Nacht van de Nacht

Hidden in the Dark – Nacht van de Nacht

Nacht van de Nacht is an annual event that raises awareness about light pollution. During this event, businesses turn off their lights, and various activities are organized. At Fort bij Vechten, a walking route was illuminated with tiny LED lights, and I was asked to add an extra experience to the route.

Together with Jitte Toebast, I worked on this project during our internship at Natuur en Milieufederatie Utrecht, under the guidance of our coach, Mattheus Bleijenberg.

Our concept, Hidden in the Dark, was designed to showcase the beauty of the night and highlight the importance of reducing artificial light. As an addition to the light trail at Fort bij Vechten, which was originally marked with small candles guiding visitors through the dark, we created a scavenger hunt for children.

We hid six nocturnal animals along the route, encouraging visitors to find them. Those who found all five animals and posted them on social media with the correct hashtag had a chance to win prizes. This interactive element not only enhanced the experience but also helped promote the social media channels of Natuur en Milieufederatie Utrecht, making the concept more engaging and multimedia-driven.

Additionally, we managed the event’s social media presence by creating multiple animations and videos, which were shared as reels and stories online.

Another addition to the walking route was an indoor projection inside the fort. In a dark room, we displayed a video featuring various nocturnal animals, accompanied by edited audio of their natural sounds. This immersive experience further emphasized the magic of the night and enriched the overall event.