There are less than two weeks left until Sinterklaas and many Dutch people will spend next Saturday shopping for presents. But in the town of Wageningen in the east of the Netherlands, conscientious consumers are preparing to put their purses back in their pockets for the annual Buy Nothing Day.

[media:audio]

Listen to a report by Marijke Peters

The small Dutch market town seems an unlikely spot for a consumer revolution but on Saturday it will host a series of events designed to stop people from shopping. Buy Nothing Day started in reaction to what some describe as over-consumption in wealthier nations, and for the past four years Wageningen has celebrated it with enthusiasm.

Unsustainable
This year there will be a mock-up living room in the market square, where residents can pop in for a chat and a (free) cup of tea. Sandra Scheepens and Kim van Groningen, who are behind Buy Nothing Day in Wageningen say our current way of living is unsustainable.

“It’s actually impossible to shop as much as we do, if the whole world does that, or if we continue to do this. The planet is not big enough to do that. You need so many things to make all the clothes we wear and food…. Meat costs a lot of energy. And, very important for us also is that it doesn’t make you happy. It’s scientifically proven that once you reach a normal level of wealth it doesn’t matter any more. A higher income doesn’t make you more happy.”

No enthusiasm
On the town’s main shopping street there’s little enthusiasm for the plan and many point out that it’s easy to stock up beforehand if you know you can’t buy anything for one day. Kim says people are missing the point:

“I think they’re maybe taking it too literally – to buy nothing. That is one of the goals of Buy Nothing Day, but for us it’s more symbolic and we don’t mind if people do shop. It’s about making people aware in general, not for one day.”

As well as the living room and the opportunity to socialise, Kim and Sandra will be handing out soup made from left-over market vegetables and giving people free hugs. And they’re not worried by the fact the day comes just before Sinterklaas – in fact the pair say it might be the perfect time to pick up a free gift at one of the clothing swap stalls they’ll be setting up.

Angry shopkeepers
Shopkeepers claim they weren’t consulted about the Buy Nothing Day plans and many are unhappy about losing a day’s takings. Fortunately Ronald, the manager of Markt 27, has come up with his own solution:

“I think it’s not so good for business – we have to pay our personnel and if we don’t sell anything we can’t pay them. Maybe they can do Buy Nothing Day on a Sunday?”