(Editor’s note: On 21 April, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that due to the pandemic, there will be no big shows until at least 1 September. Which means most of the big festivals are cancelled. Of course, we’ll monitor the situation and create a new post of rescheduled events.)
When it comes to music festivals, the Netherlands’ bustling music scene simply can’t be ignored. With about 1,115 festivals and a remarkable 19,5 million visitors in 2019, the Netherlands offers a festival schedule that will satisfy any melomaniac’s craves.
Fans of EDM, techno, jazz, hip-hop, death metal, Dutch pop, hippie, alternative, pop and rock: everyone will find a festival where they can enjoy their favorite acts and bands. Bear in mind you should buy your ticket in time as some of these festivals sell out in the blink of an eye.
Where: Groningen
When: Still scheduled for 23 May 2020 even though Dutch officials have banned big events through 1 June.
Planet Paradigm Festival is a one-day trip in the Groningen forest featuring some of the biggest names from the minimal techno and micro house scenes. VBX is hugely respected in the underground dance world, and the parties they throw are always packed.
Meanwhile, Paradigm, once an abandoned warehouse, has its own distinct rave history. The festival organizers promise that everyone’s aural and visual senses will be pleased.
Full line up: Zip; Tafkamp; Sweely *live; SIT (Cristi Cons & Vlad Caia); Reiss; Onur Özer; Manamana; Laurine; Junki Inoue; Joren Edwards; Gerrit de Boer; Ferro B2B Benny; Rodrigues; DJ Masda ; DJ Orchid B2B UlsT; Deniro ; Colin B2B Roy Lodder; Aleksi; Perälä; Adiel; Abstract Division.
Tickets: Prices start at about 37 euros and you can get yours here.
Where: Oisterwijk
When: Still scheduled for 5 thru 7 June 2020
The Intents Festival is one of the most prominent hard-style multi-day dance events in Europe and a well-known concept in the Netherlands and abroad. The festival is known for its impressive shows: the final show on Saturday has spectacular lights, videos, pyrotechnics, lasers, and other effects all running in sync with the music. During this mega-weekend, visitors can also spend the night at the IntentsCity festival campsite.
Line up:
Mc Da Syndrome & Villain ; Code Black ; Coone ; D-block & S-te-fan ; Hard Driver Live; Phuture Noize Live; Radical Redemption Live; Sefa ; Sub Zero Project and more.
Tickets: Most tickets are already sold out but if you hurry, you can still buy a Sunday ticket here for about 44 euros.
Where: Amsterdam
When: Still scheduled for 6 June 2020
The Diynamic Festival Amsterdam takes place on the meadows of the Amsterdamse Bos, a lush forest park, about three times the size of Central Park in New York. The festival focuses on creativity and innovation in electronic, house, and techno music. The underground electronic music label Diynamic has promised to set the Amsterdamse Bos alight (figuratively_ with some of the biggest and brightest names in electronic music including Diynamic founder Solomun.
This year headliners:
Solomun; Adriatique; Tale of Us; Todd Terje; and Denis Sulta
Tickets: Prices start at about 41 euros and you can get yours here.
Where: Amsterdam
When: Still scheduled for 6 & 7 June 2020
Amsterdam Open Air Festival is an electronic music, visual arts, and culinary festival spread over ten stages and presenting underground, up-and-coming, and internationally renowned artists. Every year the festival brings a wide range of electronic, hip hop, and R&B fans together.
The aim is to reflect the diversity of today’s electronic music scene and
Amsterdam’s nightlife, so if you manage to get yourself a ticket, expect a versatile fest brimming with deep house, dubstep, electro, tech-house, and techno.
Headlining this year:
Oliver Heldens; Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano; Tchami; Frenna Deluxe; and Kris Kross Amsterdam.
Tickets: Tickets are selling out fast, and there are only a few left at about 60 euros, so make sure you buy yours here in time.
Where: Arnhem
When: Still scheduled for 6 June 2020
Free Your Mind Festival is the Netherlands’ annual highlight for electronic, house, and techno fans. Known as a classic electronic fest with surreal twists. Crowds of about 16,000 visitors flock to this epic single-day fest, a favorite to music ravers. Every year you can expect a mix of house and techno legends alongside underground acts and newcomers.
The line-up:
TBA
Tickets: Prices start at about 37 euros and you can get yours here.
Where: Hilvarenbeek
When: Still scheduled for 12-14 June 2020
Best Kept Secret Festival is an alternative, multi-genre fest that brings a world-class lineup to the south of the Netherlands. The fest offers a stage to artists from indie rock to electronic and from hip hop to garage rock.
This variety ensures everyone can enjoy cool bands but also dance to EDM at night. This is all topped up by a fantastic location boasting large open fields, woods, a lake, and a safari park.
Line-up:
The National; DIIV; Dope Lemon; The Strokes; Catfish and the Bottlemen;
Massive Attack; Belle and Sebastian, and more.
Tickets: Prices start at 84 euros for a one-day ticket and you can get yours here.
• THE FLYING DUTCH
Where: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Rotterdam
When: It is yet to be announced.
The Flying Dutch, the biggest Dutch outdoor EDM festival, brings the best Dutch DJs to three cities in one day: one festival, three locations, and a handful of helicopters. The concept is to have all exclusive Dutch DJs playing at one event by being transported from one city to another in helicopters.
The first edition sold 100,000 tickets within a week, so if you want to
have the time of our life at this fest, keep an eye on their social media channels for any announcements about this year’s grand music adventure.
Line-up and tickets:
Yet to be announced but always includes AfroJack, Armin van Buuren and the top Dutch DJs.
Where: Landgraaf outside Maastricht
When: Tentatively scheduled for 19 thru 21 June
This is one of many festivals to address the pandemic directly, stating on their website that organizers are awaiting clearance from the Dutch government. Unless the ban gets extended past 1 June, Pinkpop is a go, and promises to be the concert event of the season with both contemporary live bands/DJs and vintage acts:
• Post Malone
• Marshmello
• Gn’R
• 21 Pilots
• Crowded House
• Zara Larsson
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Keane
Marquee names don’t come cheap, and tickets are 230 euros for the weekend and you can sign up here for alerts.
• DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE FESTIVAL
Where: De Groene Heuvels in Beuningen
When: Still scheduled for 3 thru 5 July 2020
The motto of Down The Rabbit Hole Festival is “Where you are who you are, when no one can see you.” The fest offers 3 days and 4 nights of a surreaL adventure and a line up with both big names and up-and-coming talent from a mix of rock, pop, hip hop, electronic, music, jazz and more.
What awaits you is a summer weekend in an enchanting forest next to a beautiful beach.
Among the headliners for this year’s edition are:
Tyler, the Creator ; Disclosure ; HAIM ; Kacey Musgraves ; Bombay Bicycle Club and more.
Tickets: A festival ticket for the entire festival (three days and four nights) including a place at the tent campsite and transport by a shuttle bus to and from Wijchen station costs 177.50 euros and you can get yours here.
