Outside the tourist circuits, twelve kilometers from amsterdam, a hippie community stands brave, artistic, alternative. yes in Copenhagen they have the “Free City of Christiania”, in Amsterdam we have Ruigoord (even Christiania has a -symbolic- embassy in Ruigoord).
Reach Ruigoord supposed to want to meet Ruigoord , there are no coincidences. Forty minutes by bike or a bus: the 382, from Sloterdijk Station , they take you to the port/industrial estate where you are little green oasis hides.
Ruigoord, a small green oasis.
Two paved streets and a few dozen paths make up the map of the town. A town of I don't know how many inhabitants: it is not known how many because here living is not allowed. Since year 2000, Ruigoord ceased to be an occupied town and entered the law.
The only thing that is allowed, since then, is to have what they call atellers –word borrowed from French meaning workshop–. In these streets there painters, sculptors, musicians, writers sharing inspiration and, in some cases, orchard, chickens, sheep, horses.
Ruiord is located in a port enclave. The town is flanked to the north by the port and giant cargo ships ; to the east, by impassive industrial ships; west by huge tanks that store kerosene; and to the south, by a freeway little traveled.
Once inside the town, which has no more than fifty houses (workshops), all these disturbing elements disappear; they just slip into the organic atmosphere of Ruigoord two windmills that appear, with surprising harmony, above the trees: the blades seem mark the rhythm of a different people.
In this distant industrial estate, Ruigoord, green and full of colors , sculptures and art, remember Gaul , that warlike land that contained, during many battles, the imperial thrust of the Roman armies.
In 1972, Ruigoord was to be demolished to expand the port and establish a Petrochemical industry. A group of youths -hippies, artists and rebels– they came from amsterdam for help the few inhabitants of the village and they occupied some of the abandoned houses in Ruigoord.
The July 23, 1973 it was the day the demolition was to take place. The day before, July 22, Sunday, after the last mass the village priest handed the keys to the church to the young people. The next morning the town road was barricaded: the young people managed to stop the wrecking crew.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
in Ruigoord there are no bars or shops , not during the cold months, but there are cultural activities. Sundays the village church turns into dance floor, theater stage and musical auditorium. “Fortuna Favet Fatuis”, this enigmatic Latin phrase is read at the entrance of the church: "Fortune favors fools" means. Crossing the threshold of this inscription begins poetry, music, dance.
The festival Fiery Tongues (burning tongues) It is celebrated in spring. The festival began more than fifteen years ago as a poetry meeting . Today, although poetry remains at the center of the program (in Dutch and English), the festival includes visual arts, music (reggae, dub, hip hop, blues) and a circus tent dedicated to theatre for kids.
In June, to celebrate the Summer Solstice , the colective Trance Orient Express organize a psychedelic festival. during the festival the sun is honored by dancing (trance music): recalling, thus, the old tribal rituals. Apart from the great outdoor dance floor, there's also an exposition and a wide chill out area.
"We are all artists, only artists know."
The festival Landjuweel (the jewel of the field) was born in 1975 and is celebrated during the full moon of August. This internationally known festival had to be suspended in 2021 due to health restrictions (more than 4,000 attendees were expected). During the three days long the Landjuweel you can enjoy the Sculpture Route (a parade where anyone can display his art), there is also dance, theater, painting, experimental art, workshops and many activities for children.
“Every one is an artist, only the artist knows that” (we are all artists, only artists know), he says a wooden board in one of the paved streets of the town. Taking a walk around here means start to believe it.