Oerol for beginners: 20 tips for the best festival experience
For years, I really wanted to go to Oerol, but I never did. Until last year. I finally got my backpack and took the boat to the best theatre festival in the Netherlands. I didn’t know anything and I was flooded with programme books, choices I suddenly had to make, wristbands and pre-sale stress. And all this before I even set foot on the Frisian island. Once I was there I lost my bike, got soaking wet because of the rain three times and it turned out I was not in really good shape. Are you going to Oerol for the first time this year? Then read all about Oerol for beginners and the 20 tips for the best festival experience. Because really, your first Oerol is not always easy!
Well begun is half done. That statement has never been truer. Oerol starts as soon as you decide to go there (again). Experienced Oerol visitors already book their overnight stays for the following year while the festival is not even over yet.
Oerol for beginners: Do this before you go
1. Get yourself well informed!
Stop reading now and sign up for the Oerol newsletter. (Then come back to my blog and keep reading of course.) With the newsletter, you will be the first to know when the program is announced and online ticket sales start.
2. Just a wristband is not enough
This is how Oerol works: you buy a wristband that gives you access to the various festival grounds. But the wristband does not automatically give you access to the performances. You have to buy separate tickets for each performance. To gain access to the performances, you do need a wristband. That’s where it all starts. The prices for the shows vary between € 7,- and € 15,-.
3. Become a friend of Oerol
If you want to be sure of tickets for the best performances, it is useful to become ‘friend of Oerol‘. For € 20, € 40 or € 60 per year you can be the first to buy 4, 8 or 12 tickets respectively in the presale. Smart, because the popular shows are sold out in no time.
4. Be serious about the presale
Friend or no friend, buying tickets in advance is a must. Immerse yourself in the program and choose the shows you absolutely don’t want to miss. Make sure you’re ready in front of your computer with the program booklet, your credit card and a glass of wine and a snack. It may take some time to get through the digital queue.
5. Don’t buy too many tickets
Once you’ve passed that queue, it’s tempting to fill every day with a lot of shows. Don’t do that! You need room for some spontaneous fun. There are all kinds of unplanned performances, free shows and artworks to admire. You can’t book them in advance and you just have to experience them.
6. Still sold out? Then there is still the island sale
A large part of the tickets is intended for presale. Some of them go to the volunteers and press and what is left is sold on the island. More about that later.
7. Arrange a place to sleep
As I said; arranging your overnight stays a year in advance is not unusual for the experienced Oerol visitors. There are a few things you should ask yourself before looking for a place to sleep. What’s your budget? How comfortable do you want it to be and where do you want to stay?
Sleep fancy in a comfortable bed, with a warm, big shower and sea view. It’s definitely possible, but then you’re going to pay big time. If you have the cash, there are many hotels where you are sure of a comfortable stay. Be ready to pay about € 120,- per night.
Low budget is preferred by most festival-gurus. Because yes, saving on the one gives room for the other. Camping with your own tent is the solution. Most campsites don’t accept reservations during Oerol. So, just like at the music festivals, be ready to get cosy with your neighbours.
On a medium budget you can sleep on a sailing boat moored in the port of West-Terschelling or in a B&B. The skipper can even pick you up from Harlingen to Terschelling on the first day of the festival.
This year, for the first time, there is Oeral All-In. A super deal where you buy a boat ticket, bike, camping spot, festival band and two theatre tickets for € 99,-. What? Yes really!
8. Controlfreak?
If you really want to be sure that you are prepared for anything, then go to Terschelling for a weekend to prepare for Oerol. It’s not just a very nice place, but it also helps a lot. Take a good look around. Knowing the way around the island saves a lot of hassle on the spot. Trust me!
9. Missed the boat
There are two boats sailing from and to between Harlingen and Terschelling. A fast and a slow boat. During Oerol there are extra ferry services, but even then they can still be crowded. Especially if you choose the fast boat. Full = full, so book your ticket in advance and you know for sure that you’ll make it.
10. The festival bus
There are special festival buses from Utrecht CS, via Amsterdam CS to Harlingen and back again. Crossing through in one go without any stops. Easy and cheaper than the train. For € 19.95 you drive to Harlingen. It takes an hour from Amsterdam. Ideal!
You should know this when you are on Oerol:
11. Island sale
Are your favourite shows already sold out during presale? Don’t panic. On the Westerkeyn festival site, there are ticket booths where you can buy tickets from 10.00 a.m. for all performances that take place until 2.00 p.m. the next day. Good to know: this year there will be an extra box office. On the Westerkeyn and in ‘Ons Huis’ on West.
12. Tour the Terschelling
The theatre and festival locations are spread all over the island. Sometimes it can take up to three-quarters of an hour to cycle from one place to another. I think I spent at least 10 hours on my bike in four days in Oerol. (That’s going to hurt your bum at some point!)
13. Work out
Oerol is, therefore, a good workout. Say ‘yes’ to that chocolate brownie when you go for a coffee. Your losing weight while cycling, so you can handle it!
14. The Oerol dress code
Festivals have their own dress code. On the Dutch ‘Zwarte Cross’, leather jackets are the favourite, on Lowlands Festival the wide shirts and hipster T-shirts. Oerol also has its own style. You see a lot of brightly coloured tights under a flower skirt finished with a patchwork cardigan and crocheted scarf. Spectacle wearers choose a bright pink frame and the ladies usually have short, dyed hair. My advice: wear a lot of layers. The weather on the mudflats is unpredictable. When the famous weatherman Piet Paulusma says it will be sunny, it might rain and vice versa. I was wearing flip-flops in the rain once and a way to warm sweater in the sun. Not a good idea. Layers, layers and more layers!
15. Water and wind protection
Actually, this is also part of the Oerol dress code, but this one deserves extra attention. Water and wind protection! A three-piece rain suit may not be the most charming thing to wear, but oh how grateful you will when the rain starts when you’re enjoying a show, in the cold sea breeze. A hat and thick scarf are even seen on Oerol in June.
16. Dude! Where’s my bike?
Finding your black Dutch bike among hundreds of other Dutch black bikes can be quite difficult. So please use this super tip: decorate your bike with something striking, so you can easily find it. Flowers, scarves, whatever you can find.
17. A sore bum
Sitting on your bicycle seat and wooden benches can hurt your bum. Next year I’ll bring a pillow!
18. Saving 1 euro coins
Are you on the campsite? Bring a 1 euro coin for each day. These coins are scarce, because everyone needs them for the showers. Maybe you can even sell them for a two euro coin. That’s how we do business ;).
19. Not a penny to make
Have you frozen your savings and run out of holiday money? Don’t panic. Oerol is also fun with a small budget. First of all, of course, you sleep on the campsite and bring your own bike. Tickets for theatre performances are not available this year. No worries, there are so many fun things to do for which you don’t have to pay a penny. Street theatre, performances and talk shows. There are even shows by big, Dutch artists for which you only need your wristband.
20. Make new friends at Oerol
Very important! Have a chat with everyone. That’s not just fun, the experienced Oerol visitors know where to be. With a bit of luck, you’ll end up at a spontaneous boat concert. Because you can’t find everything that happens on Oerol in the programme booklet.
The biggest and most important tip of all is, of course, enjoy it! I mean that. Oerol is a unique festival. I am glad that I finally went to Oerol, after years of thinking about it. I will definitely go again!
Did I forget any Oerol survival tips? Share them below 🙂
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- 4 May 2016
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