Ruigoord is not a festival venue you rent for a weekend. The island has its own history, its own inhabitants and its own logic, and Fiery Tongues fits right in. The festival has existed as part of this place for more than 51 years, and you can feel it. No stage set-up that will be taken down again after the event, but a site that is itself: a church, gardens, studios, a Gnome House, a Ding Place and a Willow Portal. Nine stages in all, scattered throughout the island, and in use simultaneously.
The biggest names this year are Spinvis and The Elements, who on Sunday will pay tribute to the recently deceased co-founder of Ruigoord, Hans Plomp. A posthumous tribute from one of the Netherlands‘ most idiosyncratic musicians, at the venue that Plomp was a part of for many years. Ursula Rucker, Philadelphia-based spoken word artist and activist, known for collaborations with The Roots and 4Hero, is scheduled to perform on both Sunday and Monday. Snowapple Collective performs ’Wilderness: an undomesticated Rock Opera" at the church on Sunday. And Babs Gons, Poet Laureate of the Netherlands from 2023 to 2025, performs at Terrace 1 on Monday.
The organization has been in the hands of Yvonne van Doorn-Mousset, who also serves as presenter, for more than 23 years. Diana Ozon is co-organizer and in 2005 received the Ruigoord Trophy, the annual award the festival presents to an exceptional artist. In 2025, that trophy went to Cato Fluitsma, who is also hosting a concert this year, along with cellist Tjalle Rens and a choir. That Fluitsma and Spinvis are in the same program says something about the scope of Fiery Tongues: from cabaret to rock opera, everything has its place here.
Spinvis pays tribute to Hans Plomp with The Elements, at the place Plomp was part of for years: that's exactly the kind of moment Fiery Tongues is all about.
Spinvis pays tribute to Hans Plomp with The Elements, at the place where Plomp was part of for years: that's exactly the kind of moment Fiery Tongues is all about. Visitors are welcomed with a poem as soon as they enter. Children under 18 enter for free and there is a separate program for them with face painting, philosophy workshops and puppet theater. Festival posters are by illustrator Sieger Duinkerken. Tickets are available through Sealed Tickets and Ticketswap, with a Fairshare system against resale.