Prepare Yourself and Get Tested

Darklands is a sex-positive event and has been encouraging its visitors for years to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) beforehand. Before coming to Antwerp, it might be useful to check in on both your mental and physical health, take an STI test, and make sure you have access to PrEP. After all, you'd have to be quite celibate-minded to experience Darklands completely sex-free.

It is also recommended to bring any necessary medications, such as PrEP medication or other personal prescriptions. Keep in mind that some medications may require a prescription in Belgium, even if they are freely available in other countries.

Visit the Recon Café

On Wednesday afternoon, Darklands opens its doors, allowing you to soak in the atmosphere even without a festival ticket. The Recon Café remains freely accessible throughout the event with its own program. It’s a great place to meet other visitors in a relaxed setting and purchase official Darklands merchandise.

Attend (Different) Socials

During the festival, there are social gatherings for almost every fetish. Whether you're into leather, rubber, puppies, youngsters, naked play, creators, or daddy-son dynamics, there’s a social event for you. Most of these take place in and around the Mister Riegillio stage.

Visitors are welcomed with a free drink and the chance to meet like-minded people who share their passion. If you're attending Darklands alone for the first time, these socials are a fantastic way to make new friends. These connections can extend beyond Darklands and come in handy if you plan to attend other fetish events, such as Folsom Berlin.

It's also highly recommended to explore new socials and fetishes that you may not yet be familiar with. Socials provide a comfortable space to discover a new fetish in a welcoming environment.

Manage your budget wisely so you can fully enjoy Darklands.

Darklands also features a Gear Market where you can try on and purchase fetish gear and clothing directly from various brands and vendors.

New this year: purchases of your drinks must be made using your Darkband, a chip wristband that you must top up with your bank card or cash. To keep your spending under control, it’s best to set a fixed budget in advance and load that amount onto a debit card instead of using a credit card. This prevents unexpectedly high expenses and credit card debts later on.

Additionally, each time you reload your Darkband, there is a banking fee. To avoid multiple fees, it’s better to load a sufficient amount in one go instead of making several small top-ups.

Take Regular Breaks

A first visit to Darklands, especially during the parties, can be overwhelming due to the intense stimuli. If you need a moment to recover or simply relax, you can visit the low-stimulation space to unwind.

New this year: The low-stimulation space is now located at the entrance, near the Recon Café, rather than in the food vendor hallway.

Consent and Boundaries Matter

If you decide to engage in sexual activities at Darklands or elsewhere, it’s crucial to communicate your sexual boundaries and give explicit consent for any acts.Also, respect the boundaries of others. If you see people engaging in play and they are not open to others joining, respect their space. Darklands is a sex-positive environment, and ensuring mutual respect for boundaries is key.

If your boundaries are ever crossed, notify the event organizers or speak to one of the volunteers—they are there to assist you.

Plan Your Visit in Advance

Before arriving at Darklands, check out the event schedule on the official website. Like in previous years, the program is packed with various shows, socials, masterclasses, and other activities.

There is so much to do that having a plan is essential. Use a planner tool to map out the must-see events, including the parties outside of Waagnatie.

Party Without Your Smartphone

During the parties, leave your smartphone in your locker. This respects the privacy of other visitors. Remember, filming is strictly prohibited in the darkrooms.Unlike previous years, you no longer need your phone to purchase tokens, as all transactions are now made through your Darkband wristband. You might still want to bring a small pouch for essentials like lubricant or medication. Otherwise, simply enjoy the event in the moment—without staring at a screen.

Until the beginning of September, podcast listeners and visitors to both news sites could submit their favorites in five categories (LGBTQ Establishment, Belgian LGBTQ Event, Foreign LGBTQ Event, Tourist Event, and LGBTQ Party Concept). About eighty respondents listed their favorite establishment and/or event. Last year's winners couldn't be nominated again in the category they won (Antwerp Pride (Belgian event), Marie-Antoinette (LGBTQ establishment), Pinkies (Party concept), Ivana's crazy bustour (Tourist event)). Presenters Marc Dirix and Sven Boutsen looked at the news from the past year for the LGBTQ Icon Award and selected the five nominees for the TGLPDCST Icon Award.

The nominees in the six categories are listed below. You can vote until December 20th.

TGLPDCST Award LGBTQ Establishment

In this category, ten establishments mainly targeting the queer community are nominated.

• Jeffrey’s Antwerpen
• Maskara  Borsbeek
• Twilight Antwerpen 
• DeLux Antwerpen 
• Random Antwerpen
• La Reserve Brussel
• Le Baroque Brussel
• StammBar Brussel
• Hessenhuis Antwerpen
• Le Belgica Brussel

TGLPDCST AWARD: LGBTQ Belgian Event

Bearpride Brussels

The annual election of Mister Bear Belgium in Brussels is not just about the mister competition. During the week, many workshops are also organized with a focus on body positivity. At the end of September, a new Mister Bear Belgium will be chosen again.

Darklands

Darklands is the annual mecca for all fetish and kink enthusiasts. Over the past years, the event has evolved from solely a leather event to a multi-day event that also pays attention to emerging kinks such as puppy play and ABDL.

Unicorn Festival

Unicorn Festival is a two-day music festival that labels itself as unique and open-minded. During the festival, you'll be treated to the best electronic dance music, art, and much more. The mission of the organizers is to bring back openness and friendliness to society.

Belgian & European Pride

From this year on, the Belgian Pride in Brussels has transformed into the Belgian & European Pride. This year, the pride in Brussels underwent a major transformation with the reintroduction of parade floats and multiple stages spread throughout the city center.

Miss Travesty Belgium

Since 2021, a new Miss Travesty is chosen annually. The competition has gained visibility in recent years, and the quality of the participants and winners has significantly increased in the last few years.

TGLPDCST Award Foreign LGBTQ Event

Roze Zaterdag Goes

Roze Zaterdag is an annual celebration highlighting the visibility of the Dutch queer community in a different city each year. This year, Roze Zaterdag was organized for the first time in the province of Zeeland and the Christian municipality of Goes.

Pride Amsterdam

This year, Pride in Amsterdam celebrated its 25th anniversary, and it's no longer just about the Canal Pride. In the week leading up to the boat parade, as many as 300 different activities were organized, including a Queer Walk, various exhibitions, and of course, numerous parties throughout Amsterdam.

Milkshake Festival

Milkshake is the epitome of inclusive festivals. The event in Westerpark of Amsterdam was first organized in 2012 and still has a significant appeal to the LGBTI+ community and allies in the Netherlands and even beyond its borders.

Roze Maandag Tilburg

Another mainstay from the Netherlands is Roze Maandag in Tilburg. The annual Tilburg fair is immersed in a pink atmosphere once a year and gets flooded with queers from all over the Netherlands and many Belgians.

Gay Pride CSD Cologne

Cologne can easily be termed the Gay Capital of Germany. Each year there is a spectacular gay parade on the first weekend of July. During the inaugural festival in 1991, only 3,000 visitors attended. Now, almost a million people come to Cologne for this event.

Folsom Europe/Berlin

The slightly more kink-oriented queers travel to Berlin every year at the beginning of September for Folsom Europe. For this, our German neighbors took inspiration from the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco in 2004, but the event, according to enthusiasts, has long surpassed its American counterpart and is now considered one of the most significant gatherings for the leather and fetish scene in Europe.

TGLPDCST Award : LGBTQ Party Concept

Padam

T-dance for gays and friends that has been around for more than ten years. Pops up at various locations in Antwerp. A party of love and friendship in an open atmosphere.

Woodpop

Stands for love, peace, and pop music in a tolerant and open-minded atmosphere. Held in Antwerp and Brussels.

Queerfest

The annual party during Antwerp Pride by cafe twilight and De Cock. This year featuring, among others, Terrazza and Roof of Love.

La Demence

La Demence is a party for gays, held monthly in Brussels since the early 1990s. La Demence attracts many foreign visitors and also organizes an annual cruise holiday.

La Tash & Friends Weekly party concept by showqueen La Tash at the Hessenhuis where she invites a colleague for performances and games.

TGLPDCST LGBTQ Icon Award

Champions of Same-sex Marriage

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of same-sex marriage. It was established in 2003 after a long struggle by various activists from, among others, the Federation of Homosexuality Working Groups, the current Cavaria, and many political allies from various parties. This nomination is a tribute to the work they accomplished back then.

Andy Walgraef (Mister Leather Belgium & Europe 2022)

In 2022, he was elected both Mister Leather Belgium and Mister Leather Europe, and his mission was to bring all fetish communities closer together. Over the past two years, he has been the face of the Belgian and European leather community, and at the next Darklands edition, he will organize the first Mister Fetish World competition.

Bram Bierkens (Mister Gay Belgium)

For ten years, he has been searching for an ambassador for our country who also successfully represents the Belgian gay community on the European level. His competition served as an inspiration for other similar events.

Geert Buytaert (owner of The Boots)

Since 1983, The Boots has been the go-to place in Antwerp for the Belgian leather community, and since September 2004, Geert Buytaert has owned this iconic club.

Transgender Infopunt (Joz Motmans and team)

In 2013, Dr. Joz Motmanz was appointed as the coordinator of the Transgender Infopunt, housed within the UZ Gent. It has grown into a neutral institution that's accessible to anyone with questions about transgenderism or gender identity. This year, the infopunt celebrated its tenth anniversary, providing ample reason to nominate Joz Motmans and his entire team for our icon award.

Voting is open until December 20th.