WHYcast history episode 15

The Tradition of Dropping Things: From Hackers at Large to WHY2025

Each episode of WHYcast unearths a slice of Dutch hacker camp history, and this week’s segment, featuring Manduca at the BitLair hackerspace, dives into one of the more boisterous and beloved traditions: the ceremonial “dropping” of objects at the end of camp. This practice, rooted in a mixture of necessity, catharsis, and playful spectacle, traces its origin to Hackers at Large (HAL) in 2001—a camp that shares its terrain with the upcoming WHY2025.

The story begins with the chaos of teardown at HAL. After the event, a daunting amount of trash and abandoned materials littered the site. The formal teardown dragged on for over two weeks, causing the exhausted organizers to slip into a “crazy mood.” Amidst the fatigue and debris, someone procured a forklift—described jokingly as a “basic manager”—and the idea was born: “Will it drop? Who will it drop? We’re going to drop things!” Thus began a tradition, initially as a practical solution for disposing of waste, but quickly evolving into a much-anticipated ritual.

The first drop was humble: a simple wooden item hoisted and smashed to pieces. The spectacle startled Manduca, but also sparked a sense of collective amusement and release. The tradition stuck, and with each subsequent camp, the ambition—and altitude—increased.

By SHA2017 (Still Hacking Anyway), the organizers upped the ante. A telehandler with an 18-meter reach was procured, and a sofa was selected as the object of destruction. While the drop was visually satisfying in its height, the anticipated “splash” proved underwhelming. Lesson learned: bigger and higher is better, but the choice of object matters for maximum effect.

The most recent event raised the bar once more. Organizers secured a 25-meter rotating telehandler, scoured the trash for something unique, and settled on a “little house” bookcase—one of those “free library” cabinets. The resulting drop was both dramatic and symbolic: a communal, whimsical act captured in an epic video edit by Stitch. For those interested in witnessing the spectacle, the video was promised at the end of the episode’s YouTube version.

Looking ahead to WHY2025, the team is already plotting a 30-meter drop, seeking suggestions from the community for suitably dramatic (but safe and non-living) items to send plummeting. The “Will it Drop?” event has become more than a waste disposal tactic; it’s a cathartic, communal closing ceremony, a reflection of the hacker ethos—creative, irreverent, and a little bit anarchic.

The Evolution of Team:Waste and Camp Cleanup Culture

The history lesson continues with Bas, lead of Team:Waste, who shares both logistical “war stories” and personal reflections on camp culture. Bas’s involvement began at SHA2017, where he joined Team:Waste and later participated in badge development for May Contain Hackers (MCH). For WHY2025, Bas and his team are again taking up the challenge of waste management—an often overlooked but essential part of camp life.

Bas details the complexities of waste disposal at large camps: how to estimate the volume and types of waste, plan recycling streams, determine the number and placement of bins, and deal with peculiarities like waterlogged paper towels. A recurring plea is for attendees to pack up and take home their belongings, especially tents—abandoned tents, he notes, are a persistent and wasteful problem.

A particularly memorable anecdote from SHA2017 involves the team’s attempt to implement a QR code-based reporting system, inspired by the German CCC (Chaos Communication Congress) bottle recycling scheme. Each waste bin at the camp had a QR code that could be scanned to report when it was full. However, on the very first night, every bin was suddenly flagged as full. The culprit? A diligent security volunteer, during their nightly rounds, scanned every code “because it was there,” thus triggering false alarms across the site. As Bas wryly observes, the volunteer could have simply incremented the numbers in their browser, but instead put in the work to physically scan each bin. The episode is a classic example of how well-intentioned technical solutions can be upended by human behavior—a recurring lesson in hacker camp history.

Bas also emphasizes the importance and fun of waste management roles at camp, especially during teardown. Driving decorated golf carts or Gators with trailers across the site, collecting and sorting trash, and seeing the whole camp in motion offers a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective. He encourages everyone to try at least one waste shift, particularly during the final cleanup when help is most needed.

The Rise of “Village” and Assembly Culture

One of the enduring features of hacker camps is the “village” system—clusters of tents and people organized around shared interests, origins, or affiliations. Bas reflects on how, during his first Dutch camp (SHA2017), he was too engrossed in organizational duties to notice the villages. It was only at his first CCC camp in Germany that he truly experienced village culture: communal dinners, shared projects, and a deep sense of “gezelligheid” (Dutch for cozy togetherness, akin to the German “Gemütlichkeit”). The advice for newcomers is to explore beyond one’s own group, visiting different villages, participating in new activities, and embracing the camp’s diversity.

The village concept is further clarified for listeners: villages might represent hackerspaces, national groups (like the Italian Embassy), or thematic interests (such as model trains). Some villages even bring their own infrastructure, like small datacenters or, memorably, a Scandinavian sauna—complete with a strict “no pictures” policy for privacy.

Crucially, villages are not vehicles for corporate recruitment or commercial promotion. While sponsorship is welcome and companies can maintain a presence, the spirit of the village is non-commercial, collaborative, and fun-focused. The organizers urge companies to “send your CTO, engineers, and hackers—not your recruiter.”

Cross-Pollination and Diversity of European Camps

Bas and Nancy reflect on the broader European hacker camp landscape, highlighting the alternating four-year rhythms of Dutch, German (CCC), and UK (EMF) camps. These events are staggered so that there’s usually a major camp every two years, with smaller camps like Denmark’s BornHack (about 600 people) filling in the calendar. Each camp has its own unique culture, scale, and flavor, and the hosts encourage listeners to visit as many as possible.

A standout project from recent camps is “World of Techno,” a mobile, geolocation-based robot born out of the EMF scene in the UK. This contraption emits unique techno sounds depending on its location, offering interactive fun as it roams the fields. Its playful presence and instantly recognizable soundtrack encapsulate the creative, participatory spirit of hacker gatherings.

Hebocon: The Joy of Spontaneity

Another historical highlight recounted by Bas is the spontaneous “Illegal Hebocon” tournament witnessed at CCC Congress. Originating from a protest march chanting “Let them fight!” and wielding a sign that read “Illegal Hebocon,” the crowd converged in the main entry hall for an impromptu, raucous battle of deliberately shoddy robots. The spectacle drew a thousand spectators and was marked by humor, improvisation, and pure community energy. The hosts relay their hope that Hebocon will make an appearance at WHY2025, as it perfectly embodies the inclusive, eccentric spirit of hacker camps.

The Camp Ethos: Belonging, Learning, and Helping

Bas concludes with a reflection on the essential values of hacker camp culture: acceptance, cooperation, and the drive to learn and share. Recounting how he taught a newcomer to solder in the middle of Congress, he describes camps as places where “finally, normal people” can find each other—where everyone belongs, tries new things, and supports one another. The hosts echo this, emphasizing the intrinsic eagerness to teach, help, and have fun together. For anyone even passingly interested, the message is clear: buy your ticket and join the community.

---