In 2026, Oerol will celebrate its 45th anniversary, a fitting moment to look back at the festival’s early years. Many memories are still vivid, but some stories risk being lost.
That is why this year we launched the project Eilanders Vertellen — part of the broader Oerol Archive initiative. The project collects and records personal stories from islanders and artists to pass on to future generations. Oerol is working together with Erfgoed Terschelling and the ’t Behouden Huys museum to gather these stories.
With the support of Terschelling TV and Stichting De Jeugd van NU, the stories are being documented in short films, enriched with archival material and children’s drawings.
The youngest generation on the island is also actively involved. Primary school children are interviewing older islanders, learning about Oerol’s history as well as art and culture. On Saturday 13 September, artist Marc van Vliet took a group of children to his art installation De Streken in Oosterend and explained how it came into being. The children will later process their impressions into creative contributions that will find a place in the short films.
In this way, we are building a collection of stories that not only preserves memories but also strengthens the connection between generations. The first documentaries will be released later this year through Oerol’s communication channels and, of course, during Oerol Festival 2026.
The Eilanders Vertellen project is made possible with the support of the Iepen Mienskipsfûns, the Municipality of Terschelling, and the Elja Foundation.
