Amsterdam’s best music festivals

Tickets to this cult festival sell out almost instantly – a tribute to its visionary, deliciously unpredictable line-ups. Iconic DJs share the bill with more eclectic finds, from jazz saxophonists to Afro-disco-dub collectives. After two nights in the city, with performances across various venues, the main festival kicks off in the woods for three days of music and mayhem. Best for: Genre-hopping sets | Headline highlights: Jeff Mills, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Roísín Murphy, John Talabot | Dates: 31 July-4 August 2019 | Ticket prices: Day tickets from €61. 

This two-day electronic festival is firmly rooted in the city, with line-ups curated by local music-industry insiders. They run from hip producers and promoters to underground-label head honchos, all with impeccable party-animal credentials. Ten stages showcase the artists who’ve made the cut, from Dutch techno legends to up-and-coming afrobeat collectives. Best for: Talent-spotters | Headline highlights: Luigi Madonna, SG Lewis, Paula Tape, Lady Bee | Dates: 1-2 June 2019 | Ticket prices: Day tickets from €64.50. 

An hour from Amsterdam Centraal Station, this mellow all-rounder likes to mix things up. Musically, it offers a bit of everything; past years have seen Patti Smith reading poetry, and Stormzy sparking a huge moshpit. Culture’s on the agenda, too, from dance to late-night cabaret. For the full experience, camp (there are various glamping options, if you don’t want to tote a tent). Best for: Culture vultures | Headline highlights: Tame Impala, A$AP Rocky, New Order, The National, Jorja Smith | Dates: 16-18 August 2019 | Ticket prices: €210.

Just outside Amsterdam, this is the most epic of events, with 17 stages dotted across 72 leafy acres. From hardstyle to house, techno to trance, every genre has a place here, while the staging is always extraordinary (think lasers, pyrotechnics, or stages shaped like dragons). When the crowds get too much, head to the woods for secret bars, mini-raves and gently-swaying hammocks. Best for: Epic line-ups | Headline highlights: Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Diplo, Claptone, Erick Morillo | Dates: 23-25 August 2019 | Ticket prices: Day ticket from €62.55. 

This house and techno festival’s set in Het Twiske, a lake-dotted park just north of the city. (Hop on the shuttle bus, or make like the locals and cycle from Centraal Station). For a one-day event, its line-ups are off the scale, with 50 artists spread across eight tents and stages. Need a break from the main arena madness? Head to the leafy garden stage or lakeside ‘sound healing’ zone. Best for: Back-to-nature vibes | Headline highlights: Sven Väth, Derrick May, Carl Craig, Floorplan, DJ Rush | Dates: 20 July 2019 | Ticket prices: €63.50.