2000: During a nice little drinking evening amongst music-loving friends on a September evening, the first idea of the realization of a life-long dream, a metalparty in the one horse town of Neukirchen-Vluyn, started to get a shape. First of all it was rather a Metal-camp than an Open Air event. Since the target group was mainly supposed to be the “congregation” of the Whalism homepage, which started to develop in 1999, the project’s first name ended up to be “Whalists’ meeting” (Walistentreffen) and was planned to take place in the summer months of the next year.

2001: In April, first actions of making the Whalists’ meeting happen are taken. Initiators are the eight “Enlighted” of the Whalism, at this point of time altogether teenagers. Very soon they were surprised to realize that things like equipment, a stage and even bands were not hard to get, so the idea of a metal camp turned into the idea of a non-comercial Open Air festival! For the first time in history, the figure “Dong Open Air” was mentioned, which eventually took place at August 18/19 in Dong on private soil with about 150 visitors. Fourteen young bands are confirmed, yet only nine eventually show up on the 16m² stage. And since – despite some misfortunes - the initiators kept this event in mind as a hell lot of fun, they decided to elaborate the whole idea, which in December 2001 leads to first organizational meetings regarding the D:O:A 2002.

2002: On July 19th and 20th the D:O:A 2002 took place, guided by the theme "The fucking greatest backyard party of the world" entertained by fourteen metal and folk bands, lead by the headliner Adorned Brood. About 300 metalheads showed up to party in the tent which now "hosted" our stage. Even though organizers and bands were drowned in thankful words, the residents prevented us from using the same location in the years to come. Searching for a new spot to let a D:O:A happen, the office for cultural issues of Neukirchen-Vluyn - agreeing to patronize out event - put the sport park Klingerhuf at our disposal. Already in September, the planning phase started and we tried to get in touch with internationally known metal bands.

2003: The team of initiators has grown to consist of eleven people now and one has found out, that the original project has turned out to be an actual event with the chance of winning fame and recognition. At this point of time the initiators dare to call themselves organizers, yet they have to find out that despite their expectations, the Sportpark won’t be available for the requested purpose. After a short time period of incertitude, the top of the Halde Norddeutschland (the Dong hill) is confirmed as the new location. This hill was made out of “leftovers” from coal mines and stuff was planted on it to make it look like an actual hill. It’s the highest elevation of the city and a wonderful location for the festival! So with lots of enthusiasm as well as Skyclad, Adorned Brood and Night In Gales as headliners, the organizers look forward to the which is about to take place July 18/19 according to the motto “Run To The Hill”.

2004: Yet again, people tried their best to find a well-known headliner to keep up the previous year's success. Getting the Swedish exeptional musician Vintersorg to sign up, as well as Suidakra and My Darkest Hate, the goal was accomplished. With 15 other bands from three different nation, picked from 180 applications from far and not so far away, the programm is up to an extra four bands compared to the previous festival, attracting 1000 metalheads. For the first time in Dong history,there are merchandise booths on the festival area and for the very first time EVER, a professional mixer. All this unfortunately cannot keep back the storm arousing on Saturday night, from destroying tents as well as backstage and entrance area, paralyzing the techical equipment. Still, thanks to the auxiliary fire brigade, THW and the Red Cross emergency accomodations were set up, rehearsal room equipment enabled Seraphim, Disillusion and Vintersorg to play their shows. Solely Delirious had to swallow the bitter pill, postponing their show to 2005 festival, for not even Odin can keep the D:O:A 2005 from happening!

2005: Thanks to all the amazing solidarity of our amazing audience after the storm of the precedent year, we figured: There's more to come! And thus started building our little metal Mecca on the Dong hill. The tent area is extended from 200m² to 450m², the stage is now 72m² instead of only 46m².
But not only did we enlarge things and try to make it more comfortable for bands and fans, but we also made sure that a black out like 2004 could not happen again: We got lots of extra generators. On top of that we also increased the number of toilets, which were cleaned at a higher frequency than in previous years. The way up the hill was nicely lit up for the very first time in order to avoid accidents. The organization at the hill itself was highly improved and the organizers were still striving for more.
But all this sure was needful and definitely the thing to do since the headliners Finntroll, Skyclad (celebrating their 15 year band anniversary with a double show at the hill), Elvenking and Delirious got 1500 enthusiastic metalheads to run to the hill, thus 500 people more than in stormy 2004.
Both camp ground and stage tent were crowded, with the audience supporting headliners, newcomer and underground celebrities by filling the stage tent and emptying beer bottles. Not quite a surprise considering that those 19 bands were carefully selected out of 500 bands of whole Europe and beyond.
Finally the number of visitors had reached a peak and a limit for the first time ever sold out Dong Open Air.
The only challenge to be taken on will be the drastically rising costs for fire fighters at the hill. This will unfortunately be reflected on the ticket prices. Still the D:O:A team is confident that the ticket prices will not differ too much from 2005’s 16€ on presale and 19€ at the box office, keeping the festival a quality bargain.

2006: For the very first time in Dong history, the organizers managed to have a dream of theirs come true: To have two bands of a considerable degree of publicity and popularity be the headliners and rock the hill. Turisas, Rotting Christ, Savage Circus as well as Die Apokalyptischen Reiter confirmed to do so. Just like in previous years hundreds of applications of a vast diversity of bands thought to be in the Dong-ish music genre bombarded the Dong team making them dedicate their ears and time to a two week listening marathon during the dark season, long before people would think about looking for their tents again. Althogether this triggers off a program of nineteen bands who convince the audience yet again to have the festival sell out a month before the actual festival already at the more than decent price of 22€.
Several improvements make the festival even more attractive: one more snack bar was lured to the hill, the stage area embellished. For the first time in Dong history, a shuttle bus for both visitors and their luggage was set up. The sanitary facilites were extended.
The Dong Open Air is celebrated at July 14th and 15th in blazing sunshine and fantastic atmosphere, giving audience and bands more power and oomph than ever before. Even by noon on Saturday, the tent is filled to the brim.
Encore after encore played by the bands who are swept along by the euphoria of the crowd. Even Die Apokalyptischen Reiter who had already played a show at another festival decide to play a show of excess length. Turisas set another highlight performing the most elaborate show the Dong hill has ever seen.