It’s official, the Dutch love to party

The number of festivals in the Netherlands has increased again in 2013. Following the downward trend from last year’s festival, the Dutch market on the rise again, according to Response ‘Festival Monitor 2014.

The figures for 2013 look bleak: in the period 1 January to 31 December 2013 had Response 774 arts and cultural festivals (with more than 3,000 visits) in the Netherlands, 9 percent more than in 2012 The total number of festivals grew. in the period 2005 to 2013 by 29 percent.

The growth in the number of festivals manifests itself across the board: in paid and freely accessible festivals, and in all categories. The dance festivals are favored in 2013, the increase compared with 2012, with 33 percent of the largest on the market.

In 2013 in the Netherlands, there were 774 festivals that attracted 3,000 or more visits. In total, these festivals accounted for 21.5 million visits, 9.1 percent more than in 2012.’s Free festivals attracted hereby 68.5 percent of visits. This makes 2013 a recovery in both the number of festivals as seen in visits compared to 2012.

Biggest festivals

The largest free festival based on number of visits per day was Parkpop with 250,000 visits. At No. 1 on the list of the festivals is Amsterdam Dance Event. The festival attracted 60,000 visits per day, just like Decibel Outdoor and Mystery Land, but is still on top of the 300,000 visits.

In line with the increase in the number of festivals and visits the estimated total gross receipts of the festivals in 2013 increased by a whopping 12.1 percent compared to 2012. In 2012, the total estimated revenue still amounted to € 148.2 million, 2013 was € 166.2 million.

Festival Monitor The Monitor Festival 2014 is a comprehensive analysis of developments in the festival market. The study provides insight into the numbers of festivals and visits, looks at calendar spread and geographical distribution and revenue from ticket sales.