The Ceuvel Spring Celebration: Meet Your NatureNeighbour and Get Pollinating!
The Ceuvel Spring Celebration: Meet Your NatureNeighbour and Get Pollinating!
Date: April 21 & 22, 2025
Location: Entire Ceuvel Grounds
Languages: Dutch & English
Entry
Free and open to everyone. No registration needed – just drop by!
ABOUT
The bees are buzzing, the flowers are blooming – time to celebrate the new season! Come join us on April 21 and 22 at De Ceuvel for a free, festive two-day event in collaboration with The Pollinators. Whether you’re young or old, a nature lover or just in the mood for a fun day outdoors, this is your chance to connect with each other and with nature. Invite your friends, neighbors, and fellow nature enthusiasts and swing by!
Programma 21 april – Ontmoet jouw natuurbuur
Curious about the program on April 22? Check it out.
Early Birding with Randy
10:30 – 11:15 I Start at the main square
Throw on some binoculars and head out with bird expert Randy. He’ll introduce you to local (water)birds like grebes and kingfishers. Learn to recognize their calls, discover their habits, and level up your bird knowledge while spotting cool birds in the early spring sun.
Children’s Program: Stories & Crafts
11:00 – 11:30 & 12:00 – 12:30 I In the cafe
Annette Benedictus enchants young and old alike with magical stories. She’ll take you across mountains, into forests, to faraway castles, and nearby gardens. At De Ceuvel, she brings nature to life through tales and crafts.
Festive Opening with Reinier
11:30 – 12:00 I On the square
Let’s welcome spring together with music and joy, guided by Reinier
Minimarket
11:30 – 17:00 ongoing I On the square
Explore fun and local green initiatives – from butterfly conservation to willow wetlands.
Butterfly Safari by Mister Mot in Mokum
12:00 – 12:30 & 14:30 – 15:00 I Start at the Boardwalk
Want to understand the nature in your garden or street? Join butterfly expert Nicky Castricum (Mot in Mokum) for a walk through De Ceuvel’s diverse habitats. Through short interactive workshops, you’ll explore the lives of butterflies and caterpillars and take home useful knowledge – plus a handy list of plants that attract butterflies!
Seed Bomb Workshop
12:00- 16:00 ongoing I At the Market
Sow the future! Learn how to make seed bombs using native wildflower seeds, clay, and compost. A fun and eco-friendly way to help bees and pollinators – and you get to bring your own handmade bombs home!
Water Safari by Canoe
Starts at 12:30, 4:15 & 15:45 (duration +- 45 min) I Starts from the Dock (”Bootsteiger”)
Hop into a canoe and explore the floating gardens of Schoonschip and the Water Caravan with ecological architect Amber. Glide across the water, peer into the fish towers, and discover how these gardens contribute to cleaner water and urban biodiversity.
Children’s Program: Face Painting
Ongoing, 12:00- 13:30 I In the cafe
Transform into a fluttering butterfly, buzzing bee, or blooming flower! Face painting artist Nata will turn your face into a living artwork inspired by the plants and animals around us.
Build a Bee Castle
Doorlopend meedoen, starts at 12:00 till 16:00, drop inI At the Boardwalk
Did you know many wild bees prefer to nest in sandy soil? In our tidy cities, they’re missing these cozy spots. Together with nature guide and ecological gardener Rens Spanjaard, we’re creating a bee paradise at De Ceuvel with clay, stones, sand, and wood. Roll up your sleeves and help build a home for the bees!
Birdwatching Hut Opening + Birding with Randy
Starts at 12:45 I At the Boardwalk
Bird lovers, rejoice! We’re officially opening De Ceuvel’s brand-new birdwatching hut – and you’re invited to be the first to peek inside.
Bee Bingo!
Round 1 at 13:30 & Round 2 at 15:00 | Under the tent by the café
Buzz along with performer Coen during this hilarious spring bingo! Full of fun, surprises, and pollen-packed prizes – it’s classic bingo with a nature twist.
Snail Safari
15:45 I Starts at the Boardwalk
Snails: friend or foe? Discover the truth with snail expert Tello Neckheim. He’ll take you on a journey through hidden corners to observe these unique creatures up close. Where do they hide? What do they eat? Who are their tiny neighbors? Spring is the time to discover this mysterious underground world – and learn how to coexist with snails in your garden (or keep them at bay).
Festive Day Closing: Music & Tea Ceremony
16:30 I At the fire circle on the main square
Enter a moment of reflection, connection, and play as we round off the day and welcome spring together.
Musician Han van ’t Land (HAN – Here And Now) will fill the air with light, rhythmic music full of fresh energy, while performer Nina van Koppen leads you through a sparkling and interactive tea ritual, where past and future meet in a charming herbal dance.
Practical
Because it’s Easter, the café is only open for drinks today—the kitchen will remain closed. However, delicious soup with bread will be available on the square from 1–3 PM in exchange for a donation. Feel free to bring your own food, but please don’t leave any trash behind.
This day is for everyone: young, old, and everyone in between. Whether you’re a Bingo fan, fascinated by snails, enjoy listening, or prefer being out on the water, there’s always something to experience.
Questions or ideas? Email tessa@deceuvel.nl
