By Marie Hvingelby, volunteer journalist.
You’ve been dancing in the dust in front of Eos, flirting at the campsite and soaking up the sun. At Roskilde Festival, a lot can happen in a short amount of time – and sometimes you need to slow down and check in with yourself.
That’s why you’ll find Soft Spots across the festival site. These are small oases where you can take a break, have a conversation about the harder stuff – and maybe get a temporary tattoo with a meaningful message.
Behind Soft Spots are several strong organisations working to promote safety, wellbeing and openness: Sex & Samfund, DareGender, Everyday Sexism Project Denmark, the Danish Mental Health Fund (Psykiatrifonden) and Mino Danmark. They’re here to create dialogue and offer support in the middle of the festival atmosphere.
Amanda Ritz, project manager at Sex & Samfund, explains why it makes sense to talk about consent in this setting:
“We’re here because this is where it all happens – sex, kissing, dancing and drinking. So it makes sense to talk about boundaries and consent.”
The organisation has 30 volunteers on site who are ready to answer questions about things like consent, flirting and emergency contraception – and to start the conversation when boundaries become blurred.
Bianca Brønniche, who’s been running the Sex & Samfund prize wheel, finds that festivalgoers are curious – and sometimes a bit unsure:
“People are generally really curious, and I often see them hesitate when they’re faced with a dilemma. The thing about consent is that it’s complex – and that’s why we’re here. Things can get blurry, and we’re here to open up the conversation,” she says.
Under a tent, we meet three volunteers who’ve just been out with Sex & Samfund’s cargo bike. One of them, Johanne Dahl Bisgaard, has been handing out condoms and tattoos – and getting good vibes and meaningful chats in return.
“It’s cute to see how people look out for each other. They’ll want a tattoo right on their bum but still pause to ask: ‘Is that OK?’”
That question comes up again and again – and that’s exactly the point of Soft Spots: to make room for asking, checking in and talking things through before acting.
Soft Spots exist because safety and freedom go hand in hand. When we dare to talk about boundaries and the tough stuff, we’re more present in all the fun.
Amanda Ritz from Sex & Samfund puts it this way:
“We’re not here to lecture anyone – we create a sensory space where you can laugh, learn and leave a little wiser. Maybe even take something back to your camp.”
Sex & Samfund doesn’t have professional counsellors on site, but the volunteers can help guide you if you need more support. Or simply offer a breather. A new perspective. And maybe a tattoo to remind you it’s OK to take care of yourself.
Have you experienced something that crossed a line? Reach out to one of the volunteers in vests. You’re not alone.
Here’s where to find the Soft Spots – and what you can experience:
All organisations have prepared together before the festival, shared knowledge and trained their volunteers. That means you’ll be met with respect, openness and real support – no matter which Soft Spot you visit. Get an overview here – or look for the icon in the app.
In West (C): DareGender and Everyday Sexism Project Denmark
Get your nails done, take part in conversations about sexism, boundaries and much more – or try out their period pain simulator.
In East (L): Sex & Samfund
Pick up a condom or a tattoo, and join in on sex jeopardy and music bingo.
East side of Orange Stage: Danish Mental Health Fund (Psykiatrifonden)
Overstimulated or in need of a chat about how tough festivals can be? Meet mental health advisors for an informal conversation.
Pop-ups: Mino Danmark – find them around the site in their caravan
Mino Danmark hosts new activities every day, so feel free to stop by anytime. Each day, they ask festivalgoers a question and post the day’s responses on their social media.
