This was Lowlands 2022

Still enjoying and — to be honest — far from fit, I am back on my own couch in Amsterdam. Well, sitting: the horizontal position is more what it is today. I just had a big weekend at Lowlands and today is really just about surviving. But it was worth it. After three years, finally heading back to Biddinghuizen.

Finally complaining again about air mattresses and tents. Complaining about the toilets that are already so disgusting on Thursday. Complaining about it raining or about to rain. In my case, especially complaining that this time I really wouldn’t blow all my powder on Thursday and then completely did.

But above all, enjoying so intensely being at Lowlands, the feeling of walking onto the grounds on Friday (even though they’ve been opening those doors on Thursday in recent years), the first beer, the Vietnamese spring rolls that I really only eat at Lowlands and taste the best. Dancing in the Haciënda (with a mojito in hand) until the early hours, but also during the day: if you have an hour with nothing to do, you know it’s always fun in the Haciënda. The mojitos were really delicious, but I also discovered Spiced Bacardi Rum and frozen strawberry daiquiris this weekend. And wow.

One of the best things about Lowlands, I think again this year, is that everyone is so wonderfully nice. Everyone looks good, is cheerful, is excited, and I really saw zero conflicts. What I did see were people who had been looking forward to this festival so much and had pulled out all the stops. Almost literally, because I really saw the coolest outfits. You might think that after three days of partying the fun is over, but nothing could be further from the truth.

My highlights? They are almost too many to count, but The Opposites and Goldband are definitely among them. And my introduction to Jungle on Friday in the Bravo. But I also laughed and cried at Lewis Capaldi, got sore muscles from dancing at Encore, and spent hours in that legendary Haciënda. No idea how they do it there, but the music is always a joy and everyone goes completely wild at any moment of the day. Plus: Spiced Bacardi Rum & Cola are also available in cans, just like Limon & Lemonade (which I didn’t know yet, but is really dangerously good) and Razz & Up. Soon we’ll have a Lowlands reunion with our campsite and I’ll bring this to get a bit of that Haciënda feeling back.

The next edition is already scheduled: the weekend of August 18, 19, and 20, 2023, we can go again. And that complaining? I already miss that now.