Elfia (festival)
Elfia, formerly known as the Elf Fantasy Fair, is a fantasy-themed cosplay festival held twice a year in the Netherlands.[1] Besides fantasy, Elfia hosts themes from science fiction, LARP, gothic, manga, cosplay and historical reenactment genres.
It was organized in 2001 in the historical theme park Archeon. From 2009 Elfia (also known as the Kingdom of Elfia) appears twice a year, in April at Castle de Haar, Haarzuilens, and in September at Castle Arcen, Arcen. The Haarzuilens event is the largest fantasy and costume event in Europe, and attracts some 27,000 visitors every year.[2][3] Elfia was created by Stefan Struik, but is now managed by his sister Helena Struik, with the support of a group of small companies.
The fair characterizes itself as a kingdom with a real flag, a border with fantasy customs officers, and royal elections. There are ambassadors appointed in seven different countries.
Previous guests of honour included Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, Tarja Turunen, Stanislav Ianevski, Brian Froud, Brian Muir and Christopher Paolini. The German band Faun often headlined the event, and the English lecturer Roland Rotherham regularly gives lectures in the castle's chapel.
Other events
[edit]Since the Elf Fantasy Fair proved to be a success, there have been other fantasy related events held in The Netherlands, such as the Gothic & Fantasy Beurs at De Broodfabriek in Rijswijk (Gothic & Fantasy Exhibition, since 2003, now Fantasy Fest),[4] the Midwinter Fair at the Archeon, Alphen aan den Rijn (since 2003),[5] Castlefest at the Keukenhof, Lisse (since 2005),[6] the Gothic & Fantasy Fair in Arnhem (between 2007 and 2009),[7] Keltfest near Dordrecht (since 2008, now near Amsterdam),[8] the MysticFair in Rotterdam (in 2008 and 2009),[9] Nox Obscura (in 2008),[10] Phantasium in Eindhoven (between 2009 and 2013),[11] Fantastic Amsterdam in Amsterdam (in 2009 and 2010)[12][13] Fantastyval (between 2009 and 2014).[14][15] and the Midzomer Fair (Midsummer Fair, between 2010 and 2012).[16][17]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]
- ↑ "Archief". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ (in Dutch) Bezoekersaantal Elf Fantasy Fair op 22.500, De Volkskrant, April 22, 2007
- ↑ "Holland Elf Fantasy Fair - BRASKY". brasky.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Welkom bij de Gothic Beurs". www.gothicbeurs.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Archeon website". Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
- ↑ "Castlefest". www.castlefest.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Rijnhal - Gothic & Fantasy Fair ." www.rijnhal.nl. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Keltfest website
- ↑ team, Mysticfair. "Mysticfair the gothic,Fantasy en Medieval Festival 2010". www.mysticfair.nl. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Deze website wordt op dit moment verhuisd!". www.nox-obscura.nl. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "phantasium.nl". www.phantasium.nl. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ (in Dutch) Fantastic Amsterdam website
- ↑ "Geen Fantastic Amsterdam dit weekend, organisatie failliet - Binnenland - PAROOL". Het Parool (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Fantastyval - Welkom in het verbeeldingsrijk!". www.fantastyval.nl. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ (in Dutch) Stekker uit Fantastyval in Wouwse Plantage, BN De Stem, 9 January 2015
- ↑ info@wizbizz.nl. "Archeon - Nederlands". www.archeon.nl. Archived from the original on 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "Aztek-TV *** SciFi * Fantasy * Horror *** Archeon Midsummer Fair". www.redcathedral.be. Archived from the original on 2010-07-11. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
External links
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