“Surf’s Up!” - we’re all familiar with this iconic catchphrase universally attached to blonde, shaggy-haired, bare-footed beach “babes” that love a waxed-up board beneath them. But what about the name, “Surfana”? Granted, surfing is not the first sport that comes to mind when thinking about the Netherlands, but the community of water-related aficionados in this water-obsessed country is strong, committed and blossoming. Not to mention that people in the Netherlands LOVE to dance and raise some party hell. The Surfana Festival in Bloemendaal reflects this growing enthusiasm and passion for celebrating life in a beautiful, back-to-nature way.
Unexpectedly, there are multiple spots along the Dutch coast dedicated to catching waves. According to Noordzee Board Store, you can visit no less than 21 Dutch go-to places to hang ten with your board. The surf is not always consistent, but the general vibe and “stoke” to get out there is rampant amongst the Netherlands’ surfing community. It is with personalities like Nienke Duinmeijer (Netherlands-born international longboard champion) representing the country’s ever-growing affinity towards the sport, alongside movements such as Surfana spearheading an emphasis on an educational, eco-awareness on the water, that has secured this thriving space for the surfer (in all its forms).
In dedication to this lifestyle, the Surfana Festival was born in 2013 - an invitation for all to embrace the initiatives’s good-time, love-nature ideology for a weekend of camping, workshops, sunrise yoga and lots of late night boogying to live music. As a born-and-bred Cape Tonian, where we take our seaside lifestyle fairly “seriously”, this year’s festival ranks way up there as a significantly wonderful way to let loose while embracing the freshness that nature has to offer.
With 10 years under its belt already, Surfana is comfortably on its way to becoming a firm favourite with surf-minded locals and travellers. In its own words, Surfana is about going beyond “mere music” - it’s a coming together for beach-lovers, surfers, dancers, family and friends to embrace happiness. As a part of this year’s volunteer team, I got to experience its transcendence first-hand. Its intimate size allows Surfana to remain a “down-to-earth” observance of all things sun, sand and fun while broadening the minds of those attending. The various engaging workshops are accessible (some are offered in exchange for a donation while others have a set fee) and inspiring. The selection of food is hearty, healthy and eco-conscious - catering to easy-eaters, people with dietary parameters and those that love to snack. The music lineup offers visitors an arrangement of moods from lullaby easy-listening all the way to stomping and jumping fun beats.
TIP: get a group of friends together to make the weekend more memorable
Dates for the next Surfana are already set - they’ve even provided a unique way to make sure you won’t lose out on experiencing this festival. Next year, over the course of three glorious days nestled between the ocean and natural dunes, festival-goers can enjoy a unique blend of music, arts, sunshine, community and workshops as part of the Special 11th Edition. Make sure to keep watching the socials for updates on what to expect.
TIP: Get your tickets EARLY - they’re much more affordable that way, and you don’t run the risk of them selling out.
The way I see it, Surfana is an introspective music festival, one that allows visitors the chance to reconnect with themselves by considering their interests outside of just watching a band. The idea behind providing these learnings is to provide a playground - where you can learn and create. Adults, kids, children-at heart; there’s growing opportunities on offer for all, from crafty sessions, creative teachings, spiritual encounters, through to physical experiences and tasty testings.
Some of this year’s highly regarded workshops included Wrangler’s “Customise Your Own Cowboy Hat” (not going to lie, I was fairly jealous of all the denim cowboy hat wearing friends around me), Pierre Sport’s open air Yoga sessions (daily workshops showcasing their eco-friendly mats made from recycled wetsuits was a lovely touch), the Alyssa D Harper Cacao Ceremonies and The Wim Hof Method teachings by Evert Hettema. The Kennemer dunes are a sublime setting for these soul-seeking endeavours and more. I saw grownups and young ones side by side learning how to skateboard, watched as groups of strangers bonded while taking a foraging workshop, and basked in the centredness the breathwork concert created. My only regret is that I didn’t fill my free time up with as many Surfana workshops as possible.
Tip: check the workshop schedule as soon as it’s out and book yours fast; they fill up quickly
I want to take a moment here to also acknowledge that while Surfana is all about good times and having fun, the festival organisers are dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive and eco-friendly space for all. From partnering up with the Green Deal Circular Festival movement to track and compare its carbon footprint against other festivals, to offering 100% vegetarian and vegan food offerings. Additionally, Surfana and Ozarka joined forces to also ensure all tableware was reusable, even going so far as to set up a Clean Station to wash bowls, cutlery and plates on site. Add to this the “Pickle Your Own Veggies” and “Sew Your Own Recycled Bottle Bag” workshops, as well as a Patagonia station set up centrally for any and all to enjoy onsite wetsuit repairs - there’s no denying this is one sustainably heightened event. It also succeeded in encouraging a safe space for healing and hopefulness; the “Lost & Found” station doubled as a hub for those needing mental support in the form of someone to talk to or vent with. The level of inclusivity permeates the day-to-day activities and mood of the festival. Its volunteer program is a huge example of this ethos in motion; open to whomever is interested, the volunteer program invites people from all over the world to get involved by donating their time over the days leading up to, including and after the designated festival dates.
Volunteering at Surfana is a great way to get more involved, enjoy the festival from a new perspective, give back to the festival community AND be able to partake in the festival and save some money. The participants are a mixture of locals and travellers, with each person having an intriguing story about how they ended up on the team. I met Australians, people from the UK, Dutchies from all over the Netherlands and more. The general mood and tone amongst volunteers is accepting and open; not once did I feel excluded or at a loss for good company, even though I knew no one on the team when I started my weekend.
What to expect as a volunteer:
Accepted volunteers get free access to the festival weekend plus free camping privileges (this comes with a space in the dedicated crew camping, support and hospitality from the event organisers if needed, bathroom facilities and a crew hub for information, down-time and to partake in meals together).
For every lengthy shift you are allocated a meal voucher and a drinks voucher.
Generally-speaking, entry-level volunteers are given two 6-hour shifts over the weekend and are welcome to take on more shifts if they feel up to it.
I highly recommend the volunteer life! Depending on your tasks, you’re right in the thick of things, listening to great tunes while you clear cups or help usher people safely through entrances and exits. You’ll be left with a sense of accomplishment once your shift is complete, and really feel like you’ve earned that ice cold beer or shake down on the dance floor. I met and made some great friends in between a game of orientation Bingo, some dance time, keeping the grounds tidy of trash and making sure the recycling got sorted correctly. Not once did I hear any volunteer complain (even when it literally poured for 45 minutes on one of the busiest evenings and not once did I regret my decision to donate my time to Surfana. Shout out to Australia’s April and Kroningen’s Anna for being my camping buddies, my volunteer besties and generally making my whole festival experience light-hearted and fun.
If you’re thinking of signing up, keep an eye on the website here.
As a total Surfana expert now, here are MY tips to having a seriously good time at the festival:
This is the Netherlands so of course one major thing to take into consideration is weather. While the forecast for the weekend was good and sunny, there was a storm that hit with fury on the Friday evening, leaving dancers and volunteers alike drenched. The downpour by no means affected the celebrations - once the storm passed, the dance floors filled right back up. Long story short: be prepared for all sorts of weather so your enjoyment doesn’t get disrupted.
My next two suggestions go hand-in-hand: stay hydrated and use sun protection. It’s easy to forget to drink water or slather on the protective lotion when there are so many interesting things happening around you. Avoid any regrets by bringing along your reusable water bottle and enough SPF 30 to keep your body healthy so your mind can be happy.
Another good tip I can share - don’t forget about Lost & Found! With so many activities and chats and meet ups condensed into a short time, keeping track of your favourite pair of sunnies or that special beach towel you bought on your last trip to Spain falls from the priority list. I for one lost a beloved pair of green sunglasses, who knows where. When I visited the various Lost & Found stations set up throughout the festival, I didn’t hold up much hope of finding my misplaced treasure but I was so pleasantly surprised to find out that some kind festival-goer had taken the time out of their day to hand them in.
This simple act made me feel supported and considered, which leads me into my last but maybe more important hint: bring a great attitude! Whether it’s helping out others when the rain starts to pour, keeping the festival grounds tidy by making sure that wayward piece of trash ends up in the bin, or taking the time to hand in a found item at the Lost & Found - bringing a positive attitude with you to Surfana will go a long way to add value to your weekend and those around you. In other words, choose happiness.
Okay, so I’m guessing you want to know when and where you can get involved? The next festival dates are already decided: 12th, 13th and 14th September 2025. You can save the dates and start saving and planning NOW. The three day festivities take place a stone’s throw (okay, not literally but you get the picture) from the beach at Camp de Lakens, Bloemendaal. Nestled between the natural dunes of the National Park Zuid-Kennemerland, be sure to bring some binoculars as you are sure to see some interesting fauna and flora in between the partying and downtime. In keeping with its sustainability drive, the organisers urge festival-goers where possible to use public transport where possible to get to the site.
Tip: try to carpool or use public transport to get there: it adds to the adventure AND helps reduce the festival’s carbon footprint.
Whether you’re a surfer or a good-time searcher; Surfana promises a no fuss weekend in which to celebrate life, community and our planet. Definitely worth dusting off the old camping equipment and bringing your favourite people along for the adventure.
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