The Dutch festival market is under strain. After years of growth, more and more organizers are facing rising costs, stricter regulations, and audiences who are waiting longer to spend their money. Figures from the Monitor Festivals & Concerts 2024 show that the number of festivals has dropped again and ticket sales are stagnating.
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Fewer festivals, fewer visitors
In 2024, 1,225 festivals were organized, compared to 1,252 a year earlier – a decline of 2%. The total number of visitors fell by 5%. Music festivals (-3.3%) and the EDM segment were hit hardest: the number of festivals dropped by 9%, and attendance decreased by 13.5%.
Costs, rules, and permits
The industry once again sounded the alarm this summer. In a manifesto with nearly thirty proposals, the VVEM (Association of Event Organizers), together with the VNPF (Association of Dutch Music Venues and Festivals), called on politicians to make festivals more future-proof. They are asking for multi-year permits for proven concepts, clear national guidelines, and less bureaucracy. Currently, many organizers must submit a stack of permits every year – often for identical editions on the same site. The VVEM calls it “a jungle of regulations” that hinders investment and growth.
Visitors wait longer
Another visible trend: fewer events sell out right away. Where some festivals used to sell out within days, ticket sales now often stagnate or only pick up much later. Visitors are waiting – sometimes deliberately – to find cheaper tickets through TicketSwap. This pushes financial pressure on organizers to the very last moment, making planning and budgeting increasingly difficult.
Noticeable in the harder styles as well
The pressure is also felt in the harder dance scene. Several well-known names have announced their final edition or are taking a break. Ground Zero hosted its last edition this year, mainly due to sharply rising costs. Last week, Shockerz announced that the 2025 edition will not take place. In an email to visitors, the organization wrote: “This year’s ticket sales didn’t reach the level needed to bring Shockerz to life the way we envision it. We refuse to compromise on what makes this event special, and have therefore made the difficult decision to cancel Shockerz 2025.” Gearbox Outdoor and Trinity Outdoor were also canceled earlier, while Mysteryland decided to skip a year. Meanwhile, Qlimax held its final edition in 2024 – not due to costs, but because of other considerations.
Continued decline
According to Respons, the downward trend will continue this year: the number of festivals is expected to drop by another 3%. The sector doesn’t call it a crisis, but rather a structural shift. Visitors are becoming more selective, costs keep rising, and growing regulation makes organizing more complex than ever.
