Why Q-dance is ending Qlimax and other events

By Wouter de Vink 30 August 2024

With the end of events such as Qlimax, many fans are left with questions: why would organization Q-dance call it a day after 20 years in the GelreDome? Founder Wouter Tavecchio explains it all for the first time: “This is one of those years where many things come together.”

ALSO READ: Qlimax announces final edition: ‘The Final Prophecy’

Q-dance is known worldwide for Defqon.1, Qlimax and many more. As the founding fathers of hardstyle, they have countless events behind their name, some of which have recently stopped. The last QAPITAL has already taken place, last summer was the last The Qontinent, there is no Q-dance stage at that legendary hill at Mysteryland and the plug is also being pulled at the longest-running event Qlimax. Why is Q-dance stopping all these great parties?

The VAT increase will add 12% to the costs: “It’s all unaffordable”

The online speculation about the parent company Superstruct to investment giant KKR is swept aside by founder Wouter Tavecchio of Q-dance. “A lot of things are changing and this is one of those years where everything is coming together,” he explains in the podcast De Machine. The Q-dance stage was an annual phenomenon at Mysteryland, but the festival wants to innovate by taking a different course. “We are also going further with Q-dance: we became too dominant at the party.” You could almost say that it became a Q-dance party.

“Qlimax is a bit painful,” Tavecchio continues about the upcoming final edition. “The most important thing is that Q-dance is a creative company. We know that in a year and a half the VAT will increase from 9% to 21%: that means 12% in costs and since corona this has already increased enormously.”

This makes tickets even more expensive, which is why the founder of Q-dance quotes ID&T’s Duncan Stutterheim. “He always said: ‘The price of a ticket should cost about the same as a day’s work.’ Everything has become much more expensive.” As a result, Qlimax in the GelreDome has been played out – a decision that was not made overnight. “If we don’t creatively feel that next year will be better than this year, we’ll stop.”

No Qlimax, QAPITAL, The Qontinent and Mysteryland to keep the bar high: “The Q in Q-dance stands for quality”

Fortunately, Q-dance has managed to set such a successful festival with Defqon.1: financially speaking, 2024 is even Q-dance’s best year ever. “Q-dance is doing well and we keep on growing. With Defqon.1 we can go in all directions creatively: nowhere else will you find such a large festival where visitors come together multiple times during the weekend.” Defqon.1 will even celebrate the 25th anniversary of Q-dance next year. “And you will definitely notice something of this. Of course we still have ambitions to organize other things.”

The last Qlimax – The Final Prophecy in the GelreDome will be held on Saturday 16 November. The DEDIQATED sale has already started and tomorrow (Saturday 31 August) at 13:00 the regular sale starts. Listen to the full episode of De Machine here on Spotify.