Visitor Policy

Policy changed in November 2025. In coordination with the NCTV and police, no metal weapons of any kind are permitted — even decorative, completely blunt, or sewn into a costume so they cannot be drawn.

• Allowed: props of soft, non-metal material — plastic, rubber, foam, LARP-safe or other flexible materials — clearly recognisable as props.
• All props must be completely blunt: no sharp edges, pointed tips or hard impact surfaces.
• Wooden props only if lightweight, blunt and generally under about 1 metre. Simple staffs within that range are usually fine. Mallets, large hammers or anything over a metre that could cause real impact may be refused at security's discretion.
• 3D-printed props in plastic, rubber or soft materials are fine. Metal or hard-material prints are prohibited.
• Never allowed: replica or 3D-printed firearms resembling real guns in size, shape or colour — under Dutch law these count as real weapons. Airsoft and paintball guns are strictly prohibited, including without ammunition or batteries.
• Weapon use is permitted only for entertainment groups hired by the organisation, under expert supervision.

Everything is inspected at the entrance. If an item is refused you can return it to your vehicle, or hand it to security against a numbered ticket and collect it on your way out.

If you buy a weapon at the festival

It must stay sealed and out of sight on the grounds, the parking, the shuttle and any public area — you may not unwrap it or wear it as part of a costume. When carrying it home it must require three distinct actions before it could be used: sealed inside a closed bag, sheath, box or case; that container additionally secured with a strap, tape, buckle or lock; and a final deliberate action to retrieve it. Police check for this, visibly and invisibly, and you are responsible for complying with Dutch law.

If a visitor opens or displays a purchased weapon on the grounds, security may temporarily confiscate the item, the visitor may be escorted out, and the exhibitor may be questioned to ensure the rules were followed during the sale.

• Allowed: dogs (on a leash), horses, birds, ferrets (on a leash).
• Not allowed: reptiles, lizards, rabbits and other exotic pets.

Dogs and ferrets must remain leashed at all times, and owners are fully responsible for their animals. Note that no dogs are allowed inside Castle Arcen itself (location 2 on the map). See Visitor information for horse parking.

Visitors may generally not bring their own food or drink. This keeps Elfia compliant with Dutch event, alcohol and food-safety regulations, and keeps pricing and quality consistent across food partners.

Permitted exceptions:

• One sealed plastic water bottle, maximum 500 ml.
• Baby food or infant formula.
• Food or drink for medical or dietary needs — allergies, diabetes and similar — limited to what is strictly necessary. A few sandwiches, dextrose tablets, fruit juice or a can of cola is fine; full meals or bags of food are not.

You may be asked to show valid medical proof, such as a doctor's note, for those items. Without it they may not be allowed onto the grounds. Glass bottles, glass containers and hard or breakable packaging are prohibited everywhere.

• Bringing your own alcohol is not permitted, including drinks at or below 15% ABV. Alcohol may only be bought and consumed in designated festival areas.
• Strong alcoholic beverages and distilled spirits are not allowed on the grounds.
• Possession or use of drugs is prohibited at all times, cannabis included, however it is consumed. Visitors carrying or using drugs may be removed and denied further access.

Elfia Arcen runs under a municipal event permit from the municipality of Venlo, which makes it a publicly accessible event under Dutch law. Managing health, safety and nuisance is a legal requirement attached to that permit.

• Cigarettes and vaping — nicotine and non-nicotine alike — only in the designated outdoor smoking areas, marked on the grounds map.
• Marijuana is strictly prohibited anywhere on the grounds, including carrying it.

This protects non-smokers and families and keeps food areas, stands and queues smoke-free. The rules are enforced by festival security and local authorities.

Drones are strictly prohibited for everyone — visitors, photographers and media alike. Flying drones over events and large crowds is forbidden by law.

Political, ideological or activist expression is not permitted where it is explicitly or implicitly aimed at influencing, addressing or persuading other visitors, or where it may be perceived as coercive, polarising or disruptive.