Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt. As if from nowhere masses of people – completely dressed in white – suddenly flock to the square, laden down with tables, chairs, tablecloths, food and drink. If you belong to this circle of the chosen few – former participants and their friends – shortly before the start on Saturday evening at 7pm you would have received information about the location via a closed Facebook group. It quickly became clear that this year’s Dîner en Blanc would be taking place at the Gendarmenmarkt.
Japanese tourists curiously stand on the sidelines, snapping photos of the white sea of people. Other passers-by ask: “Is that some sort of picnic?” Well, you could say that. The Dîner en Blanc originates from Paris, where it started off with an insider circle organising a public picnic in secret. A student brought the event to Berlin in 2010. Every time the atmosphere is exuberant, but civilised. Perhaps this is down to the peaceful aura of the (non) colour white. You feel like you’re amongst friends and can meet new people, chat with those on the neighbouring table or dance to the live music. At 11pm it’s time for the flashmob to draw to a close and everyone packs up and tidies everything away so efficiently that you’d never even guess that such a gathering had taken place.
