Our CO2e emissions are only one part of the problem.

We are at a turning point in history. We are the first generation to experience the effects of climate change and the last to be able to turn the tide. You may feel powerless and insignificant against the scale of the climate crisis. How are we going to heal the planet? How do we tackle inequality? How can we leave a better Earth for future generations? After COP26, the conversation about reducing CO2 emissions and goals like ‘Carbon Neutral’ and ‘Net Zero’ is happening everywhere. “But we have to be careful not to get carbon tunnel vision,” says Jan Konietzko, creator of the work you see on the left. He argues that companies need to open their eyes to the broad range of intersecting environmental and social impacts so they can use every opportunity at their disposal to solve the problems that lie ahead – major issues like inequality and the extinction of species, even entire regions. But where can we find answers to act in a holistic way?

From sustainable to regenerative  

Regenerative thinking is often considered the next step after sustainability and circularity. Years of natural resource exploitation have caused incredible damage on the planet. We have to jettison the idea that ‘doing things slightly better’ is enough. We have to start repairing the damage, both ecologically and socially. I’m talking to Sylvester Lindemulder about regenerative thinking and festivals. Sylvester is a dyed-in-the-wool entrepreneur, with years of experience in the events industry, nightlife, and now as co-initiator of Basecamp Festival. With this new initiative Basecamp Festival and its Academy, he’s hoping to contribute to the regenerative movement, and stage a festival that makes both ecological and social contributions. As co-owner of Green Events I’m using my expertise to help the festival take its first steps towards a regenerative festival.

First of all, why are you organising the Basecamp Festival & Academy & -Academy?

Sylvester; Basecamp is a self-sufficient Tiny House eco-park in development on the coast in IJmuiden. This is where we’ll all come together over the next five to eight years to dance, inspire each other, philosophise, experiment, and dream about a regenerative future. We started Basecamp Festival because we believe that – with the right tools and a hands-on approach – we can make a difference. And because we’re firm believers that a festival can contribute to the growth of a new culture – a culture where everything is aimed at making a positive impact: socially, financially and environmentally.

What role do festivals play in our lives?

Sylvester: Festivals are an integral part of today’s cultural landscape. They always were, by the way. They are as old as the road to Rome. Aren’t festivals the ultimate place to express our culture and celebrate life together? To go out and dance, in good and bad weather? Speaking for myself, they’re the moments in the future that I really live for. They’re the spaces where you can relax and recharge. But also where you get outside your comfort zone. They bring out parts of yourself that would otherwise never see the light of day. I once spoke to a guru from India, and I asked him this very question. He said: “They are very important, because only in celebration we can come close to the Gods”. Beautifully put, isn’t it?

From negative to positive impact

Whereas sustainability is often about reducing negative impact, regenerative thinking is about making a positive one. A regenerative movement is emerging in agriculture worldwide. The film Kiss the Ground has generated quite a lot of publicity. And in the Netherlands too, there are good examples, like Bodemzicht and Botma. It’s important to realize that many indigenous cultures have never ‘forgotten’ the regenerative way of life and have been advocating its importance. Let’s learn from that ancient wisdom with respect and recognize it’s roots. Read more: “A Message from Indigenous Leaders: Why Regenerative Agriculture is Not Enough”

Are there regenerative festivals? Can a festival already be regenerative?

Sylvester; Boom Festival in Portugal (photo at right) is one of the few festivals that’s setting a good example in this area. I was really blown away by the way they handle the site where they stage the festival. I think they come closest to a regenerative festival in terms of intent. Otherwise, it is mainly pioneering DGTL has done a lot of work and taken the lead worldwide. In that sense, we’re lucky here in the Netherlands. For years we’ve had, for instance ADE Green where we learn together about how to make festivals more sustainable. But even though staging a regenerative festival is new and challenging, it should still be possible. That is what we are aiming for with Basecamp Festival. It means that we use seasonal and local ingredients produced from regenerative agriculture. Biodegradable streams can be composted directly on site. We also discourage travelling by car to the festival by not selling parking passes. Instead we’ll be using fossil-fuel-free coaches and public transport, which only takes 40 minutes from Amsterdam Sloterdijk. We’re booking artists from cities in and around the Netherlands, so they can come by train. The way we serve food to our guests is radically different from what you might be used to at a festival, with the aim of reducing foodwaste. We’ll be working with our guests to roll up our sleeves and strengthen biodiversity in and around the site through workshops and activities. And we’ll be making sure the line-up is culturally diverse, because we want to be a festival where everyone feels welcome. That’s because we believe in the power of the hybrid cultural society. And that, too, is a way of stepping outside your comfort zone. Learning about other cultures enriches you. It’s amazing to see how cultures are merging their own sounds in electronic music. Let’s call it electronic world music for the sake of convenience. then you’ll understand what we mean.

What is your dream for Basecamp Festival & Academy in 2025?

Sylvester: We want to stay small and sensational. We don’t believe in the adage bigger is better. We’re more interested in smaller, better, smarter. So we’ll always be a party for a maximum of 5,000 people. What I hope is that we will have found our audience by 2025. That we’ll know how to build loyalty with an audience that loves coming together every year at Basecamp Festival. To go home inspired and recharged, to make plans for a better future, to engage with, love and celebrate life together, with everyone, and that includes nature and future generations in a healthy way.

What do you think are important requirements for staging a regenerative festival?

Sylvester: Not every event location is right for the regenerative festival model. Having your own site certainly helps. That means you have everything under control and you can make investments in regenerative solutions that are focused on the long term. An international promoter once asked me to develop a festival for them. After I looked into it, I told them I would only agree if they bought their own land where we could develop for the longer term. The festival never happened. But now, years later, the opportunity has suddenly arisen. Because Basecamp Eco Tiny House Resort is a partner, and we are working together on the regenerative development of the festival. The investments in wind turbines, solar panels, and smart batteries on the site mean we can produce more energy than we need. With that foundation, it’s much easier to think beyond sustainability or even circularity. I think this is a good practical use case that can serve as inspiration for governments when designing event locations.

And what are currently the biggest obstacles to becoming a regenerative festival?

Sylvester: People who want to help. These festivals need love and attention, and therefore time. That doesn’t always align with the commercial rates in the current market. We would also like support in transparency around what goes in and out of the festival, both in terms of energy and in terms of resources and goods, the data. But also our influence on the soil and biodiversity in the area. How can we monitor it properly? Only then will we gain real insight into our results. We have to make everything we do transparent and measurable, so we can learn to improve. We can share the knowledge we gain with other festivals and events. Would you like to join us? Send an e-mail to info@basecampfestival.nl

Finally, why should people come to Basecamp Festival?

Sylvester: Not least because of the whole atmosphere of the festival and the musical gems you’ll find on our line-up. You really will be blown away by what you see on site. The lake everything is structured around is so incredibly beautiful. But we also have an inspiring Academy agenda in the morning and at the beginning of the afternoon, packed with speakers, panels, and interactive sessions about the rapidly growing regenerative culture. It will be a content-rich schedule where you can hear and learn about rewilding, permaculture, regenerative food systems, inclusive society, 7-generation thinking, Solarpunk, the energy transition, and much more on practical futurism. Come see, hear, and taste it all, ha-ha. Will I see you on Whitsun?

Do you want to join us at Basecamp Festival? Save the date 3-5 June in your agenda. Check out the website for more info & line-up.