European Bibliodrama Workshops 2026: Consider your calling! 

Calling of God. It sounds weighty, maybe even a bit daunting. What actually happens when God calls you? How does it flip your life and your relationship with Him upside down? In this workshop, we dive deep into the rollercoaster of emotions that a calling brings.   

To explore these questions, we’ll draw inspiration from Jonah. He is the prophet who, like no other, shows us just how stubborn a calling can be. Natural elements underline how much tension the calling evokes in Jonah himself, the people around him and the people he is sent to.   

No dry theory here, but action! Through three  different bibliodrama methods, we’ll step into the story ourselves. From an intensive process Bibliodrama with creative work on Wednesday to a creative, embodied Bibliodrama approach (developed by Cilia Hogerzeil and Bas van den Berg) and a Pastoral Existential Bibliodrama (developed by Nico Derksen, Herman Andriessen and Maria Nolet) on Thursday and Friday.   

Are you ready to join this journey through Jonah’s story? Prepare to be surprised by new insights and the transformative power of Bibliodrama!  

The Bible is a treasure trove of stories about all kind of human experiences. A lot of these people experience God’s calling. This is often the beginning of an exciting new path in their lives.    

We too may be open to such experiences. It can occur in the midst of our lives, in our own unique way. It impacts us both on a physical and spiritual level.  

Our bibliodrama workshop will be about Matthew 9,1-13. A lot of characters take part in this story: Jesus, a paralyzed man, a tax collector and the crowd are among them. All of these experience an appeal from God. For all of them something vital is at stake. But how it turns out, differs per individual.  

In our bibliodrama we want to open up space for a vibrant experience to be called. Our objective is to dive in the story and to create opportunities to identify with the different roles. Each participant is invited to connect and mirror his/her life with that of the characters in the story.

Methodologically, we will use movement, play, artistic and aesthetic elements for a diverse and valuable play.  

We explore the calling of Moses. What takes him back from accepting his calling and what does help to overcome his resistance? We will focus on the intriguing figure of Moses, who is presented in the narratives of the Book of Exodus as a character who, despite many objections, ultimately will lead his people on the journey from slavery to liberation. The way in which the Holy One reveals himself to Moses is particularly remarkable. 

We  will explore the next four scenes:   

1. Exodus 2,23-25: Years passed…Combined with Exodus 3,1-12: Moses tended the sheep... 
2. Exodus 4,1-9: Moses objected again: 'They will not believe me’ (The Rod and the Snake) 
3. Exodus 4,10-16: Moses answered: 'Excuse me, Holy One, but I am not a good speaker’ 
4. Exodus 5,1-9: After this, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh…  

In the Four Workshops we will explore the following aspects of calling (all of them related to the different characters in the narratives): 

1. Being called has always explicit an existential, physical and spiritual dimension
2. Calling by The Holy One is hardly compatible with our cultural characteristics, such as autonomy and individualization
3. Two aspects of calling are spiritually important: a foundation of openness and the ability to deal with ambivalence. Nothing is unambiguous. Everything is open to question
4. Prophets like Moses are often called against their will. What does Moses discover in his struggle as his personal calling towards his own people? 

We enter the Esther story at the point where politics can no longer be spiritualised away. We’ll work primarily with Esther 4,13-17, but will range into surrounding passages as the work demands. Genocide is being planned. Neutrality collapses. A queen must decide whether survival means staying silent or speaking up. 

We’ll work with the text as living material. What keeps us quiet when the stakes are high? Who benefits from our silence, including us? What will we do with the privilege we carry? How does individual courage become collective movement? 

Expect embodied exploration, risk-taking, laughter, resistance, and recognition. This is unapologetically present-tense. Not about neat answers or moral purity, but about noticing where we’re already implicated, and where we might still choose to act. 

We will listen for what courage sounds like now: in our bodies, in the group, and in the world around us. Because Esther’s question is still alive: If not now, when? If not us, who? 

Els, Käthe and Christopher all were part of the International Advanced Bibliodrama Facilitator Course. 

Among the many experiences of vocation, we hear the cry of the earth and her creatures (Romans 8,22) for integrity and a right to exist as a call to think and act differently as humans. In this series of workshops, bibliodramas are done on texts that explore the human relation to creation. Two workshops will deal with creation stories from Genesis (with some input from non-biblical texts), one will be on Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4,30-32) and one on Paul’s comparison of the community to a body (1 Corinthians 12,12-31). The forms of Bibliodrama will vary depending on our different backgrounds and local practices, using the body and creative expression as forms of finding meaning as well as interaction and reflection in the group. All four workshop leaders are professionally interested in the cross-pollination between bibliodrama and biblical studies and love the opportunity to do some playful explorations into this field. No special training or knowledge is needed, only the curiosity to experience and reflect on the interplay between bibliodramatical ways of getting to know the texts and older and newer ways of reading texts by biblical scholars which we will bring in. If participants wish, they can become part of ongoing research, but this is not a condition for participation.

• Afternoon: Arrival   
• 17.30 Dinner  
• 19.30 - 21.00 Opening EBW 2026  

Optional: 

• Morning: arrival 
• 12.30 Lunch  
• 14.00 - 17.00 Symposium. Encountering the Bible through Bibliodrama and Exegesis: Similarities and Particularities of Related Practices of Reception

• 8.00 Morning prayer 
• 8.20 Breakfast 
• 9.30 - 12.15 Workshop Bibliodrama 
• 12.30 Lunch 
• 14.15 - 17.15 Workshop Bibliodrama 
• 17.30 Dinner 
• 19.30 - 21.00 EBN meeting 

• 8.00 Morning prayer 
• 8.20 Breakfast 
• 9.30 - 12.15 Workshop Bibliodrama 
• 12.30 Lunch 
• 13.45 - 17.15 Excursions to Arnhem or Nijmegen
• 17.30 Dinner 
• 19.30 - 21.00 More details to follow 

• 8.00 Morning prayer 
• 8.20 Breakfast 
• 9.30 - 12.15 Workshop Bibliodrama  
• 12.30 Lunch 
• 13.35 Closing workshops
• 14.45 Pause
• 15.30 - 17.45 Free choice of workshops, from guest workshop leaders
• 19.00 Dinner 
• 20.00 - 23.00 Festive evening with dancing 

• 8.00 Morning prayer 
• 8.20 Breakfast 
• 9.45 - 11.15
  • Sharing experiences from workshops
  • Closure EBW 2026 
• 12.00 Lunch 
• Afternoon: Departure 

The last monk passed two years ago, but it is still a place to catch your breath.   

• We are a welcoming home for those seeking meaning and tranquillity.  
• We are committed to serving others, attentive to the questions of today.  
• We offer a welcoming space for encounters and new perspectives.  

There are two buildings: the old one is the Monastery with a church. In this building we will use our vegetarian meals. There are two rooms for workshops bibliodrama at the third level, sleeping rooms for one or two persons and shared sanitary. All levels can be reached by elevator or by stairs. 

The other building is a new one, named the Inn. Here are three rooms for bibliodrama at the floor and sleeping rooms with private sanitary for one or two persons. Around the monastery there is a nice garden.   

The monastery is located between Arnhem and Nijmegen in the Gelderland town of Huissen. It is easily accessible by car and bus. If you're coming by train, you can take the bus from Arnhem or Nijmegen Central Station. 

Public transport - train 

• Train to Nijmegen: Bus line 300 to Huissen, get off at the Lange Kerkstraat stop. Walk back approximately 30 meters. At the cycle/pedestrian path, turn left onto the path (Achter de Gracht). Continue straight ahead to Kloosterlaan. The monastery is on your left. 
• Train to Arnhem: Take bus line 33 or 300 to Huissen. Get off at the Lange Kerkstraat stop. Cross the road, walk for about 30 meters, and then turn left onto this path (Achter de Gracht). Continue straight ahead to Kloosterlaan. The monastery is on your left. 

Public transport - bus 

Always check current bus times at www.9292.nl.

The frequency of the bus is: 

• Working days:
  • 06.00 - 19.00: four times per hour 
  • 19.00 - 01.00: twice per hour 
• Saturday 
  • 07:00 - 09:00: twice per hour 
  • 09:00 - 18:00: four times per hour 
  • 18:00 - 01:00: twice per hour 
• Sunday 
  • 09:00 - 01:00: twice per hour 

Transport by plane 

Airports: Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam), Eindhoven Airport, and Düsseldorf Airport. There are regular trains to Arnhem and Nijmegen. Always check the current train/bus schedules at www.9292.nl. 

Flixbus may also be a good option. 

Parking 

Parking is no problem and is free. Opposite the main entrance of our monastery is a large public parking lot, "Molenweide." This lot also has charging stations for electric cars. 

Routes by car 

Navigation: Follow the navigation route to camper place Huissen and not Stadsdam. 

From the west and east (A12) 

Driving on the A-12, at the Velperbroek junction, take exit 27: Velp, Westervoort, Nijmegen, and Zutphen. Continue following Arnhem-Nijmegen (N325): take the Huissen exit. At the first roundabout, go straight. At the second roundabout in Huissen, take the third exit towards Huissen Centrum/Loo/Zevenaar. Follow the road to the left (after approximately 250 meters). You will see a large parking lot "Molenweide" on your right. Drive into it, parking halfway if possible. On the right, there are stairs leading up the dike; cross the road there to the Dominican Monastery. 

From the north (A50) 

At the Waterberg junction, take the Arnhem Oberhausen (A12) exit. Continue on the A12. At the Velperbroek junction, take exit 27: Velp, Westervoort, Nijmegen, and Zutphen. Continue following Arnhem-Nijmegen (N325): take the Huissen exit. At the first roundabout, go straight. At the second roundabout in Huissen, take the third exit towards Huissen Centrum/Loo/Zevenaar. Follow the road to the left (after approximately 250 meters). You will see a large parking lot "Molenweide" on your right. Drive into it, parking halfway if possible. On the right, there is a staircase leading up the dike; cross the road there to the Dominican Monastery. 

From Rotterdam (A15)

Take the A15 towards Nijmegen until the Andelst junction; there, follow the signs for Nijmegen Noord/Arnhem/Kleve. At the Ressen Arnhem/Bemmel junction, continue towards Bemmel. At the T-junction, turn left towards Huissen. Then take the 2nd exit at the first roundabout and continue straight on. Continue straight through the traffic lights. Take the 2nd exit at the second roundabout, and take the 2nd exits at both the 3rd and 4th roundabouts. At the 5th roundabout, take the 1st exit towards Huissen Centrum/Loo/Zevenaar. Follow the road to the left (after approximately 250 meters). You will see a large parking lot "Molenweide" on your right. Drive into it, parking halfway if possible. On the right, there are stairs leading up the dike; cross the road there to the Dominican Monastery.   

From the South/Brabant (A50)

Follow the A50 to the Valburg junction, then turn right onto the A15 towards Nijmegen Noord/Arnhem/Kleve. At the Ressen Arnhem/Bemmel junction, continue towards Bemmel. At the T-junction, turn left towards Huissen. Then take the 2nd exit at the first roundabout, go straight through the traffic lights, take the 2nd exit at the second roundabout, and take the 2nd exit at both the 3rd and 4th roundabouts. At the 5th roundabout, take the 1st exit towards Huissen Centrum/Loo/Zevenaar. Follow the road to the left (after approximately 250 meters). You will see a large parking lot "Molenweide" on your right. Drive into it, parking halfway if possible.  

On the right, there are stairs leading up the dike; cross the road there to the Dominican Monastery.