Many of my friends bought their tickets months ago. Outfits chosen, Vans and All Stars ready to get very dirty. Festival season has opened.
You recognise people en route to festivals anywhere. The girls are wearing shorts, a crop top or a maxi-dress. Hat on, hairband in, a whole lot of arm candy and ready steady go. If you’re smart, you’ll try to smuggle in a plastic bottle to refill with water.
Do you already have a ticket or are you still deciding which one to go to? You had better be quick because they’re selling like crazy. If you find that a festival is sold out, try the site ticket swap, a great place to maybe still get one.
Holland is small, but with a huge festival scene. These are a few of my favourite festivals. And not always because of music.
Thuishaven- Amsterdam Dok 2013
Keep a close eye on the weather report, if the sun is shining then this mini festival is on. The line-up is kept secret until the doors open.
Appelsap- Oosterpark Amsterdam
Expect techno. Hip Hop in the Amsterdam’s Oosterpark. No deafening beats and laser beams, but definitely a day to let those hips go wild. R&B and soul, you have to be there. The band ‘De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig’ will be playing and I can tell you, they are always a party.
LowLands – Biddinghuizen
You pitch a tent and prepare for three long days of partying. Don’t expect to have a calm shower every morning, but that’s part of the fun. Tip: Take a shower at the same time as at home, round 7am, it’s super quiet then.
Valtifest- NDSM terrain
This is actually the closing festival for the season. And this is one hell of a party. They always have a theme, and if you think you can get in without adhering – think again. This year it’s the ‘seven sins’: Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Envy, Wrath and Gluttony. So go wild!
These are not all about music and dancing, but very much worth mentioning:
Pluk de Nacht film festival, Amsterdam
6th till 16th August 2014. I’m going, and you?
You have to be there to reserve a beach chair. No, you’re not going to tan, but to see an open-air movie. Take your own bottle of wine and popcorn. Very romantic and the perfect place for a date.
The parade
A travelling theatre festival. They come to Amsterdam for the last two weeks of their trip. Lots of Amsterdammers go for a few hours after work. You don’t have to go for the theatre or music, they also have loads of food tents to hang out in, you can bake your own little pancakes or go for a dance in the silent disco.
Bacchus wine festival
5th September till 7th September
I love a good glass of wine. And even more so a wine festival. All the best restaurants in Amsterdam are at this festival. Cheese from Kef, Renzo’s, Wood pizza’s. And a whole lot of wine. See you there?
1. Lace top, €24,99, H&M
2. Arm bands, 12,99, Bershka
3. Beige hat, €19,99, H&M
4. Sunglasses, €171, Illesteva
5. Shorts, €70, One Teaspoon
6. Bag with beads and fringe, €84,50, River Island via asos.com
7. All Stars, €69,95, Converse via zalando.nl
