These are all the free festivals on Liberation Day (May 5)
Monday, May 5 is the day: Liberation Day. Although we used to get a day off every five years, now the whole of the Netherlands has a day off every year. But oops — you probably forgot that you have a day off and now you have nothing planned. Not in the mood to spend money, but still want to party? Well, just pick out a good outfit, and I’ll list all the free festivals for you.
Liberation Festival Zoetermeer
First up: Zoetermeer celebrates freedom at the Markt Zoetermeer, where the party starts at 12:45 - I’ll just be awake for an hour - and ends at 23:00. The festival offers a great lineup for young and old. It starts at 13:30 with the official opening and the Freedom Fire. After that, artists like Kabouter Plop -you read that right- and Afro Boys take over. From 17:00 it also gets fun for Generation Z: Paul Elstak, La Fuente, and Glen Fontein are well-known names that can be found on the 2 stages. For the older readers who think: ‘Who is that Glen Fontein’, here you can read more about him.
Liberation Festival Den Bosch
Greetings from Brabant!! Den Bosch will be transformed into a party city on May 5 at the Pettelaarse Schans from 13:00 to 23:00, and here too the entrance is free. You can enjoy performances by well-known artists like Bizzey and Bente -yay, too bad I’m not here as a Bizzey fan. At 12:30, Zoë Tauran opens the festival, followed by Flaire and QUIQUE. The Sena Performers Stage also offers a platform for local talents, which is also nice to come and watch occasionally. No idea what to wear? I’ll help you with your outfit in this article.
Liberation Festival The Hague
‘Oh oh The Hague’: The iconic Malieveld in The Hague is the place to be for festival-goers on Monday from 12:00 to 23:00. Think: pop, rock, and electronic music. You can enjoy performances by Bente -yes, I know, she’s everywhere-, Danny Vera, and the legendary Golden Earring Undercover. The day starts with the cheerful Kinderen voor Kinderen (you want your child to be here). The Sena Performers Stage is also a recommendation, with artists like Micky Hurts and Ziggy -you know, that one with the rainbow hair. For those who love surprises, the Vfonds Podium in the Provincial House offers a mix of literature, conversations, and more. If you’re not a party animal, you can also do other activities here.
Liberation Festival Utrecht
In the green Park Transwijk in Utrecht, you can start the week well next Monday from 12:30. The festival lasts until 23:00 and you can sing along with $hirak, Rondé, and Flemming. The Freedom Stage also offers a mix of hip-hop, electronics, and soul, with artists like Soft Clip and Disko Disko -this didn’t mean anything to me before either, but it seems to be really cool. Café de Vrijheid also offers cozy live performances, for when you haven’t had enough of the pub this weekend. Oh yes, if you want to get rid of your hangover on Tuesday -which is a normal workday-, read this article.
Liberation Festival Rotterdam
Next: Rotterdam celebrates May 5 in the Euromastpark from 12:00 to 23:00. Well-known names like Antoon, Donnie, and Paul Elstak will take the stage. The first performance is at 12:30 and at 15:15 the mayor opens the event, a quarter later? Antoon!!!! You definitely don’t want to miss that. I can already see all the mothers and daughters blushing next Monday in Rotterdam. Paul Elstak will close the event and at 23:00 it’s time to go to bed.
Liberation Festival Amsterdam
I don’t know if Amsterdam is ready for another party after King’s Day, but from 12:00 to 23:00 the Liberation Festival takes place here, where you can enjoy performances by De Stokers and La Banda Fantástica, among others. The Stenen Plein offers a full program with Latin music and salsa, while Westweelde offers a great mix of electronic music with artists like Dimitri and Steve Rachmad. Are you going with a group of friends who can’t decide? Then split up and you’ll find each other again at the bar -or not, and you’ll lose each other because that one friend has to go to a portable toilet with that cute guy. This is how you do it right at a festival.
Liberation Festival Emmen
Okay, back to the point: Emmen. Emmen welcomes festival-goers at the Raadhuisplein from 13:00 until midnight. Bankzitters will perform, so expect a lot of 15-year-olds -and me- in the audience. In the evening you can look forward to party acts like Fuif’s Foute Uur and Smeltkroes. The day starts with many local acts and dance groups.
Liberation Festival Zeeland
Vlissingen celebrates the day in the city center. The festival offers an impressive program with big names like Dotan (fangirl moment), Dopebwoy, and Postmen. The festival starts with a performance by Antoon and at 16:15 there is a May 5 moment. The day will be closed by Janick Megroot x Benjamin Bryan.
Is there no festival near you? Check this website for more options.
