On a Saturday at the end of October, just before the night that the Netherlands switches to winter time, we celebrate the Night of the Night. The event cherishes the darkness and fights against light pollution. In many places in the Netherlands, attention is paid to the darkness and activities are organized around the night of the Night. The Night of the Night emphasizes the beauty of the dark and the amazing starry sky, which you can only see when there are not too many lights around. The first Night of the Night was held in 2005.
Source: Amelander Museums
Initiators Night of the Night
Nature and Environmental Federations of the Netherlands are the initiators of the event. They are committed to a clean environment, rich nature and a beautiful landscape at a provincial level. Each province has its own Nature and Environment Federation.
The Night of the Night is organized together with Natuur & Milieu. Over time, many organizations such as Staatsbosbeheer and municipalities have joined the event.
What is Night of the Night?
During the Night of the Night, darkness is emphasized and activities are organized in many places to enjoy the dark and learn about the importance and beauty of darkness. The activities have to do with darkness and night.
The first Night of the Night
The first Night of the Night was organized in 2005. The theme that first time was Greenhouse Horticulture. It was an immediate success. Ten thousand people took part in activities such as darkness walks with forest rangers, theater performances and boating excursions. More than tens of thousands of people now participate in the activities.
Why need a Night of the Night?
The Night of the Night wants to reduce light pollution and make people aware of the disturbing and harmful effect of too much light. In the Netherlands we use a lot of light; we are the lightest country in the world. The Night of the Night wants people to enjoy the darkness; then there is a lot of exciting and beautiful things to experience. Light pollution disrupts people and animals and disrupts the experience of nighttime nature; you only see stars when it is dark all around.
Winter time
The Night of the Night is organized on a Saturday in October just before winter time starts. The organizers choose a night with as little moon as possible to make it as dark as possible for the night activities.
More lighting
Light maps show that it is getting lighter in the Netherlands. Every year 3 to 5 percent of light is added.
The most important light pollutants are:
- Greenhouse horticulture
- Sports field lighting
- Public lighting and advertising lighting
Christmas lights
Many people put lights in their outdoor tree or on their facade. There are even outdoor Christmas lights competitions. This is also a form of light pollution, although it is not that serious because it is temporary lighting. It gets crazier every year; More lighting is added every year in the garden and on the facade. This can be done more beautifully and more economically and the Night of the Night also points this out.
City lighting
The organizers of the Night of the Night are concerned about the general trend towards more and more lighting. For example, due to the large amount of advertising lighting and street lamps, the stars can no longer be seen. And the starry sky is actually the most beautiful (Christmas) lights of all. The people behind the Night of the Night want to extinguish as much light as possible where possible and where safety is not compromised. In addition, energy and money can be saved on lighting.
What to do
Measures can be taken to reduce light pollution:
- Greenhouses can be screened;
- Other lights can be used on sports fields;
- Unnecessary advertising lighting can be turned off at night;
- Roads can be lit with fewer lamps;
- Cat’s eyes can replace street lighting in many cases;
- Turn green light into the fixtures.
Private individuals can also do some things about light pollution:
- Shine yellow, warm white or orange light instead of blue-white fluorescent light;
- Shield the lamp so that no light shines upwards;
- Use a lower power lamp;
- Install a motion detector;
- Use solar powered lighting.
Source: Nacht van de Nacht
Enjoying the darkness
Hundreds of activities are organized throughout the Netherlands. We mention a few:
- Torchlight procession on the dike;
- Covered wagon tour in the dark;
- Dark night walk;
- Dine by candlelight;
- Storytime performance until midnight by candlelight;
- Lecture about moths;
- Night photography workshop.
Ameland
Ameland has participated in the Night of the Night every year since 2008.
The Amelander Museums in particular organize activities in the context of the Night of the Night:
- Listen to the darkness, An exciting journey in the evening through the forest and De Vleijen;
- Warming up with a chocolate cup, an evening walk and then recovering with a cup of chocolate milk;
- View of Light, Looking at the dark and the light from the tower of the Ameland Nature Center;
- Star Treks;
- Night walks through the forest and along the beach from the lighthouse.
The Night of the Night takes place every year on one of the last weekends of October.
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