Less Cash @ Ancient Trance
Everything about less cash at the Ancient Trance Festival 2025. Your participation helps us to celebrate more with you!Why are we doing this?
Handling cash at our bars has become more and more of a burden for the team in recent years. Volunteers spent countless nights sorting, counting, and bagging money — losing sleep, time with their families, and the chance to party or simply sleep in. Logistics, storage, and responsibility kept us up long after the festival was over, not to mention the discussions with our tax advisor.
We want to simplify all of this — for ourselves and our team.
You’re warmly invited to support us — so we can focus on what really matters: celebrating this beautiful festival together.
How does it work?
At all food and drink stands, you can now pay using the NFC chip on your wristband. It works just like the chip in your debit or credit card.
How can I load credit onto my chip?
Preload before the festival
From July 21st to 30th, you can preload €50 onto your chip via our website. Just enter the 12-digit code from your ticket and follow the steps.
As a thank-you, you'll receive an extra €5 of bonus credit — e.g. for a drink at the bar. (This bonus is non-refundable and will only be used once your €50 credit is used up.)
Online Top-Up
Your chip has a printed QR code. Just scan it with your smartphone and top up using your card — even while waiting in line.
At the Festival (Card Payment)
All three bars on the festival site have self-service terminals where you can top up using your debit or credit card.
At the Festival (Cash)
You can also top up your chip with cash at the entry point near the Workshop Meadow.
How do refunds work?
Important: You need your chip — or at least the PIN printed on the back — for any refund.
Of course, you can also choose to donate your remaining balance to our nonprofit association. Festival times are tough and costs are rising — every contribution helps.
Bank Transfer
A few days after the festival, we’ll publish a link on our website. There, you can enter your IBAN and we’ll transfer the money back to you. Please allow us about a week to process it.
From September onwards, we’ll process refunds monthly.
You have the right to request a refund for up to two years — though we’d appreciate it if you don’t wait that long 😉
Cash Refunds
If you prefer to get your money back in cash, you can do so on Sunday and Monday at the entry point by the Workshop Meadow.
Paying as a Group or Family
If you'd like to share credit (e.g. families with children or day-pass holders), you can request a Family Card at the entrance. It works just like the wristband chip — except it can’t be topped up via QR code.
You’ll receive the card for a €2 deposit.
Data Security
In 2025, we’re working with the experienced local provider PurpleX. This partnership reflects the values and vision of our association. All data stays in Germany. Only Maultrommel e.V., our management tool Festiware, and PurpleX have access to the data.
Neither we nor any of our partners are interested in analyzing personal details or using the data for commercial purposes.
At the same time, this system helps us fulfill our legal obligations as a nonprofit — especially around tax and accounting transparency.
There is a link between your ticket and your chip — mainly for practical purposes.
Reliability
Unlike previous systems, our cash registers now work even offline, since your balance is stored both on the chip and online.
That means fewer technical issues and faster checkouts — while our bar team still greets you with a smile and, if the line isn’t too long, a friendly chat.
Lost your chip?
Your chip is usually linked to your ticket. If you lose it, you can block it and get a new one.
Visit the help desk at the entrance near the Workshop Meadow — our crew there can assist you and issue a replacement.
But what about cash culture?! They're trying to abolish it!
We totally get it — and even within our team, this topic sparks strong opinions. But hey:
The future isn’t written yet — and we shape it together.
We’re living in wild times. Families fall apart over differing views. Let’s not let that happen here. Let’s stay one big festival family and focus on what connects us.
In our recent survey, 60% of you said you find Less Cash generally convenient.
On the other hand, a solid 50% expressed skepticism, citing concerns ranging from data privacy, fear of cash abolition, spiritual or philosophical reasons, to losing track of their spending.
All of that is valid — everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.
But we believe that some developments in society are simply hard to escape — unless you really want to move off-grid.
So let’s celebrate diversity of thought, and not put “money culture” at the center.
Whether we’re swapping dirty paper notes, plastic cards, or allergy-inducing copper-nickel-zinc coins — let’s keep it pragmatic.
And honestly — how "ancient" is it to have armed guards hauling hundreds of kilos of cash through a festival?
(Not to mention: banks have been profiting from cash handling for decades, too.)
And just to be clear:
If cash matters to you, you’ll always be able to exchange it for chip credit at our festival.
Just help us keep the logistics around it to a minimum.
Thank you!