THE AGENDA: where to be in May

Music On Festival 2024 | Weekend

11–12 mag • Meerpark, NL

Music On Festival

May 11 – 12, Meerpark, Amsterdam 

Music On brings the most in-demand names of house music to Amsterdam year after year.

This outdoor festival has multiple stages, so you can dance in the sun when it’s shining or seek shelter when the Dutch weather is being Dutch again.

On Saturday, the likes of Chris Stussy, Joseph Capriati, Manda Moor, Salomé le Chat, Seth Troxler, and many more make sure there are plenty of grooves to dance to. Music On’s Sunday is for fans of Alisha, Andrea Oliva, Franky Rizardo. Jamie Jones, and many other sultry house selectors. 

Soenda Festival 2024

sab 25 mag, 12:00 • Recreatiegebied Ruigenhoekse polder, NL

Soenda Festival

May 21, 12 PM – 11 PM, Ruigenhoekse Polder, Utrecht Another yearly staple of Dutch electronic music festivals is Soenda. The daytime festival in Utrecht has such a massive lineup it’s almost hard to pick highlights, but if we have to recommend picks, Bastienne, Benwal & MALUGI, DJ Europarking, Hadone & Nene H, Marie Montexier & Partok, and Surf 2 Glory are must-sees.

Hard techno fans are in for a treat, too, with artists like DYEN and Paula Temple & SNTS increasing the pace.

komm schon Alter - Das Festival 2024

sab 18 mag, 12:00 • Tuinen van West, NL

komm Schon Alter - Das Festival

May 18, 12 PM – 11 PM, Tuinen van West, Amsterdam Gather, alters! It’s time for another edition of komm Schon Alter. Make sure to bring your ID, as you need to be 24 to enter this daytime event. The vibes are chill, and the music is melodic.

Expect sets by Einmusik, Fleur Du Bonheur, Giorgia Angiuli (live), Luna Ludmila, Mees Salomé, Nastia, and others. Tanzen, we will, and as komm Schon Alter attracts experienced dancers, this outdoor event will feel like a walk in the park.

Thuishaven w/ Menesix 10HRS

dom 26 mag, 13:00 • Thuishaven, NL

Thuishaven w/ MENESIX 10HRS

May 26, Thuishaven, Amsterdam 

MENESIX has been rinsing dance floors all over Amsterdam with his percussion-infused grooves for years and is now set to take the stage at Thuishaven.

The concept is simple: a ten-hour marathon of a popping DJ and Thuishaven’s keen crowd. Keeping people on their feet for that long is far from simple, but the Brazilian artist is up for the challenge.

Expect funky basslines and powerful productions during this sold-out sweat session. 

Dauwpop 2024

31 mag – 01 giu • Hellendoorn, NL

Dauwpop

May 31 – June 1, Hellendoorn

Festival season is officially in full force! This weekender sees a ton of big names in pop and electronic music make their way to Hellendoorn, where the camping area will undoubtedly be just as much fun as the festival itself.

Besides DJs like Eva Vrijdag, Tjade, Benwal, and Rozie, pop acts like The Kooks, Oscar and the Wolf, Droom Dit, and Nova Twins take to the stage.

Geheime Liefde 2024

09–11 mag • Fort bij Vechten, NL

Geheime Liefde

May 9 & May 11, Fort bij Vechten, Utrecht Geheime Liefde is fully sold-out – and that is without even releasing a lineup. The name translates to ‘Secret Love’, which applies to its secret program and vibe.

Techno heads, disco dancers, and all-round partygoers get to eat their hearts out at the festival that takes dancers into the former bunkers near Utrecht.

Take a day of rest after your Ascension Day rave and come back on Saturday for round two. 

Lentekabinet 2024

18–19 mag • Recreatiegebied Het Twiske, NL

Lentekabinet 2024

May 18 – 19, Het Twiske, Amsterdam Dekmantel’s baby-sister festival, Lente Kabinet, is finally nearing. As every year, the connoisseurs of electronic music take to the Amsterdam park Het Twiske for two days of reconnecting with music, arts, nature, and each other.

The lineup is as stacked as ever, with the likes of Avalon Emerson, C.FRIM, Jasmín, Deena, Abdelwahed & DJ Plead, D.Tiffany (live), Eris Drew & Octo Octa, Shanti Celeste, Simo Cell, Spray, and many others bringing their A-Game.

Don’t sleep on this one. 

AWAKENINGS UPCLOSE 2024

18–19 mag • Recreatiegebied Spaarnwoude, NL

Awakenings Upclose

May 18 – 19, Houtrak (Spaarnwoude-park), Amsterdam Pentecost? Let Awakenings renew your faith in techno.

Awakening Upclose is a new and smaller event by the same people running the biggest techno festival in the world. Expect the same quality lineups but in a more intimate setting.

Upclose is one of their seven big events this year, with a radically different approach: there is no big headliner, all artists are equals. Names like Carista, Donato Dozzy, JEANS, Paramida, Spekki Webu, and Twiena are must-sees if you ask us.