Frequently Asked Questions – Oerol Professionals

Oerol Festival is an annual cultural event held in June on the island of Terschelling, Netherlands. Over ten days, the island transforms into a stage for theatre, music, and visual arts, utilizing its diverse landscapes as performance spaces. ​

The festival occurs annually in June on Terschelling, one of the Dutch Wadden Islands.

Accreditation is intended for individuals actively working in the cultural sector, including artists, curators, producers, researchers, and policymakers. If you’re uncertain about your eligibility, please contact us at professionals@oerol.nl.​

To apply, complete the online accreditation form, providing your contact details, professional background, and festival attendance plans. Detailed application steps can be found on our How to apply for accreditation as an Oerol Professional page.

The professionals festival wristband grants access to all regular festival areas, including the festival hub and visual arts programs, as well as exclusive entry to the professionals programme, which features networking events and discussions. Please note that tickets for specific performances must be purchased separately.​

After your accreditation is approved, log in to your MyOerol account, navigate to the ticket shop, and select the professionals festival wristband to complete your purchase. If you’ve already bought a regular wristband, contact helpdesk@oerol.nl to upgrade.​

There are no additional discounts on performance tickets for professionals. All ticket sales are subject to availability.​

For the 2025 festival, the ticket sales schedule is as follows:​

• Programme launch: 13 May 2025​
• Professionals presale: 19 May 2025 at 12:00 CET​
• Friends of Oerol presale: 20 May 2025 at 20:00 CET​
• General ticket sales: 23 May 2025 at 20:00 CET​

The Friends of Oerol (Vrienden van Oerol) are supporters who contribute annually to the festival, receiving benefits such as early access to ticket sales and exclusive updates. Their presale begins after the professionals presale but before general sales.​

During the professionals presale, you can buy up to two tickets per performance. This limit ensures that as many accredited professionals as possible have the opportunity to attend key performances before general ticket sales begin.

Yes, a special allocation of tickets is reserved exclusively for accredited professionals. To access these, log in to your MyOerol account and check availability for your desired performances. However, the limit of two tickets per performance still applies, unless general tickets are still available. Please note that all tickets are subject to availability.​

Your Oerol Professionals profile allows accredited professionals to connect with fellow attendees, see who else will be at the festival, and make networking easier. You can share your presence at Oerol, indicate what you are looking for, and browse other professionals’ profiles.

When you apply for accreditation, you will fill in details for your Professionals profile, including a short introduction about yourself, what you are looking for at the festival, and your contact preferences. If you choose to share your profile, it will be included in the Oerol Professionals directory.

The Professionals directory is only accessible to accredited professionals and can be found by logging into your MyOerol account.

No, you cannot edit your profile yourself after submitting your accreditation. If you need to make changes to your introduction, interests, or contact preferences, please email us at professionals@oerol.nl, and we will update your profile for you.

Yes, if you have chosen to make your profile visible, other accredited professionals can see your profile in the directory. If you have opted to share your contact details, they will be able to email you. You can also choose to share a LinkedIn profile link for additional networking opportunities.

Accredited professionals will receive important festival updates, practical information, and reminders about the professionals programme and ticket sales via email in the lead-up to the festival.

Yes! In your MyOerol account, you can choose to receive:

• The Oerol Professionals newsletter (available in English and Dutch) – for year-round updates on the professionals programme, industry news, and special events.
• The regular Oerol newsletter (available only in Dutch) – for general festival updates, programme highlights, and audience-related information.

You can update your preferences at any time by logging into your MyOerol account.

The professionals programme includes plenary discussions, networking sessions, and artist presentations tailored for accredited professionals. It offers opportunities to engage deeply with the festival’s themes and connect with peers.​

Participation is included with your professionals festival wristband. Some sessions may require prior reservation due to limited capacity. Details will be shared closer to the festival dates.​

Professional events are exclusive to accredited professionals. Guests without accreditation will not have access to these events.​

Terschelling is accessible by ferry from Harlingen. It’s advisable to book your ferry tickets well in advance, especially during the festival period. ​

Accommodation options on Terschelling include hotels, holiday cottages, and campsites. Given the festival’s popularity, we recommend booking your accommodation as early as possible.​

We strive to support our professional guests, particularly international visitors, in securing accommodation. However, due to the island’s limited capacity, we cannot guarantee assistance. Please contact the professionals team at professionals@oerol.nl to discuss potential options.​

Bicycles are the most popular mode of transport on Terschelling. You can bring your own bike on the ferry or rent one upon arrival.​
For detailed information, please refer to our Plan your visit page.​

Oerol Festival is committed to accessibility. While the natural environment presents challenges, we strive to accommodate all visitors:​

• Wheelchair accessibility: Some programme sections are easily accessible for wheelchair users, with paved or semi-paved access paths. Specific locations with wheelchair spaces are indicated on the programme page, along with reservation information.​
• Adapted toilets: Available at our festival hub De Deining and various catering establishments on Terschelling.​
• Transportation: Ferries operated by Rederij Doeksen are wheelchair accessible and suitable for individuals with limited mobility.​

For detailed information, please refer to our Accessibility page.​

Oerol is primarily a Dutch festival, but we strive to accommodate international visitors:​

• Bilingual website: Our website is available in both Dutch and English.​
• Staff communication: All team members can communicate in English.
• Programme language indications: In the festival programme, performances and events are marked with their language:
  – Dutch – Performed in Dutch
  – English – Performed in English
  – Other languages – If applicable, the specific language will be indicated
  – Language no problem – The performance is non-verbal, or language is not a barrier to understanding

If you have specific questions about language accessibility or need guidance on which performances will best suit your needs, please contact the professionals team at professionals@oerol.nl.