The True Spirit of Fantasy
In 2027, we will organize a wonderful festival for young and old.
We are going all out. Behind the scenes, the Pixie team is working hard on the preparations. The location has been found, and the date has been set. Now, it's time to bring a long-held dream to life.
Want to know who is behind Pixie Spirit Fest? Scroll down quickly and meet our fantastic Pixie Team.
I was born in the fairy-tale-like Weserbergland in Germany, the region where the Brothers Grimm found their stories among forests, castles, and fortresses. This enchanting landscape sparked my imagination and laid the foundation for my love of fantasy, stories, and magic.
For my great love Jos, I moved to the Netherlands. Here, I began sculpting fantasy dolls. What started small grew into Zwanette’s Spookjes atelier: a creative world full of miniatures and magical scenes, which I presented together with my team at various fairs.
For many years, I stood as the High Witch, along with my team of witches and wizards, at fairs. Young and old came to us to get their hands on magic orbs, filled with potions, twilight and moonshine, lucky stones, and magical spells. An enchanting ritual that always brought a smile to everyone’s face.
Nowadays, I give workshops where young and old can build their own fantasy scenes with miniatures. With my treasure chest full of creative materials, I attend fairs and help everyone create their own magical world.
For me, fantasy is not an escape from reality, but a way to see the ordinary a little differently. With a bit of wonder, we can make the world more beautiful and take others along on that journey.
Zwanette:
I'm just Jos. No elf, no wizard — just someone who makes sure everything is always on time and in the right place. Tables, lamps, shelves, boxes of miniatures; in short, the man of the setup and the quiet magic.
When we’re at a fair, chances are I’ve packed the van, planned the route, and set up the tent first.
For a long time, fantasy wasn’t my domain, even though I spent years right in the middle of it alongside Zwanette. Gradually, it started to take hold of me. During workshops, I saw people with a few trees, a gnome, and a handful of stones creating the most beautiful scenes. You can see their imagination come to life in their work.
Nowadays, I no longer help only behind the scenes, but I also stand at the workshop table. I give tips, help find the right miniature, and watch how visitors immerse themselves in their own world.
For me, fantasy is something you build — sturdy and layer by layer. And the best part? I get to contribute a little each time.
Jos:
All my life, I have been told I have a vivid imagination. I have always nurtured this imagination through my interest in faith, mythology, and fantasy stories.
I have always been very adventurous. When I was little and went on holiday to Austria with my parents, I wanted to explore every mountain peak and valley during long walks, to see what was to be discovered. If I had to choose between the swimming pool or the museum, I always chose the museum. I was fascinated by who the Schmerzenman is and admiring the costumes worn during Krampus.
In 2013, my wife took me to a fantasy event for the first time, and that opened up a whole new world for me. At that event, I found all my interests—and more—in one place, alongside like-minded people.
It brought me new stories, experiences, and the freedom to let my imagination run wild. Fantasy and everything related to it are deeply rooted in my heart. My love for fantasy will never fade.
Björn:
I grew up in a warm family where a bit of fantasy always seemed to be around us, like magic in the air. Everywhere in our house, there were books by Brian Froud, Cecily Mary Barker, and Rien Poortvliet. My mother collected stickers of flower fairies, and my grandparents told us that little gnomes lived in their cuckoo clock, setting the breakfast table for them every morning.
According to my grandfather, you never saw the gnomes because they are naturally very shy, but he assured us they were real. He had caught them once right in the middle of the night. When we doubted him, he would say: “Tonight, I will look for the gnomes and ask if they want to cook a soft-boiled egg tomorrow.” And lo and behold, the next day, there was a soft-boiled egg on the table.
Thanks to my family and upbringing, I believe in a world where fantasy can set you free. Maybe coincidence doesn’t actually exist, and the unexplainable can simply be explained with a spark of magic.
As an illustrator, I love to let the fantasy world walk into my work. Gnomes, elves, and mermaids often appear in my illustrations, sometimes openly, sometimes secretly hidden. Also in my picture books, my imagination is free to play, and I invite children to stay a little longer in the magical realm with me.
Miriam:
To bring this page to life, every organiser of Pixie Spirit Fest was tracked down and thoroughly questioned by our Pixie Reporter-in-Chief.
Unfortunately, she was overcome by the heat on her way to Spain to interrogate Uncle Roly.
So just a little more patience, and soon you’ll be able to read Sir Roly’s story here too.
Uncle Roly:
I grew up in a house filled with magic and fantasy. My earliest memories go back to my father's passion for Tolkien, and I remember how he spent hours admiring the illustrations of Brian Froud and reading his books.
When I close my eyes, I still see the beautiful drawings Alan Lee made of Middle-earth and The Silmarillion.
I also remember how, during holidays in the Austrian Alps, I searched for wild strawberries with my parents and brother. My parents told us that these were planted by gnomes. The gnomes always knew whether my brother and I had been good boys, and they let us find their treasures.
To this day, I believe that if something has gone missing from my closet, it has something to do with the mischievous gnomes. And I happily let them play with my things.
But beware! Never make them angry, or they can become very troublesome…
Andrea: