Connecting the live music industry
Dutch Festival Cancelled Due To Extreme Heat
June26
Defqon.1 festival in Biddinghuizen, the Netherlands, has been cancelled for the remainder of the weekend due to extreme heat, after Dutch weather institute KNMI issued a code red weather warning.
The hard dance festival is organised by Dutch promoter Q-dance, part of the ID&T group.
The event attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Biddinghuizen each year and is one of the largest festivals in the hardstyle and hard dance calendar.
The decision was made in consultation with local authorities, with temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius forecast. Organisers said the festival site would close from Friday, 26 June.
“The unthinkable has happened. Defqon.1 has been cancelled for the remainder of the weekend. Effective on Friday, June 26th, the Holy Grounds will close their gates,” organisers said in a statement.
This year, around 58,000 people were expected to stay at the campsite, with a further 15,000 day ticket holders due to attend each day.
Organisers had initially introduced additional safety measures in response to the weather, including more shade and hydration points. Day tickets were also cancelled in an effort to reduce crowd density on site. However, organisers said the measures were no longer sufficient given the severity of the weather conditions.
“We are absolutely devastated by this development,” organisers said. “Tens of thousands of dedicated Weekend Warriors are currently staying on the Camping Grounds, many of whom have travelled far and prepared for this weekend for months. Asking them to return home is the worst-case scenario, especially with a fully operational festival and everything in place to welcome them.”
The campsite and part of the festival grounds will remain open on Friday without music programming, allowing visitors time to arrange their journey home. Basic facilities, including bathrooms, will remain available.
All tickets will be refunded. Further details on compensation are expected to be announced after the weekend.
With VIP-Booking.com, you can search for anyone in the live music industry - try it yourself!
Search Artists:
Trusted by professionals in the live music industry around the world for 25 years!
