilometre walk along the water until you see the signs “Roggebotstaete” on your left. Or we can arrange picks ups from the train station – drop us an email to info@campfirestories.nl.
Car: Roggebotstaete is easiest to reach by car. There will be free parking available onsite. For those who want to car share, we’ll be sending a mail-out newsletter shortly before the event to see who may be able to offer lifts and who needs one. Please also use the event page on Facebook to find and share a ride.
Further info
Car parking is available a short walk away from the campground. Please note, the nature reserve doesn’t permit cars onsite! But not to worry, we have trailers and a support team to get your camping gear up the 150 metres stretch.
Power sockets are not be available and there’s no wifi, which makes the weekend a perfect opportunity for a digital detox. If you need your equipment or phone for emergencies, we recommend bringing a battery pack.
Drinking water will be available at all times. Sadly, there are no facilities for wheelchairs. Please contact us for more information about the possibilities.
In the media
Maatschapwij
Thank you for your kinds write-ups and reviews!
GET tickets
There are only 100 tickets available, and different tiers will be released throughout the year.
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