Lifestyle

Woman Behind the Brand: Marieke Samallo

By May-Britt Mobach | #!31Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +0200+02:003531#31Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +0200+02:00-10Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202331 21am31am-31Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +0200+02:0010Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam2023312023Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +02003010307amFriday=9#!31Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam7#07-21-2023#!31Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +0200+02:003531#\/31Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +0200+02:00-10Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202331#!31Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:35 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam7#

Because it doesn't exist, I just start it. Pippi-I-have-never-done-it-so-I-think-I-can-do-it-Langkous would be proud of Marieke Samallo, director of Milkshake Festival, which will once again fill the Westergas site with love, acts, and the best electronic music this summer.

Name: Marieke Samallo
Occupation: Director Milkshake Festival

Marieke, tell me. Are they long days with pizza and Red Bull?
‘Well, neither of those come in here at the office. Long days with salads and water, that’s true. We are in the dotting-the-i's phase, which sounds lighter than it is. Everything is arranged, but to get everything perfect, we are still quite busy.’

If you have to explain to someone who has never been to Milkshake what it is, you say:
‘An open-minded electronic dance festival with a lot of amazing acts. This year there are a thousand dancers every day. What makes us unique is that everyone becomes a bit kinder and nicer to each other as soon as they go through the gate. That’s what I hear back from visitors and I experience it that way myself. Everyone is welcome here, which is why we don’t hang a rainbow flag because that actually puts people in a box again. You can be more than your box and also change your preferences. This is a festival for humanity.’

So a straight person is also welcome?
‘Here, everyone can be themselves.’

What I find very beautiful is that you open the site for people with disabilities on the afternoon before the festival starts.
‘A friend of mine works at a care institution and suggested that if we find inclusion so important, we should also offer something cool for people with disabilities. It started small, we wanted to see how it would go with 130 people, but that afternoon is now always completely sold out.’

Just like almost the rest of the festival, I understood.
‘Milkshake 2023 was sold out within an hour. We have a really cool opening night in the Gashouder where everything from Milkshake will be showcased. There are still a few tickets available for that.’

In 2017 and 2018, you also organized a Milkshake Festival in São Paolo. Which country do you have as a dot on the horizon to also hold the festival?
‘Thailand (and Malaysia) are the most open-minded countries in Asia. I also suspect that gay marriage will be introduced there within not too long. Therefore, it seems to me a nice country to roll out the red carpet for Milkshake. There are still so many countries where it is illegal for two people of the same sex to kiss. If you are not queer, you can hardly imagine that.’

Last question: where should I go if I want to order tickets for next year?
‘We usually put them on sale on Valentine’s Day, so keep an eye on it.’

Milkshake festival July 29 and 30 Westergasfabriek site

Photography: Wouter van Gens