From massive electronic music festivals and cultural celebrations to superb New Years parties, Netherlands has it all.
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Here’s The Sherp’s hand-picked list of his favourite festivals in Netherlands:
1. Time Warp Netherlands – Utrecht (December)
Time Warp is easily one of Europe’s biggest and baddest electronic music events. Having spread to various countries like Argentina and USA, Time Warp will be returning this December to the motherland – Netherlands.
Expect to be blown away by a beast of a line-up, light shows, mapping floors, sweating bodies, a venue to beat and of course an unforgettable vibe.
This year’s headliners that we’re excited for – Sven Vath, Maceo Plex, Chris Liebing, Maya Jane Coles, Ricardo Villalobos, Adriatique
2. Sneeuwbal Winter Festival – Utrecht (January)
At the height of the Netherlands winter comes a music festival that is almost a winter wonderland of techno, tech-house, deep house held in Utrecht.
Sneeuwbal will have four stages that will feature some bass heavy beats perfect for cultivating that winter electronic festival vibe. Besides that you will get to see salopette-clad dancers, circus tents that double as stages, lots of great food to keep you going.
3. Rewire Festival – The Hague (November)
This time of the year seems to be a good and thriving period for Netherlands’s music scene. Rewire Festival is a super addition to your bucket list with it’s never-ending genre list of techno, electronic, folk, indie, jazz, ambient music. The range of the programme is quite vast and is accompanied by some fantastic audiovisuals that will captivate you.
Screening, workshops and artists talks will also be part of the festival, given audiences a chance to explore and experience the vibrant music scene.
4. Cannabis Cup – Amsterdam (November)
Cannabis Cup (held every November) happens to be Amsterdam’s most famous and popular festival that promotes the personal cultivation and use of marijuana. This five day event will take you on a tour through the world of weed. Founded back in 1987 by an American activist, Steven Hager (who has been a pretty strong advocate for the legalization of marijuana), Cannabis Cup is what we’d call a modern day harvest festivity where stoners and hemp enthusiasts unite to experience and learn about their favourite past time. At Cannabis Cup you can experience marijuana, like how you can experience luxury goods at a luxury goods expo. Visitors are encouraged to sample the various variations and ‘products’ of weed, and can also sit as judges in a ‘best category’ competition. Pretty neat huh?
5. Awakenings, Amsterdam ( December)
Presenting biggest New Year’s Eve dance music event in Netherlands! If you’re in Netherlands this December, make sure to be a part of the 3500 people at this 3-day event which will feature Richie Hawtin and Seth Troxler and some insaaane visuals. Seeing is believing right? Watch the video below.
6. King’s Day or Koningsdag, Amsterdam (April)
A cultural celebration with heart, King’s day is a specific festival dedicated to the monarchs of Netherlands. Taking place at the start of the gorgeous Dutch summer, expect to find the streets filled with fields of orange while celebrating their beloved reigning monarch’s birthday!
7. Pinkpop, Landgraaf (June)
Officially deemed as Europe’s oldest annual rock fest, Pinkpop takes place every June during the Pentecost weekend in Landgraaf, Netherlands throws Around 40 of the world’s greatest and most popular bands assemble here to put on a show of a lifetime!
8. Oerol
Oerol is a quaint little festival that takes place on the island of Terschelling in the Wadden Sea and is a special and out-of-the-box event that uses nature as it’s stage. From dance, street theatre, music to site-specific art installations, every single performance is moulded to take complete advantage of its ‘natural stage’ i.e the outdoor surroundings like the beach, the woods, random sheds and on boats. Intimate, deep and beautiful. This festival will definitely top your list.
9. Mysteryland, Haarlemmermeer (August)
This one hardly needs an introduction, Mysteryland Amsterdam is as impressive and loved as it’s versions in other countries. If you’re looking to go hard before you go home, Mysteryland is the festival you need to be at.
Remember: The fireworks right at the end are totally worth the wait.
10. Amsterdam Dance Event, Amsterdam (October)
The Amsterdam Dance Event, or ADE, is a five-day electronic music conference and festival held every October in Amsterdam, Netherlands. ADE is easily one of the leading electronic music platforms in the world, accompanied by the biggest club festival that covers the whole spectrum and taps into every electronic sub-genre.
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(This article was published in partnership with Airbnb, world’s largest online guide to finding accommodation in 190 countries)
(Cover Picture Photo Credit: Rob Kalmbach / Airbnb.com)