Earlier this year we had our Beneluxcon KATCON in Katwijk aan Zee (see www.beneluxcon.nl), a general science fiction and fantasy convention associated with the NCSF. It used to be shared year by year between Belgian and Dutch fans, but has mostly lapsed into a bi-yearly event now.
There’s a multitude of anime and fantasy conventions and festivals/fairs and also quite a few more general festivals with some fantasy element, and most of the fan groups organize one or more special days for their members. It seems that the specific SF conventions are diminishing in number and size, as if their supporters are either getting away from it all, or turning towards the fantasy fairs.
Other events of interest this year were quite a few short story writing contests, presenting the awards at special events throughout the country (also see www.fantastels.nl, www.paulharlandprijs.eu, www.fantasyboekenbal.nl).
For those of the fan writing persuasion there is also a Dutch based, English language apa, called DAPPER – see www.dapper.info (or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_press_association).
There’s also a history of Dutch fandom as it started in the fifties and sixties at http://www.fanac.org/Fan_Histories/Netherlands (by Jaap Boekestein, based on his fan history “De kroniek van de drie zusters der dromen: de geschiedenis van het science fiction-, fantasy- en horrorfandom in de Lage Landen”, Bravado Books 1993)
==Fan Groups==
* [http://www.aniway.nl/ Aniway] – Anime, Manga, Games & J-pop
* [http://www.gallifrey.nl/ Dutch Time Travellers Association] – Dr Who fan club
* [http://www.dreuzels.com/ Dreuzels] – Harry Potter web community
* [http://www.gatenet.nl/ Gatenet] – Stargate web community
* [http://www.ncsf.nl/ NCSF] – Dutch SF association
* [http://www.purefantasy.nl/ Pure Fantasy] – story writing
* [http://www.sfterra.nl/ SF Terra] – Perry Rhodan Science Fiction association
* [http://www.ericart.nl/robots/home/index.php The Federation] – Star Trek fan club
* [http://www.tfd.nl/ The Flying Dutch] – Star Trek fan club
* [http://www.stephenking.nl/ Stephen King Fanclub]
* [http://www.unquendor.nl/ Tolkien Genootschap Unquendor]
==Fan Events==
9 oct 2012 (from 18:00)
SF CAFE AMSTERDAM
café Van Kerkwijk, Amsterdam
http://www.ncsf.nl/wiki/index.php/Agenda
14 oct 2012
DTTA fanclub day (Doctor Who)
Buurtcentrum de Leeuw, Leeuwarden
http://www.gallifrey.nl
14 oct 2012
The Flying Dutch fanclub day (Star Trek: TNG 25)
Het Muziekcentrum, Zoeterwoude
http://tfd.nl
20 oct 2012 (from 18:00)
SF TERRA meeting
Tidorestraat 172, Amsterdam
http://www.sfterra.nl
20 – 21 oct 2012
FACTS 2012
Flanders Expo, Gent, Belgium
tickets: €12
http://www.facts.be
27 – 28 oct 2012
Gothic & Fantasy fair
Broodfabriek, Rijswijk
toegang: €10
http://www.gothicbeurs.nl
29 oct 2012 (from 20:00)
THE LAST SF CAFE DEN HAAG
Café Emma, Den Haag
http://www.ncsf.nl/wiki/index.php/Agenda
10 nov 2012
EMPORIUM VERNESQUE (Steampunk)
Willemeen, Arnhem
tickets: €8,50
http://www.emporiumvernesque.com
10 nov 2012
Stephen King fanclub day
‘t Veerhuis, Nieuwegein
tickets: €7,50
http://www.stephenking.nl
13 nov 2012 (from 18:00)
SF CAFE AMSTERDAM
café Van Kerkwijk, Amsterdam
http://www.ncsf.nl/wiki/index.php/Agenda
17 nov 2012 (from 18:00)
PRSF TERRA meeting
Tidorestraat 172, Amsterdam
http://www.sfterra.nl
25 nov 2012 (from 14:00)
SF CAFE LEUVEN
Brasserie Charly’s, Martelarenplein 11, Leuven, Belgium
contact: sfcafeleuven at gmail dot com
11 dec 2012 (from 18:00)
SF CAFE AMSTERDAM
café Van Kerkwijk, Amsterdam
http://www.ncsf.nl/wiki/index.php/Agenda
15 dec 2012 (from 18:00)
PRSF TERRA meeting
Tidorestraat 172, Amsterdam
http://www.sfterra.nl
=conventions in 2013=
10 feb 2013
TSUANACON 2013
Erasmus Expo & Congres Center, Rotterdam
http://www.tsunacon.nl
20 – 21 apr 2013
ELF FANTASY FAIR (“Dwarves & Hobbits”)
castle De Haar, Haarzuilens
day tickets in 2012 were: €19,95
http://haarzuilens.elffantasyfair.com
6 may 2013
ANTWERP CONVENTION
Antwerp Expo, Antwerpen, Belgium
tickets: €10
http://antwerpconvention.be
24 – 26 may 2013
CABBAGECON 2 (Discworld con)
NH Hotel Zandvoort, Zandvoort aan Zee
membership: €40
http://www.dutchdwcon.nl
31 may – 2 jun 2013
ANIME 2013
World Forum, Den Haag
tickets in 2012 were: €37
http://www.animecon.nl
13 – 14 jul 2013
FANTASTYVAL
Wouwse Plantage, Roozendaal
day tickets in 2012 were: €17,50
http://www.fantastyval.nl
1 – 4 aug 2013
CASTLEFEST
Kasteel Keukenhof, Lisse
day tickets in 2012 were: €22
http://www.castlefest.com
21 – 22 sep 2013
ELF FANTASY FAIR (Dragons & Hobbits”)
Arcen castle gardens (Limburg)
day tickets in 2012 were: €19,95
http://arcen.elffantasyfair.com
==2014==
19 – 20 apr 2013
ELF FANTASY FAIR
castle De Haar, Haarzuilens
day tickets in 2012 were: €19,95
http://haarzuilens.elffantasyfair.com
27 – 28 sep 2014
ELF FANTASY FAIR
Arcen castle gardens (Limburg)
day tickets in 2012 were: €19,95
http://arcen.elffantasyfair.com
