Although ‘dusking’ or ‘schemeren’ was once a popular practice in the Netherlands, somewhere during the 20th century, life became too busy, and people no longer took the time to unwind at the end of the day. Dutch writer Marjolijn van Heemstra is trying to revive the custom and urging people to watch the world go dark.
The idea to revive ‘dusking’ or ‘schemeren’ came to van Heemstra while she was guiding a group of people on a night walk in Amsterdam. One of the participants said it reminded her of ‘dusking’, which she remembered doing on the farm where she grew up.
@nassy_b_ Moments that become beautiful memories. Stunning views and a lovely sunset 📍Ditchling Beacon, UK #ditchlingbeacon #ditchling #sunset #london #travel ♬ Pt. 8: Starry dream. – Slowed Down – A. Blomqvist
After doing some digging through Dutch newspapers from the last century, the writer discovered that ‘dusking’ was popular in the country until the middle of the 20th century. To put it concretely, at the end of the day, people gathered to watch the dusk settling over the landscape, as a way of winding down. That notion, however, faded over the years as life became more quick-paced, meaning people no longer had or took the time to watch the world go dark.
“It was a way of saving energy, but also, above all, a shared way of bringing the day to a close. A small rite of passage in which work was left behind and the evening’s rest began. An hour or so of neither producing nor consuming, simply sitting and watching the darkness fall, the boundaries blur, the day fade away and give way to the night,” Marjolijn van Heemstra writes.
How to dusk
Since discovering the ancient practice, the writer has been trying to bring ‘dusking’ back through a series of events in the Netherlands and abroad. According to van Heemstra, it is a very simple way to take back control, while also being a small act of resistance in a culture that is all too often obsessed with efficiency. She also considers it a way to reconnect with and become aware of the nature surrounding us.
“People have a lot of problems focusing on things because there’s so much happening at once. But the crisis is much bigger for the world around us. If you don’t know a tree, even if it’s in front of your house, because you never take the time to look at it, you don’t mind it being cut. So, it’s about seeing things and trying to establish a relationship with them and then maybe caring for them,” she told the BBC.
So, how does one dusk? The only thing that is really essential to practice at home is a little chunk of time at the end of the day. A chair can bring a degree of comfort to the table, while some companies can give ‘dusking’ a social component. Especially when ‘dusking’ outside, it can be more enjoyable to dusk in nice weather, making it a little easier to stay in the moment. Now, all that remains to be done is breathe in, breathe out, and calm down while watching the world go dark.
