While England has some pretty phenomenal festivals, why not look across the North Sea for some refreshingly different festivals? Amsterdam has plenty, and most of them are just one day festivals, so you can combine them with a long weekend in Amsterdam.
These are four of City Turtle’s favourites:
Awakenings
Awakenings
When is it: 29th June 2013, from 11am – 23:00
Price: Around 60 euros
Where: Spaarnwoude (close to Amsterdam)
Website: http://www.awakenings.nl/en/
Why you can’t miss it: It has been on the Dutch music scene for some time now, and Awakenings has established itself as ‘the’ expert techno organization in The Netherlands. It is the largest ‘techno party’ in Holland (eight arenas) with a range of styles within the genre – from progressive to hardtechno. This year the likes of Ricardo VillaLobos, Carl Cox, Chris Liebing and Ben Simms played. Plus its close to Amsterdam & easy to get to. Don’t expect up and coming DJs, Awakenings plays only the well-established DJs. Apart from good music, Awakenings also boasts a beautiful light show and a closing firework display.
Warning: tickets sell out very early and quickly, so book asap.
Crowd: Young & hip
Awakenings
Zomerpark
Zomerpark
When it is: 16th June 2012 (next year’s date to be announced)
Price: 38.50 euro
Website: http://www.gzgamsterdam.nl/ (won’t be of much use to you, unless you can read Dutch)
Why you can’t miss it: It’s just one stage, so it’s small and intimate. Minimal techno beats. Very close to Amsterdam arena (Arena Park), so easy to get to. Organised by Gasten Zonder Grenzen.
Crowd: Trendy Amsterdammers
De Parade (throughout the summer June to August, tours The Netherlands)
De Parade
When is it: June – August
Price: Free till 16:00, then 7 euros
Where: Tours around Holland’s four largest cities: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam & The Hague
Website: http://www.deparade.nl/
Why you can’t miss it: Theatre lovers cannot miss this – instead of music orientated it focuses on theatre and comedy. Travel back in time to a festival with an old school circus theme, incorporating more ‘traditional’ fun (think carrousels, story tellers in small gazeebos, bake-your-own poffertjes (small pancakes) and ‘the Dark Room’). There is even a Silent Disco in cage. Catch it this year in Amsterdam (10-26th August).
Crowd: Huge range. From young to old.
Vollt
Voltt from the air
When is it: 24th August, 11:00 – 23:00
Price: 41 euros
Website: www.volttlovessummer.com or http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?340937
Why you can’t miss it: It’s set on a huge industrial terrain (NDSM wharf), one of Amsterdam’s coolest locations, reached by a free ferry from Amsterdam Central station. This smaller-scaled festival has had a recent surge of popularity, yet it retains it’s intimate nature with a warm and vibrant atmosphere. The music tends to be towards the minimal side of techno, though the tempo increases as the day progresses. This year you can expect the likes of Cari Lekebush, Gaiser, Tale of Us, Mathias Kaden, Raresh and Bart Skills. At the beginning of the day they experiment more with the DJs and play some new names, so don’t just expect the big names. There are two stages (one in an old circus tent) and it has some cool quirks like a giant see-saw.
Crowd: Probably the ‘trendiest’ of Amsterdam’s festivals, the crowd certainly plays the part.
The very blonde crowd
Check out www.cityturtle.co.uk for a new Amsterdam City page, coming soon!
