In the latest episode of PLAFONDDIENST – The Hardstyle Podcast, Jurgen and Wessel from Classified share how their organization has rapidly grown into a household name in the scene. Having originally started with techno events, the Nijmegen-based entrepreneurs decided to change course and dive into underground rawstyle. And with success: in less than two years they managed to sell out multiple venues, from their home base Doornroosje in Nijmegen to the iconic Klokgebouw in Eindhoven, and even hosted their own stage during the Nijmegen Four Days Festival.
ALSO READ: Classified and Overdrive face off in court
All or nothing
The very first Classified edition took place in March 2024, and for Jurgen and Wessel it was do or die. “The biggest risk of our lives,” Jurgen recalls. “You have to make down payments to artists, secure a venue… while we barely had the financial means. After our meeting with Doornroosje’s programmer, Wessel even asked me to transfer him €2 for the bus ride home. But we had no plan B.” The programmer decided to take a leap of faith and booked the main hall straight away. “He said: let’s take the risk and see where the ship sails. That trust gave us an extra boost.”
Bringing back the underground vibe
Classified’s concept was built around a reverse marketing strategy: artists were hidden at first, and the party was built around that mystery. Wessel explains: “From there we continued developing the concept with people guessing the artists, and it went very smoothly.” Jurgen adds: “We wanted to bring the underground vibe back into raw hardstyle. Hardstyle is a bit more polished compared to techno, and we wanted to combine that raw feeling with new talent that has both passion and potential. That means taking the risk of putting them on stages that other promoters might never give them.”
That approach paid off quickly. Artists like Damaxy and Detailed won a contest at Classified and got their breakthrough opportunity. Jurgen: “The energy between them and the crowd was indescribable. At that moment we knew: this can only work. From then on, we committed to giving these guys the spots they deserve.”
16 hours in Doornroosje
What started as a leap of faith quickly grew into a winning formula. Classified has sold out Doornroosje multiple times, filled the Klokgebouw with Fuel The Fire, and is on track for seven events this year – sometimes even two in a single day. Jurgen: “At Matrix at the Park we did the hosting first and then an afterparty afterwards. It made no sense at all.”
That ambition reaches a new peak this weekend with a unique 16-hour concept at Doornroosje: Run The Map and Set The Pace. The daytime program focuses on raw and rising names, while the night is all about uptempo. To bridge both events, Classified came up with The Bridge: a limited combi-ticket that allows 450 visitors to stay inside for the full 16 hours. Wessel explains: “The venue needs cleaning and the sound system has to pause, so not everyone can stay. This way the night crowd still enters a fresh venue.” Jurgen concludes: “Sixteen hours in one building is the ultimate test. But seeing how many people are joining both events, I’m really curious to see where this ends.”
Classified in the new episode of PLAFONDDIENST – The Hardstyle Podcast
In episode 28 of PLAFONDDIENST – The Hardstyle Podcast, Jurgen and Wessel from Classified talk about their switch from techno to hardstyle, the risks of their first edition, their rapid rise with sold-out shows, and their unique 16-hour concept at Doornroosje. They also dive into their other events, the launch of their own label, and artist Unique joins the conversation. Listen to the full episode now on YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.
