(Editor’s note: The next Comic Con Holland is scheduled in ‘s-Hertogenbosch for 20 and 21 April. You can get tickets here starting at about 17 euros. Dispatches receives no remuneration for this post. You can read more here about the history of comic book conventions.
In Amsterdam this year, somewhere in the Randstad between the cobblestone streets and the modern city, an important event for the nerdy culture will take place – Comic Con Holland will transform a venue into a kaleidoscope of costumes, art and creativity.
Last year, the bi-annual celebration of all things nerdy, fantastical and geeky made me purchase a ticket almost immediately when I noticed the event is taking place.
During my bus ride to the location in Haarlem, I was quite worried about which way should I take. I didn’t
want to get lost. But then at the train station I noticed something: At first, I thought I was going crazy but I was right.
It was Indiana Jones.
This was the moment I realised I just had to follow this person. I don’t I need to say that my gut didn’t lie to me: Indiana Jones took me to my destination.
Even at the bus stop, I knew I had arrived at the right place because of the number of cosplayers and people with fan t-shirts. The air was buzzing with excitement, laughter, and conversations. Everyone was excited to be there.
I am not sure what my expectations were, but all of them were met. I saw so much cool stuff and so many of my favourite characters.
But let’s dive into these things one at a time.
Cosplay World
First of all, Comic Con is the place for those who are interested in dressing up as fictional characters – not only professionally but also just for fun. I bumped into so many characters not just from my childhood but also some I had discovered as an adult. There were multiple Spider-Men walking around as well as characters from “Star Wars,” different anime, and cartoons.
First of all, what I particularly love about the community is that everyone is extremely nice and friendly. Cosplayers would welcome any fellow nerd, take pictures and chat about common passions. Second of all, if you happen to be one of the cosplayers you can sign up for one of the catwalks to show off your costume and compete.
Lastly, I think it was just great how some parents had even taken their little children there to get into the nerdy culture and explore the world of DC, MARVEL and anime, amongst others.
Panels
Cosplaying is just one of the things that happen during Comic Con. There are also the Q&As with different celebrities and their discussions. And you can get up-close and personal.
For the most recent edition of Comic Con Holland, people such as Georgia Hirst (Torvi in “Vikings”), Daniel Portman (Podrick Payne in “Game of Thrones”), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood in “Harry Potter”), and Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring in “Breaking Bad” and Moff Gideon in “The Mandalorian”) were featured guests.
For those who are fans, you could make a reservation to take a picture with them or have them sign something for you. Keep in mind that in order to do this you would have to pay a fee of about 40 euro … and in some cases even more.
Exhibitor Booths
Exhibitor booths at Comic Con are something that just gives happy vibes to the visitors. By walking around the different stalls, one has the chance to see different types of unique art and a great number of hand-made items. Different artists showcase their work in the form of prints and accessories. Moreover, I bumped into various booths selling Funko Pops, tote bags, stickers, and anything one can think of.
Recreation zone
Beside the booths and the stages, there is a separate space for just resting and grabbing some snacks when you get tired of running around and exploring. There are a bunch of choices but make sure that you get to the venue of Comic Con on time because it is full of people, and it can take quite some time to get some coffee or food.
Fun and entertainment
It is important to note that there are different spaces where one can take pictures with characters. I would like to point out that the different professional cosplayers have their own corners and have set up something like offices and it was exhilarating to see almost real “Ghost Busters” gear. Additionally, there is always a gaming part of Comic Con because of course this is one of the features of each event.
Next event
For April’s edition of Comic Con Holland, you can expect to see Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley in “Harry Potter”), Richard Dean Anderson (“MacGyver”), Robert Patrick (T-1000 in “Terminator 2”) and more to be announced later.
This year, the location will move to the Brabanthallen Den Bosch on 20 and 21 April.
The best thing about Comic Con Holland is that is easily accessible and you can just spend an entire weekend surrounded by people who share similar interests.
Practical information
First things first – I think it is quite important to mention that if you want to go to Comic Con Holland you have to book your tickets pretty early. If you don’t, there’s a chance they’re sold out or the prices have skyrocketed.
The second thing I would like to mention is that if you want to participate in any of the Cosplayer events you have to fill in the registration form on the website. Everything is pretty simple and it most likely won’t cause any issues. And you get a discount if you come in costume.
There are a lot of details and rules on the website, so be sure to go through it thoroughly before going.
Honestly, I can’t wait for April to go and have some fun!
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Read more from Polya here in Dispatches’ archives.
Polya Pencheva
Polya Plamenova Pencheva is a young Bulgarian journalist based in Groningen, Netherlands. Polya holds a Master's degree in journalism from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and loves writing and telling the untold stories of interesting people. You can find her dining at cute café, shopping at markets, scouting second-hand shops or just chillin' at home with something great to read.
