Hippie Village

Last week, I discovered a very unusual place. A place you would never think exists on this earth. It’s the kind of place a friend of a friend knows about. I guess we could say only people who are predisposed to it know about it. Located in the middle of nowhere, actually 20 minutes southwest of Amsterdam, it is a Hippie Village called Ruigoord.

After doing some research, I learned that this community has developed organically, meaning it expanded without a fixed plan or any outside intervention. It is said that the “green oasis” where Ruigoord is located meets the needs of artists wishing to take a step back from the concerns of urbanized and industrialized areas. Wishing to share their “raison d’être” which is something close to collective development, they open their doors during the week for many kinds of workshops and on the weekends for partying.

When you first enter this village, you kind of feel the need to pinch yourself in order to make sure you are not dreaming. If you ever wondered how the 70’s were like, I am convinced this place would give you a pretty good idea. Indeed, there are stands selling everything from vintage clothing to fruits and tea, and as you get closer to the church, you can witness people gathered around a big fire purely enjoying the night.

The party mainly takes place in an old church that becomes a nightclub when the evening arrives, in which everybody can dress and do whatever he or she feels like doing without anyone judging. For that matter, this church is referred to as the cultural center of the village. It can serve as a space for events, concerts, shows, exhibitions, festivals and literary gatherings. People there are so nice that you could think every single one of them has signed a contract obligating them to "live and let live".

Inside this church, trance music was flowing, vibrations running through people’s veins, hearts beating with the same rhythm and bodies dancing freely. Those who have been inside can probably agree that it feels as though there is a “God” looking over you, forgiving you for all the mistakes you made, giving you the chance to forget about whatever pain you might have, allowing you to be anyone you want for the night, and simply opening your eyes to this world’s beauty.

I believe this church and even this village has an invisible power, one that brings people closer by making them more in touch with their emotions. As a matter of fact, as described on the website, that community’s aim is “utopia: the socialization of the peak experience, the realization of individual wishes on a social level”. I am glad I discovered this place, even though I did just a few weeks before I leave this land forever. We had a memorable “last” night there and it was a great way to end this semester!

If you enjoy out-of-the-ordinary experiences and/or like partying all night, I suggest you make a detour and visit Ruigoord. There are many festivals that take place during the summer so if you are interested in going, you should visit their website at www.ruigoord.nl and click on “agenda”, among other things to make sure the festivity appeals to you and the price (between 10 and 35 Euros for big festivals) fits your budget.