At least 50 festivals in the Netherlands have been cancelled in 2025 so far in another tough year for the Dutch sector.

More than 100 festivals – mostly those up to 10,000-cap – also disappeared from the scene in 2024 due to being either cancelled or discontinued, with 46 new events starting up.

Recent casualties include Mojo Concerts-operated indoor rock festival The Rock Circus, which was due to be held from 17-19 October at the Brabanthallen in Den Bosch. Artists booked to perform included Dropkick Murphys, Alestorm, As December Falls, Enter Shikari, Apocalyptica and Battle Beast.

“While we’ve put so much passion into the festival, we unfortunately could not meet the expectations or requirements for the festival to continue,” reads a statement from organisers.

The second edition of Supercharged Festival, set for this Saturday (17 May) at the Balkenhaven in Amsterdam, was also called off early last month.

“With rising production costs, continued inflation, and increasing pressure on the festival market, we simply cannot deliver the level of quality and experience you deserve and expect from us without compromise,” says promoter Gearbox Digital. “And that’s not a compromise we’re willing to make.”

“We had hoped for a turnaround until the very last moment, but unfortunately, it did not happen”

Friendly Fire announced last December that it was pausing Langedijk’s Indian Summer event as cost increases had rendered it “unfeasible” for the event to carry on in its current form.

In addition, multi-city electronic music festival The Flying Dutch will no longer take place as a result of “rising production costs, continuing inflation and the pressure on the festival market”, while Vorden’s Mañana Mañana will also not go ahead this year.

Organisers of Hoogeveen’s Graveland pulled the plug on the 30-31 May festival 10 weeks out, saying it had “become clear that the festival is not financially viable”.

“Despite our extensive efforts to promote the event, ticket sales have fallen short of the necessary threshold to cover the substantial costs,” said promoter Ronny Fidom. “We had hoped for a turnaround until the very last moment, but unfortunately, it did not happen.

“Rising costs in recent years have made it increasingly difficult to sustain the event, and regrettably, this year it has proven impossible to bridge the financial gap.”

“Festivals and events are risky enterprises with often small margins, where the costs far exceed the benefits”

Lex Kruijver tells AD that although so far, fewer festivals have been cancelled than last year that is partly because many of those nixed in 2024 have disappeared permanently. Organisers of several of 2025’s cancelled festivals have stated their intention to bring their events back in future years.

Berend Schans, director of trade association VNPF, tells the publication the cancellations are not indicative of a “sudden crisis”, but rather “a sum of developments that make organising festivals more challenging than ever”. Another issue, he adds, is that festivalgoers are increasingly buying tickets late in the day.

“This makes it difficult for organisers to have certainty about income in advance,” he continues. “Festivals and events are risky enterprises with often small margins, where the costs far exceed the benefits. It is therefore a combination of factors that causes organisers to decide to skip an edition, or even stop altogether.”

Conversely, the 2025 edition of Lowlands (15-17 August) sold out in less than half an hour back in February, shifting 65,000 three-day passes in 23 minutes, with promoter Mojo remarking that the tickets “flew off the shelf like hotcakes”. Techno festival Awakenings has also sold out of regular tickets for its 11-13 July edition in Hilvarenbeek. The Netherlands is home to around 1,200 arts and cultural festivals overall.

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The Association of Dutch Pop Venues and Festivals (VNPF) has revealed there was an upturn in the number of concerts taking place in the Netherlands last year.

The organisation compared the data from 56 pop venues, which showed concerts were up 4.9% year-on-year from 7,534 in 2023 to 7,903 in 2024.

It also reported a marginal 1.6% decrease in the number of club nights from 2,911 to 2,863 in the same period.

Venues organised 29,043 activities last year (+0.5% y-o-y) in total, with 28,852 performances by artists (+2.8%). Almost half of the programming consisted of non-music activities such as theatre and film, with concerts making up more than a quarter of the output and club nights accounting for almost 10%.

Including support acts, an average of 1.9 performances took place during concerts.  However, the number of performing artists per gig declined for the second year in a row – a downward trend the association had flagged up in the past.

“Venues may have to cut back on more risky programmes due to cost increases”

“The VNPF previously expressed its concerns about this development, in which pop venues may have to cut back on more risky programmes due to cost increases, putting increasing pressure on diversity and talent development,” says the association.

The VNPF plans to share more detailed figures in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed last month that a proposed tax hike for the Dutch cultural and creative market will definitely not go ahead. The government had planned to raise the VAT rate for the sector by 9% to 21% from 2026 as part of broader austerity measures designed to save €2.3 billion.

Industry groups had warned the increase would have a “negative domino effect” on the Dutch business and add more than 10% to the price of tickets.

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Dutch venue 013 Poppodium has opened the doors of a low-stimulation space called Pause for concertgoers who need a moment of rest during an event.

The design, which features a dark space with dimmed light, muted sound and various seating areas, was based on input from volunteers at the Tilburg venue.

A project group was formed following a suggestion from HR advisor Lotte Wijnen and assistant marketing and show promoter Renske Jacobs, who sought out their office during busy shows as a place to de-stimulate, and wanted to offer a similar opportunity to attendees. Guidance was also sought from Poppodium Bibelot in Dordrecht, which has a similar space.

The space has already been tested during several shows this year and assessed by visitors and external parties Toegankelijk Tilburg and Stichting Accessibility.

We were approached by 013 Poppodium to see if we wanted to test the low-stimulus space

“We were approached by 013 Poppodium to see if we wanted to test the low-stimulus space,” says Accessible Tilburg project leader Gerdy Zijlmans. “Our organisation has approximately 50 experienced experts affiliated with it, some of whom may also suffer from excessive stimuli due to their disability.

“The test was on a Saturday evening during a concert and we also tested the space later for physical accessibility. We also looked at whether people who, for example, visit in a wheelchair or are blind or partially sighted, can also make good use of the space.

“We enjoy working with this great organisation and have also been used to them for years to think along with us as much as possible in the field of accessibility. It is great that they have now found us again.”

Upcoming acts set to perform at the 3,000-cap venue include Foster the People, Madness, Empire of the Sun, A Day to Remember, Viagra Boys, Lorna Shore and Eagles of Death Metal. It will also host the inaugural edition of hip-hop festival Headlines this Saturday 10 May with promoter Friendly Fire.

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A number of Dutch festival organisers are offering discounted tickets in a bid to keep events accessible for gig-goers on a modest income.

Utrecht-based experimental festival Le Guess Who has announced the return of its Low Income Day Tickets in 2025, after the success of last year’s pilot programme.

“This initiative arises from the fact that we hear that the ticket price is one of the biggest barriers for people to visit the festival,” says the festival organisers.

A limited number of day tickets will be made available for low-income fans, who can choose to pay €15 or €25 or €35. The four-day festival takes place between 6–9 November.

Elsewhere, Dutch festival Best Kept Secret is expanding its discount ticket offering for younger festivalgoers, following last year’s successful launch.

Promoter Friendly Fire sought to combat the rising cost of living by introducing New Generation weekend passes at a 30% discount for people up to 21 years old.

For the 2025 event, the offer is being extended to include day tickets priced at €99. Regular weekend tickets and New Generation weekend tickets are already available.

Friendly Fire is also trialling a ticket segmentation scheme at its club shows, offering three price points for fans as part of a pilot scheme in collaboration with Utrecht’s EKKO venue.

The FKP Scorpio-backed company is set to trial price segmentation for its shows at EKKO, De Nijverheid, ACU and De Kromme Haring in 2025.

Festival organisers across the industry recently debated the “red line” for ticket prices

Options include the regular ticket price, a ‘less to spend’ price (€5 cheaper), and a ‘more to spend’ price (€5 higher). A limited number of tickets, which can be adjusted where required, will be made available for the minus and plus rate per concert.

This year also saw the launch of Tickets for Good, a social profit organisation that offers healthcare workers affordable access to music and sports events, theatres and museums, in the Netherlands. Companies including ID&T, Mojo Concerts, Greenhouse Talent and This is Live have backed the initiative.

With more than 30 healthcare institutions joining the new platform, Tickets for Good NL reaches more than 150,000 healthcare workers. Meanwhile, the platform’s international network comprises more than 300,000 members and over 500 event partners.

Festival organisers across the industry recently debated the “red line” for ticket prices, with some arguing that their events are good value for money and others concerned about pricing out swathes of their audiences.

Lowlands director Eric van Eerdenburg testifies: “I think we have one of the highest ticket prices in Holland but if you compare it to a weekend in London, Paris or Berlin, it’s cheap.”

The Dutch festival raised its ticket price to €325 for 2024, up from €300 in 2023 and €255 in 2022.

“It’s a constant struggle to keep tickets affordable,” he says. “But attendees are offered so much entertainment for just €115 per day. People tell me every year that they’ve had the best weekend of their lives.”

With the price of energy, production and acts rapidly increasing, a hike in the ticket price was necessary to “make a reasonable margin” adds Eerdenburg.

Last year, at least 60 Dutch festivals were cancelled due to reasons such as low ticket sales, rising costs and a shortage of resources.

In 2025, festivals including The Rock Circus, Audio Obscura Festival, Hellmond Open Air, Flying Dutch Festival, Graveland Festival, Techno Garden Festival and Metropolis Festival have been called off, with the majority referencing low ticket sales and financial issues.

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Organisers of Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) say the conference remains “fully committed to Groningen”, despite expressing mixed feelings over plans for the Dutch city’s live music scene.

It was revealed last week that Groningen is to gain a new 3,200-cap venue, Grote Popzaal, as part of a scheme that will also involve the redevelopment of De Oosterpoort – the longtime home of ESNS.

The project was selected by the city council ahead of a separate proposal for a multipurpose complex – which would have cost up to €365 million – for being “too complex, too expensive and too risky”.

“We welcome the recognition of Groningen as a true music city, and we’re pleased to see serious investment in the city’s live music infrastructure with the announcement of a new 3,200-capacity venue,” ESNS MD Anna van Nunen tells IQ.

“The upcoming renovation will challenge us to be creative in reshaping the event over the coming years”

IQ understands the renovation of De Oosterpoort will not take place until 2026 and will not begin until the Grote Popzaal is completed, with the new venue to serve as a temporary location for part of De Oosterpoort’s programming. The council set to make an official decision before the summer before discussing the plans in its autumn budget.

De Nunen says ESNS will attempt to work within the existing framework before seeking any alternatives.

“We’re in close dialogue with the municipality regarding the planned renovation of De Oosterpoort, which serves as the beating heart of ESNS during our festival days,” adds Van Nunen. “The upcoming renovation will challenge us to be creative in reshaping the event over the coming years. In that light, we would have preferred to see a new, larger music venue developed – one that could meet the city’s growing needs without requiring a temporary closure of its most vital cultural space.

“That said, we are fully committed to Groningen and will always aim to make this location work – especially during the renovation – before considering alternatives elsewhere.”

ESNS will celebrate its 40th anniversary when it returns to Groningen from 14-17 January next year.

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Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) host city Groningen has detailed plans to build a new 3,200-cap venue as it seeks to meet the “growing demand” for touring artists.

The Grote Popzaal (large pop hall) will be constructed in the Spoorkwartier area of the Dutch city as part of a scheme that will also involve the redevelopment of De Oosterpoort – the longtime home of ESNS.

The authority is planning to move forward with the project, having rejected a separate proposal for a multipurpose complex – which would have cost up to €365 million – for being “too complex, too expensive and too risky”.

“The research of the past months has shown that a music centre with everything under one roof at the station will be so big that it does not fit within the financial frameworks agreed with the council,” it says. “Also, the financial risks are too big due to the complexity. The board does not consider expanding the current financial framework for a new music centre a responsible choice at this time.”

The Spoorkwartier location was chosen because of its proximity to the city centre and train station.

Kirsten de Wrede, alderman for culture, says the initiative marks a major investment in the cultural sector for the city and region.

“With the Grote Popzaal we are responding to the growing demand for big acts in Groningen,” she says.

The new venue will serve as a temporary location for De Oosterpoort’s programming during the renovation

The authority adds that the “beloved” Oosterpoort will be renovated “in a sustainable way, with an eye for circularity”.

“The surrounding area will also be tackled, the traffic connections will be improved and the relationship with the Diepenring [ring of canals around the city centre] will be strengthened,” it continues.

The renovation will not begin until the Grote Popzaal is completed, with the new venue to serve as a temporary location for part of De Oosterpoort’s programming.

“The location for De Grote Popzaal in the Spoorkwartier ties in with the recent investments in the area and strengthens the position of the city centre of Groningen,” adds Rik van Niejenhuis, alderman for spatial planning.

“The project is an important boost for the economic development of the Spoorkwartier. De Grote Popzaal will not only be a music building, but will also make the entire area lively and attractive through urban development and architectural integration of new functions.”

No timescale for the project has yet been given, with the council set to make an official decision before the summer before discussing the plans in its autumn budget.

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Dutch event Paaspop plans to unveil one of the largest festival tents in the world at its forthcoming edition in Schijndel.

Aptly named The Giant, the 21,000-capacity tent will be utilised as the main stage, hosting performances from acts such as Bankzitters, Broederliefde and Goldband in 2025.

The new structure, built in collaboration with BNL Tent Concepts, is 28 meters high, 74 meters wide and 114 meters long. And with its modular design, it can be adapted to different shapes and sizes.

Paaspop, promoted by This Is Live Group, is among a handful of festivals that have revealed trailblazing production values in recent years.

The new structure is 28 meters high, 74 meters wide and 114 meters long

Electronic dance music festival Creamfields unveiled a new 30,000-cap main stage, billed as the “largest indoor festival superstructure in the world,” in 2023.

More recently, Reading & Leeds opened a ‘groundbreaking’ new stage called The Chevron, featuring the world’s first floating video canopy. The 40,000-capacity open-air stage, deemed a “feat of engineering,” featured a canopy made up of hundreds of thousands of programmable LED lights.

Elsewhere, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival debuted the “world’s largest” 360° live music experience in 2025, backed by UK-based music technology company Polygon Live. The latter company plans to launch a new three-day festival in London this year, featuring the biggest outdoor spatial audio event the UK has ever seen.

Paaspop will take place between 18–20 April with acts including Faithless, Bicep, Kensington, UB40, Loreen, The Kooks and Dizzee Rascal.

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Sixteen years after their last performance together, the original members of popular Flemish girl group K3 have announced a series of concerts.

K3 was created in the late 1990s as a Flemish response to the UK’s Spice Girls and quickly became a household name in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The group’s breakthrough came in 1999 when they took part in the pre-selections for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999 with ‘Heyah Mama’, which went on to dominate the charts. Over the years, K3 saw multiple lineup changes, but the original trio – Kathleen Aerts, Kristel Verbeke and Karen Damen – remains the most iconic.

Ticket sales for the trio’s reunion concerts began on Monday (24 March), attracting tens of thousands of fans to the queue and temporarily overloading ticketing sites.

Initially, five concerts were planned for Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium, and four for Rotterdam Ahoy, in the Netherlands.

“What happened today, I would never have dared to dream”

Due to “enormous demand,” the former venue is now scheduled to host 14 nights in October, and the latter will host eight next April. In just six hours, a record-breaking 300,000 tickets were sold out.

Karen Damen comments: “I am completely overwhelmed. So many years later, we still feel that warm wave of love from the audience. This feels like coming home, and I can’t wait to share that feeling on stage.”

“What happened today, I would never have dared to dream,” Kathleen Aerts adds. “I am so looking forward to that first note, that first applause… What an adventure this is going to be!”

Kristel Verbeke says: “The reactions today really gave me goosebumps. We were asked ‘When are you going to do a reunion again?’ so often. The fact that we can experience this again now, the three of us, feels like we can give something back to our fans who have continued to follow and support us all these years.”

K3 is the latest successful reunion after comebacks from groups such as Oasis, S Club, Girls Aloud, N’Dubz, McFly, Sugababes and Busted. IQ looked back at the live industry’s most successful reunions to date.

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Organisers of the Netherlands’ Best Kept Secret are expanding their discount ticket offering for younger festivalgoers following last year’s successful launch.

Promoter Friendly Fire sought to combat the rising cost of living by introducing New Generation weekend passes at a 30% discount for people up to 21 years old.

For the 2025 event, the offer is being extended to include day tickets. Priced €99, they will go on sale tomorrow (25 March) at noon. Regular weekend tickets and New Generation weekend tickets are already available.

“Both younger and older festivalgoers appreciated this initiative”

“The introduction of New Generation weekend tickets last year was incredibly well received,” says festival director Maurits Westerik. “We not only welcomed more young visitors but also received enthusiastic responses from our wider community and the music industry. Both younger and older festivalgoers appreciated this initiative. That’s why we’re now expanding the offer with day tickets, giving even more young people the chance to experience Best Kept Secret.”

To be eligible, ticket buyers must be born on or after 14 June 2003. Regular day tickets will go on sale at the same time.

Best Kept Secret Festival takes place from 13-15 June at Beekse Bergen. This year’s lineup includes Barry Can’t Swim, Deftones, Eefje de Visser, Michael Kiwanuka, Soulwax, TV On The Radio and Wilco.

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Events veteran Darren Moore has rejoined the UK’s Bradford Live as venue director under new operator Trafalgar Entertainment.

Trafalgar recently took over the 3,800-cap project, which had been in limbo since NEC Group pulled out of the project last September and expects to make its first programming announcement in the coming weeks.

Moore, who previously served at Bonus Arena Hull, York Barbican and First Direct Arena Leeds, was previously appointed general manager of Bradford Live in July 2023, but left his position in February last year. He describes his appointment as venue director as an “amazing privilege”.

“It is truly a unique venue in the north that we will be relaunching later this year, and it has had a rich history of entertaining the city,” says Moore. “I am excited to bring the venue back to operation following an extensive refurbishment programme to transform it into one of the best venues in the UK.

“We will now start to build the team to ensure we provide a guest and client experience that befits such a prestigious building and add to the already fantastic cultural landscape that Bradford has to offer.”

The former Odeon Cinema was originally built in 1930s and has now been fully restored with a £50 million (€59m) investment following a period of dereliction.

“I am delighted that Darren has joined the Trafalgar family,” says Frazer Hoyle, regional director for Trafalgar Venues. “Not only does he bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience but also a real passion for Bradford Live and I know once we are open, he will be focused on making sure that every visitor will have a world class experience.”

“With Gijsen, we are bringing a highly experienced festival specialist and cultural entrepreneur into the company”

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, FKP Scorpio-backed promoter Friendly Fire has installed Johan Gijsen as interim head of festivals & outdoor productions.

Gijsen started out as a programmer for Utrecht’s Tivoli venue, prior to launching the city’s Le Guess Who? festival. Gijsen also worked across Into The Great Wide Open and Grasnapolsky festivals, in addition to holding positions at various cultural organisations, including Tivoli’s 013.

“I have been following Friendly Fire with great admiration since their foundation in 2009 and am therefore extremely excited to be part of them now,” says Gijsen.

With Gijsen on board, Friendly Fire is targeting further expansion of its festival portfolio, which includes Best Kept Secret, Hit the City, Ginger Festival, Loose Ends and Live at Amsterdam Forest.

“With Gijsen, we are bringing a highly experienced festival specialist and cultural entrepreneur into the company, with an extraordinary amount of knowledge and expertise in the field of events and managing organisations,” says Friendly Fire director Robert Swarts. “We are very much looking forward to working with him to further grow our existing activities and also to realise new, inspiring events.”

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