The Netherlands: Awakenings, Dekmantel and ADE

A small country, a huge scene

The Netherlands has around 18 million people, yet it has long been among the world leaders in electronic music. A dense network of cities helps, as does a tradition of openness and the fact that parties are treated as a serious industry the whole country benefits from.

Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the 1990s

In the 1990s Rotterdam was famous for gabber, the fastest and hardest form of rave. But the same city was home to Speedy J, Jochem Paap, whose "Pull Over" became a party anthem even though he made it as a simple DJ tool. In Amsterdam, Steve Rachmad as Sterac released "The Secret Life of Machines" in 1995, an album now regarded as a classic of European techno.

Awakenings: techno in a gas holder

On 30 March 1997 the first Awakenings party took place at the Gashouder, a huge round hall inside a former gas holder at Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek. Since 2001 Awakenings has also run an open-air summer festival that grew into one of the biggest techno festivals in the world. Today it takes place at Beekse Bergen near Hilvarenbeek, while the Gashouder nights continue.

Dekmantel: for the discerning

In 2007 Thomas Martojo and Casper Tielrooij started throwing parties called Dekmantel. In 2013 came the festival in the Amsterdamse Bos forest. Dekmantel is known for an adventurous programme: alongside techno you hear house, electro, disco, ambient and experimental music. It also runs its own label. Among fans it is seen as the festival "for those in the know".

ADE: the week Amsterdam doesn't sleep

Amsterdam Dance Event has run since 1996, always in October. It is both an industry conference and hundreds of parties across the city, from small bars to the biggest halls. In 2026 ADE runs from 21 to 25 October. Many new records, tours and festivals are announced that week, so our news feed is usually especially busy.