diff --git a/src/ess/dream/__init__.py b/src/ess/dream/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b621a546
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ess/dream/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Scipp contributors (https://github.com/scipp)
+
+"""
+Components for DREAM
+"""
+import importlib.metadata
+
+from . import data
+from .io import fold_nexus_detectors, load_nexus
+
+try:
+    __version__ = importlib.metadata.version(__package__ or __name__)
+except importlib.metadata.PackageNotFoundError:
+    __version__ = "0.0.0"
+
+del importlib
+
+__all__ = [
+    "data",
+    "fold_nexus_detectors",
+    "load_nexus",
+]
diff --git a/src/ess/dream/data.py b/src/ess/dream/data.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b09dd43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ess/dream/data.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Scipp contributors (https://github.com/scipp)
+_version = '1'
+
+__all__ = ['get_path']
+
+
+def _make_pooch():
+    import pooch
+
+    return pooch.create(
+        path=pooch.os_cache('ess/powgen'),
+        env='ESS_DATA_DIR',
+        base_url='https://public.esss.dk/groups/scipp/ess/dream/{version}/',
+        version=_version,
+        registry={
+            'DREAM_nexus_sorted-2023-12-07.nxs': 'md5:22824e14f6eb950d24a720b2a0e2cb66',
+        },
+    )
+
+
+_pooch = _make_pooch()
+
+
+def get_path(name: str, unzip: bool = False) -> str:
+    """
+    Return the path to a data file bundled with ess.dream.
+
+    This function only works with example data and cannot handle
+    paths to custom files.
+    """
+    import pooch
+
+    return _pooch.fetch(name, processor=pooch.Unzip() if unzip else None)
diff --git a/src/ess/dream/io.py b/src/ess/dream/io.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b0ad7e38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ess/dream/io.py
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Scipp contributors (https://github.com/scipp)
+
+import os
+from typing import Any, Dict, Union
+
+import scipp as sc
+import scippnexus as snx
+
+
+def load_nexus(
+    path: Union[str, os.PathLike],
+    *,
+    load_pixel_shape: bool = False,
+    entry: str = 'entry',
+    fold_detectors: bool = True,
+) -> sc.DataGroup:
+    """
+    Load an unprocessed DREAM NeXus file.
+
+    See https://confluence.esss.lu.se/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=462000005
+    and the ICD DREAM interface specification for details.
+
+    Notes (2023-12-06):
+
+    - Mounting-unit, cassette, and counter roughly correspond to the azimuthal angle
+      in the mantle detector. However, counter is reversed in the current files. This
+      may also be the case in the other detectors.
+    - The endcap detectors have a irregular structure that cannot be fully folded.
+      This is not a problem but note again that the counter may be reversed. It is
+      currently not clear if this is a bug in the file.
+    - The high-resolution detector has a very odd numbering scheme. The SANS detector
+      is using the same, but is not populated in the current files. The scheme
+      attempts to follows some sort of physical ordering in space (x,y,z), but it
+      looks partially messed up.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    path:
+        Path to the NeXus file.
+    load_pixel_shape:
+        If True, load the pixel shape from the file's NXoff_geometry group. This is
+        often unused by would slow down file loading. Default is False.
+    entry:
+        Name of the entry to load. Default is "entry".
+    fold_detectors:
+        If True, fold the detector data to (partially) mimic the logical detector
+        structure. Default is True.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    :
+        A data group with the loaded file contents.
+    """
+    definitions = snx.base_definitions()
+    if not load_pixel_shape:
+        definitions["NXdetector"] = FilteredDetector
+
+    with snx.File(path, definitions=definitions) as f:
+        dg = f[entry][()]
+    dg = snx.compute_positions(dg)
+    return fold_nexus_detectors(dg) if fold_detectors else dg
+
+
+def fold_nexus_detectors(dg: sc.DataGroup) -> sc.DataGroup:
+    """
+    Fold the detector data in a DREAM NeXus file.
+
+    The detector banks in the returned data group will have a multi-dimensional shape,
+    following the logical structure as far as possible. Note that the full structure
+    cannot be folded, as some dimensions are irregular.
+    """
+    dg = dg.copy()
+    dg['instrument'] = dg['instrument'].copy()
+    instrument = dg['instrument']
+    mantle = instrument['mantle_detector']
+    mantle['mantle_event_data'] = mantle['mantle_event_data'].fold(
+        dim='detector_number',
+        sizes={
+            'wire': 32,
+            'mounting_unit': 5,
+            'cassette': 6,
+            'counter': 2,
+            'strip': 256,
+        },
+    )
+    for direction in ('backward', 'forward'):
+        endcap = instrument[f'endcap_{direction}_detector']
+        endcap[f'endcap_{direction}_event_data'] = endcap[
+            f'endcap_{direction}_event_data'
+        ].fold(
+            dim='detector_number',
+            sizes={
+                'strip': 16,
+                'wire': 16,
+                'sector': 5 if direction == 'forward' else 11,
+                'sumo_cass_ctr': -1,  # sumo*cassette*counter, irregular, cannot fold
+            },
+        )
+    high_resolution = instrument['high_resolution_detector']
+    high_resolution['high_resolution_event_data'] = high_resolution[
+        'high_resolution_event_data'
+    ].fold(
+        dim='detector_number',
+        sizes={
+            'strip': 32,
+            'other': -1,  # some random order that is hard to follow
+        },
+    )
+    sans = instrument['sans_detector']
+    sans['sans_event_data'] = sans['sans_event_data'].fold(
+        dim='detector_number',
+        sizes={
+            'strip': 32,
+            'other': -1,  # some random order that is hard to follow
+        },
+    )
+    return dg
+
+
+def _skip(name: str, obj: Union[snx.Field, snx.Group]) -> bool:
+    skip_classes = (snx.NXoff_geometry,)
+    return isinstance(obj, snx.Group) and (obj.nx_class in skip_classes)
+
+
+class FilteredDetector(snx.NXdetector):
+    def __init__(
+        self, attrs: Dict[str, Any], children: Dict[str, Union[snx.Field, snx.Group]]
+    ):
+        children = {
+            name: child for name, child in children.items() if not _skip(name, child)
+        }
+        super().__init__(attrs=attrs, children=children)
diff --git a/tests/dream/io_test.py b/tests/dream/io_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..71ba2695
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/dream/io_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Scipp contributors (https://github.com/scipp)
+import pytest
+
+from ess import dream
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def filename():
+    return dream.data.get_path('DREAM_nexus_sorted-2023-12-07.nxs')
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/monitor_bunker")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/monitor_cave")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/polarizer/rate")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/sans_detector")
+def test_load_nexus_loads_file(filename):
+    dg = dream.load_nexus(filename)
+    assert 'instrument' in dg
+    instr = dg['instrument']
+    for name in (
+        'mantle',
+        'endcap_backward',
+        'endcap_forward',
+        'high_resolution',
+        'sans',
+    ):
+        assert f'{name}_detector' in instr
+        det = instr[f'{name}_detector']
+        assert 'pixel_shape' not in det
+
+
+def test_load_nexus_fails_if_entry_not_found(filename):
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        dream.load_nexus(filename, entry='foo')
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/monitor_bunker")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/monitor_cave")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/polarizer/rate")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/sans_detector")
+def test_load_nexus_folds_detectors_by_default(filename):
+    dg = dream.load_nexus(filename)
+    instr = dg['instrument']
+    # sans_detector is not populated in the current files
+    for name in ('mantle', 'endcap_backward', 'endcap_forward', 'high_resolution'):
+        det = instr[f'{name}_detector']
+        # There may be other dims, but some are irregular and this may be subject to
+        # change
+        assert 'strip' in det.dims
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/monitor_bunker")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/monitor_cave")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/polarizer/rate")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/sans_detector")
+def test_load_nexus_with_disabled_fold(filename):
+    dg = dream.load_nexus(filename, fold_detectors=False)
+    instr = dg['instrument']
+    for name in ('mantle', 'endcap_backward', 'endcap_forward', 'high_resolution'):
+        det = instr[f'{name}_detector']
+        assert det.dims == ('detector_number',)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/monitor_bunker")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/monitor_cave")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/polarizer/rate")
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore:Failed to load /entry/instrument/sans_detector")
+def test_load_nexus_with_pixel_shape(filename):
+    dg = dream.load_nexus(filename, load_pixel_shape=True)
+    assert 'instrument' in dg
+    instr = dg['instrument']
+    # sans_detector is not populated in the current files
+    for name in ('mantle', 'endcap_backward', 'endcap_forward', 'high_resolution'):
+        assert f'{name}_detector' in instr
+        det = instr[f'{name}_detector']
+        assert 'pixel_shape' in det