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Awakenings Is A Titan of Amsterdam's Techno Scene

dark techno

minimal techno

raw techno

schranz

swedish electronic

swedish techno

techno

italian techno

 makes its grand return after two years of pandemic-related postponements, and they’re going bigger than ever before. This Easter weekend, April 16-17, 2022, Awakenings celebrates its 25th birthday with over 80,000 friends.


Awakenings is one of the longest-running techno events globally, with a history of more than 22 years. 

. And their massive productions are recognized as some of the best in the world.

Awakenings and their parent company Monumental Productions, BV now organize several techno events throughout the year, including Awakenings Spring and Summer, Drumcode Festival, and Connect in collaboration with 

 Since 1997 more than two million visitors have attended Awakenings events in the iconic Gashouder (Amsterdam’s most famous event space), Rotterdam, Eindhoven, New York, Sao Paolo, and India.

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Awakenings takes great measures to produce environmentally friendly events. Their initiative, “Keep the Planet Awake!” has long been taking conscious steps in limiting their environmental impact through many different management techniques.


When it comes to food and beverage consumption at the event, festival-goers will find a primarily vegetarian menu and a deposit system for drinks. At the entrance, visitors will receive one free recycle token that they can use throughout the two-day event to exchange their beverages. This system encourages guests to return all empty cups, cans, and bottles to the bar to ensure the materials get recycled appropriately and the grounds remain clean.

Each of these tokens will have a unique code. After the festival, fans can go to the Awakenings website and use the code to enter for a chance to win prizes. The used tokens get melted down to create new ones for festivals to come.


The anniversary lineup is classically a who’s who of massive techno names. You’ll be able to catch performances by some of Awakenings most dedicated stalwarts. Swedish techno producer and Drumcode founder Adam Beyer, FIGURE label head Len Faki, dentist turned global icon Nina Kraviz, founding father of techno 

, and Dutch DJ Joris Voorn. In addition, there are plenty of other notable acts that are sure to bring plenty of heat.

 began her career at 18 and has since blossomed into a brilliant multi-hyphenate. A dedicated mother of three daughters, wife to techno’s most elite Adam Beyer, fearless activist, and incredible visual artist, Engberg is a renaissance woman.


Loco Dice began his career deeply rooted in hip-hop, supporting the likes of Snoop Dogg, Usher, and Ice Cube. However, at the urging of fellow Awakenings act Sven Vath he transitioned into house and techno and is considered one of the culture’s most talented and accomplished DJs.


Cuban-American DJ and four-time DJ Award winner Maceo Plex will bless the Awakenings crowd with one of his winding multi-genre sets. Always an education in proper underground beats.

French artist, I Hate Models recently released his second record on his new imprint, Disco Inferno. A master of juxtaposition, his tracks fluidly shift from brutal pounding to techno to transcendent ambiance.


999999999—aka NineTimesNine— are one of the most sought-after hard techno acts in recent memory. The Italian duo’s spacey 303 laden beats pound even harder during their hardware-only live sets.


 career dates back to the ’80s in Germany when he opened his Ibiza-inspired club Omen in Frankfurt. Considered to be one of the birthplaces of the German techno scene, Vath’s contributions to the culture are tremendous.


In addition to the drool-worthy bill of artists, a focus on otherworldly production remains at the forefront of Awakenings events. You can expect vast fields filled with creatively-constructed stages.

Accompanying the music will be an unparalleled visual experience. This perfect balance of audio magic and visual beauty will completely immerse and inspire. And if that isn’t enough to leave you completely awed, the spectacular pyrotechnic display of fireworks that has become a trademark of the brand should do it.


The event will occur in Spaarnwoude Houtrak, a nature reserve just outside Amsterdam. The celebration will have six impressive tented stages and a semi-open outdoor stage. The setup is ideal, as about half of April does come with some rainfall.


However, rain or shine, festival-goers are in for a jampacked weekend stacked with talent. Unlike other dance music festivals where opening time slots feature smaller acts, Awakenings creates a schedule that showcases headline-level artists from the start of the event till the end. People will gather from all around the world to celebrate music, wrap themselves in community, and escape everyday life.  



 

Spaarnwoude Houtrak

Awakenings Easter Festival 2022

german techno

trance

uplifting trance

Paul van Dyk

uk tech house

East End Dubs

Benin

afro house

AMÉMÉ

dutch tech house

Prunk

tech house

ALISHA

melodic house

Alex Wann

minimal tech house

uk house

Enzo Siragusa

destroy techno

Benny Rodrigues

Demi Riquísimo

M-High

bass house

Locklead

In the ever-shifting landscape of global music festivals, few names resonate with the historical weight and enduring magic of Mysteryland. Hailing from the Netherlands, it proudly holds the title of the world's longest-running electronic music festival, a testament to its pioneering spirit and remarkable ability to evolve while captivating generations of music lovers. Since its inception, it has grown from a national gathering into a global pilgrimage, drawing vast, diverse crowds from across the globe to its enchanting home near Amsterdam.

The festival's journey began in 1993, emerging as one of the very first large-scale events dedicated primarily to the burgeoning sounds of house music. It was a bold move, taking the rhythms of the underground club scene into an open-air festival format. After a few nomadic early years exploring different locations across the Netherlands, Mysteryland found its permanent sanctuary around 2003 in the Haarlemmermeerse Bos, specifically on the grounds of a former Floriade horticultural exhibition. This location, with its lush greenery, sparkling ponds, and forestry hills, became intrinsically linked to the festival's identity, providing a naturally magical canvas that enhances the overall experience.

While born from house, Mysteryland's musical heart rapidly expanded. It transformed into a comprehensive showcase of the electronic music spectrum, a sonic universe encompassing everything from driving techno and euphoric trance to hardstyle's power, big room anthems, groovy house variations, and even hip hop and R&B. This diversity unfolds across numerous stages, often more than eleven, each meticulously curated with its own distinct vibe and often hosted by leading labels or artist collectives. This multi-stage approach invites exploration, allowing attendees to wander between vastly different sonic worlds, discovering new sounds and artists along the way. Year after year, the festival attracts electronic music royalty, featuring titans like 

, and countless others, while also championing emerging talent.

But Mysteryland offers far more than just music. It crafts an immersive world designed to stimulate all senses. The grounds become an open-air gallery filled with intriguing art installations, while the stage designs themselves are legendary - elaborate, imaginative structures ranging from colossal, nature-inspired pyramids built with sustainable materials like bamboo to fantastical mainstages resembling giant arks or symbolic mystery boxes. Hidden stages tucked away in forests offer intimate, thematic rave experiences. Cutting-edge light shows, lasers, and spectacular end-of-night finales featuring fireworks and even drone displays add to the sensory feast.

The experience deepened significantly when Mysteryland expanded into a multi-day event with camping around 2015. The sprawling campsite becomes a temporary village, fostering a strong sense of community with its own amenities, activities, and even dedicated pre-parties and afterparties. Within this, the Healing Garden offers a sanctuary for wellness, providing massages, meditation, and yoga - a space for balance amidst the energy. This commitment to the attendee experience is mirrored by a growing dedication to sustainability, with significant efforts in green energy, waste reduction, and recycling woven into the festival's operations.

At its core, Mysteryland operates under the philosophy: "Yesterday is history. Today is a gift. Tomorrow is a Mystery!". This mantra infuses the festival with an atmosphere of joyful presence, open-mindedness, and collective euphoria. It's a celebration of friendship, freedom, music, and the magic of the present moment. For over three decades, Mysteryland has not just hosted parties; it has created worlds, nurtured a global community, and consistently proven that while its history is rich, its future remains an exciting, unfolding mystery.

Mysteryland

Floriade Terrain

Mysteryland 2025

Encaptivating stages, captivating music, loving community – these are only some of the joys that festival-goers attending 

 in 2022 will have the chance to experience. So if you’re fortunate enough to attend one of the biggest techno events in the world, don’t leave the exploring to the boundaries of the festival.

Outside of those gates are hundreds of new adventures. With the event located just outside of Amsterdam, people will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the 

 With that being said, we compiled a list of attractions in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is a city full of cafes and restaurants serving mouthwatering food paired with a well-crafted ambiance. But it’s hard to beat a pancake party on a boat. 

 is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a boat that serves fresh pancakes. They offer visitors all-you-can-eat Dutch pancakes with various toppings, including fresh fruit, syrup, powdered sugar, and much more. So not only can you indulge in a sweet breakfast, but you’ll also see beautiful views of the Amsterdam skyline. You can find it in Amsterdam Noord next to the NDSM Wharf ferry stop.

This small theater in Amsterdam is one of the most influential American comedy factories, and you’ve probably never heard of it.

 had a rocky start back in 1992 before opening. The Amsterdam Board of Tourism warned the founders that it should “think twice” about their plans to open up an English comedy club. They claimed, “Dutch people don’t want to see a show in English” and that tourists wouldn’t want to see a show at all. 

Nevertheless, the club opened and has since brought many recognizable names to the stage. Boom Chicago doesn’t just have improv comedy and sketches. It’s also a restaurant that serves up great food along with the laughs.

It can be challenging to find a truly unique experience wherever you go. But, in Amsterdam, you can visit a one-of-a-kind museum, 

. This is the first and only museum dedicated to exhibiting fluorescent art. 

The museum has colorful displays of minerals, artwork, sculptures, and other glowing artifacts. You can even get it on the creativity by becoming the art yourself. Unlike other museums that prohibit visitors from touching (or sometimes even breathing near) anything, 

Electric Ladyland is “participatory art.” This is where guests can participate in creating and be an art piece themselves for the duration of their visit.

If you are a cat lover, then you might want to bump this one to the top of your itinerary. While 

, or ‘The Catboat,’ isn’t necessarily meant to be an attraction, the idea is undoubtedly attractive. It is the world’s only floating cat shelter, and it’s located right in the heart of Amsterdam. 

Walking through the street, you’ll be able to see a houseboat that sits along the Amsterdam canals, and inside are the cats that have made it their home. 

The history of ‘The Catboat’ dates back to 1966 when Henriette van Weelde was known as “the cat lady” and needed another space to host the cats that people brought her when they could no longer care for them. 

She had the brilliant solution to acquire an old sailing barge, rebuild it and create the famous cat shelter. The original boat did serve its purpose for a while but eventually had to be replaced in 1979. Best of all, you can visit De Poezenboot for free!

 sits next to the historic windmill, De Gooyer, in Amsterdam Oost. This charming Dutch brewery was founded in 1985 when craft beer was hard to come by in Amsterdam. 

The menu is full of Belgian-style beers such as dubbels, tripels, pilsners, and IPAs. However, if you’re not a beer fan, you can still check out the nationally recognized monument, De Gooyer, the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands.

Encaptivating stages, captivating music, loving community – these are only some of the joys that festival-goers attending Awakenings Easter Festival in 2022 will have the chance to experience. So if you’re fortunate enough to attend one of the biggest techno events in the world, don’t leave the exploring to the boundaries of the festival.

Outside of those gates are hundreds of new adventures. With the event located just outside of Amsterdam, people will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the “Venice of the North.” With that being said, we compiled a list of attractions in Amsterdam.

READ THIS NEXT: Awakenings Easter Festival 2022

The Pancake Boat




Amsterdam is a city full of cafes and restaurants serving mouthwatering food paired with a well-crafted ambiance. But it’s hard to beat a pancake party on a boat. 

The Pancake Boat is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a boat that serves fresh pancakes. They offer visitors all-you-can-eat Dutch pancakes with various toppings, including fresh fruit, syrup, powdered sugar, and much more. So not only can you indulge in a sweet breakfast, but you’ll also see beautiful views of the Amsterdam skyline. You can find it in Amsterdam Noord next to the NDSM Wharf ferry stop.

Boom Chicago

This small theater in Amsterdam is one of the most influential American comedy factories, and you’ve probably never heard of it.

 Boom Chicago had a rocky start back in 1992 before opening. The Amsterdam Board of Tourism warned the founders that it should “think twice” about their plans to open up an English comedy club. They claimed, “Dutch people don’t want to see a show in English” and that tourists wouldn’t want to see a show at all. 

Nevertheless, the club opened and has since brought many recognizable names to the stage. Boom Chicago doesn’t just have improv comedy and sketches. It’s also a restaurant that serves up great food along with the laughs.





Electric Ladyland

It can be challenging to find a truly unique experience wherever you go. But, in Amsterdam, you can visit a one-of-a-kind museum, Electric Ladyland. This is the first and only museum dedicated to exhibiting fluorescent art. 

The museum has colorful displays of minerals, artwork, sculptures, and other glowing artifacts. You can even get it on the creativity by becoming the art yourself. Unlike other museums that prohibit visitors from touching (or sometimes even breathing near) anything, 

Electric Ladyland is “participatory art.” This is where guests can participate in creating and be an art piece themselves for the duration of their visit.







De Poezenboot

If you are a cat lover, then you might want to bump this one to the top of your itinerary. While De Poezenboot, or ‘The Catboat,’ isn’t necessarily meant to be an attraction, the idea is undoubtedly attractive. It is the world’s only floating cat shelter, and it’s located right in the heart of Amsterdam. 

Walking through the street, you’ll be able to see a houseboat that sits along the Amsterdam canals, and inside are the cats that have made it their home. 

The history of ‘The Catboat’ dates back to 1966 when Henriette van Weelde was known as “the cat lady” and needed another space to host the cats that people brought her when they could no longer care for them. 

She had the brilliant solution to acquire an old sailing barge, rebuild it and create the famous cat shelter. The original boat did serve its purpose for a while but eventually had to be replaced in 1979. Best of all, you can visit De Poezenboot for free!





Brouwerij’t IJ Brewery

Brouwerij’t IJ Brewery sits next to the historic windmill, De Gooyer, in Amsterdam Oost. This charming Dutch brewery was founded in 1985 when craft beer was hard to come by in Amsterdam. 

The menu is full of Belgian-style beers such as dubbels, tripels, pilsners, and IPAs. However, if you’re not a beer fan, you can still check out the nationally recognized monument, De Gooyer, the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands.

Awakenings Easter Festival 2022

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