Groningen ‘Oktoberfest’: Between Tradition and Party Culture

The Oktoberfest themed costumes and decorations at SoLow. Lina Tjarks

Inside, the party preparations have already started. Delivery crews are carrying big kegs and crates of beer, and the sets for the beer tent have been ordered. On the table on the right, there are dozens of decorations wrapped in plastic. The main accessories are the blue and white buntings. The triangular 'vlaggetjes ' (little flags), traditionally found at any Dutch party, meet the design of the traditional Bavarian flag.

The DOT event location from the outside. Lina Tjarks

This Saturday, the event location DOT in Groningen organises its first Oktoberfest. The event reflects the growing interest in the traditional German celebration. This year, there are more than fifty registered Oktoberfests across the Netherlands. Throughout this month, events take place in many bigger cities and even in smaller villages.

The promotional posts on DOT’s website and social media promise its attendees a full German experience, including everything you can find at the original celebration, such as beer, bratwurst and Schlager music. The event organiser and manager of the event location Rick van Lent tells The Glass Room that you will receive a shot and a free beer, if you dress up in traditional clothing such as a 'Dirndl' and leather pants.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in Oktoberfest events in Groningen. While similar events were held at other locations last year, Van Lent decided to host a party at the DOT as well . "Now you can buy decorations and costumes everywhere in the city," he says.

Lara in her Dirndl before the Oktoberfest party. Lina Tjarks

Lara Wischnewski, a German student from Hamburg studying in Groningen, tells The Glass Room that she also observes the increasing popularity of Oktoberfest on social media. "All of a sudden, I see people talking about Oktoberfest everywhere. It's like a hype, even though the celebration itself is not new", she says.

Lara went to an Oktoberfest party at another venue in Groningen two years ago. A predominantly Dutch friend group joined her, but she says they had a better time at the event than she did. "They are all into the classic Apre-Ski, Schlager, and Dutch party music, so they knew most of the songs anyways", she says.

The same goes for the event at DOT. Van Lent says that there will be a mix of German Schlager, Dutch music, and other party hits. "The best of both worlds," he says.

The Oktoberfest parties in the Netherlands do not aim to be authentic. "It's just a good excuse for students to party, to dress up and drink beer", Van Lent says. "Most people are getting things to dress up at cheap places like SoLow".

Thus, despite the large number of German students in the Netherlands, they do not necessarily seem to be this Oktoberfest's target audience. Most Germans would probably rather go across the border to Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest, Van Lent says. For now, he continues, most tickets were sold to Dutch people.

Moritz (left) and his friend at a traditional Oktoberfest in Bavaria. Lina Tjarks

For Moritz Fehrlage, an RUG student originally from Munich, this is true. He recalls his one and only time going to an Oktoberfest celebration in Groningen. "It was my first month in the city, and I expected the event to be somewhat like I know it from back home." He adds that instead of the traditional brass band, the DJ played hardstyle, and that cheap costumes had nothing in common with his traditional clothing.

"It honestly was like a culture shock to me", he tells The Glass Room.

Nevertheless, Moritz acknowledges that his upbringing and sense of local patriotism influence his perception. On the other hand, Lara has no sentimental ties to the Oktoberfest traditions, and says that she enjoyed the party the way it was: an occasion to dress up and go out with her friends.