As I now have been to three editions of Defqon (2015, 2017, and 2018) and countless of other camping festivals, I feel as though I am qualified to provide my tips to those of you making the epic pilgrimage to Defqon next year. My advice is directed primarily to Americans, because this is an American publication and I’m from the US, but it can be applied to anyone traveling to the Netherlands for Defqon!

1. Three Months Before Defqon

Buy your flight (if applicable) and festival tickets early and start making plans as soon as possible. I cannot emphasize this enough. Tickets usually sell out close to the event so get yours as soon as they go on sale in March to be safe! Moreover, arrange with your friends in advance what camping option you plan on doing.

How long should you stay in Holland?

If you’re coming from the US I would suggest at least a week. Your best bet is to arrive in Holland on Wednesday to rest up and explore. Then on Thursday get all the supplies you need for Defqon then later that night come to the QSA meet up in Amsterdam to meet our amazing group of Americans (shout out to QSA!). Then, Defqon goes from Friday to Monday, which leaves you with at least a day and a half to recover.

How should I get to Defqon?

If it’s your first time in Holland, Amsterdam is probably your best option. Getting to Defqon from Amsterdam is easy and you have a variety of options. However that being said, if it’s not your first time in the Netherlands go somewhere else, I live in the Den Haag area which is awesome, but Utrecht and Rotterdam are two other major amazing cities!

If you’re traveling in a large group I suggest renting a car. This past year my friends and I rented a car from Sixt from Schipol Airport. WARNING to Americans: cars are a LOT smaller here than in the US. You might think you are getting a seven person car but in reality it really only fits four people with all the camping supplies in the back (we stuffed six people and all of our camping supplies but it was a very tight fit). Also this might be obvious but please do not forget your credit card and passport when you go to pick up the car (this happened to my group of friends don’t let it happen to you!).

If you’re traveling solo or in a small group your best options are to either: (i) take public transportation to Dronten station then the Defqon shuttle; or (2) take the bus from Amsterdam (or wherever you are staying) to Defqon.

If you choose option (i) book your shuttle ticket online from the Defqon website. The shuttle buses leave throughout the day starting at 13:00 on Friday. Definitely get that shuttle ticket in advance because it fills up and increases in price. Additionally public transportation is very easy in the Netherlands, although a bit pricy. There is a very handy app/website that provides you with all the information you need (https://9292.nl/en). You can change the language to English after you download the app by clicking the wheel (settings) then click “Taal” and change it to “Engels”. If you plan on using the train, tram, or bus in the Netherlands you should purchase an OV chipcard. You can buy an OV chipcard from any train station just look for the large yellow machine, then you can load money on the card and travel anywhere in the Netherlands. This is cheaper than buying individual tickets.

For option (ii), you can book a bus trip from Event Travel (https://www.eventtravel.nl) from most cities in the Netherlands. I did this in 2017 from Den Haag and it was about 30 euros round trip. The only issue with the bus is its extremely slow, it makes a lot of stops, and then you are sitting in the bus line traffic at the entrance to Defqon. The bus we took in 2017 left Den Haag at 9:00am and we arrived at Defqon sometime after 13:00.

Where should I stay at Defqon?

This is obviously dependent on your personality and festival style. In 2015, I chose the regular ticket including a Defqon sleep package (tent, sleeping bag, etc), in 2017 I did friends camp with my 2015 tent, and this year I did regular camping with my own tent. If you’re interested in camping and do not live in the Netherlands your best option is probably to do either the regular camping option including the tent or friends camp including the tent. If you’re traveling in a large group friends camp is a great option because you get a designated camping area with picnic tables, a much faster check in and security line, and we even got Defqon power banks which we could charge at the stations! Personally, camping is my favorite part of Defqon because the party never ends and if you need anything throughout the day you could always just go back to the campsite to get it then the next day all you have to do is walk right into the festival!

Another great option is the tipi. Tipis come in different sizes and my friends always get them. It’s a great after party spot, its rain resistant, has electricity, and cots to sleep on. I also saw for the first time this year a Yurt (not sure if they had them in years passed), this is a large tent with electricity, beds, and is easily lockable. We walked past some pretty wild after parties in the yurts this year!

For those who like the convenience of staying at the festival but don’t want to camp can choose the comfort camping option. With this you are in a cabin with electricity, have access to an exclusive bar; chill area, bbq, breakfast and more. So if you have the money and are someone who needs privacy, sleep, or electricity this is for you.

If you’re not one for constant loud noise, getting disgusting, and large crowds (not sure why you wouldn’t like that-lol) there are also hotels, cottages, and apartments. However, if you do decide to stay outside of Defqon just keep in mind that you have to be on time to take the bus back to your accommodations and are subject to wait in long lines in both directions. However, three nights of camping (especially in the rain and it ALWAYS rains at Defqon) can be brutal so if you’re someone who needs to sleep, shower, and have access to Wi-Fi this is a good option for you.

Regarding showering at the Defqon campsites the lines can be long especially in the mornings. One of my friends always brings this great dry shampoo, Lush No Drought. Lush is a popular chain in the Netherlands so you can get it here or order it online.

One other thing to keep in mind is that a lot of places in the Netherlands do not take international credit cards, so bring some cash with you. The major places especially in Amsterdam take credit cards but smaller stores, cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores don’t.

2. One Week Before Defqon

As previously mentioned if possible you should arrive in the Netherlands a week before Defqon to get everything you need and get situated!

If you’re looking for camping supplies your best options is Decathlon (Americans, its like Sports Authority or Modell’s) and Action (Dutch version of a dollar store but better! Note: they do not take international credit cards). This year I just got a tent lock at Decathlon but they have tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, etc. Decathlon is your go to for the higher quality larger camping needs. From Action I got baby wipes, protein shakes, a collapsible cooler, and in the past an air mattress. Both of these stores are located all over the Netherlands and will come in handy a week before the festival.

A new essential camping item I discovered this year (shout out to Anne!) is the Wegwerp BBQ, this is a one-time disposal BBQ that you can easily use at the campsite. This is great for sausages, chicken, etc. and can be found at Hema (Dutch version of Target) or Gamma (Dutch equivalent of Home Depot).

With regard to food and drinks, Jumbo is a great grocery store that takes American credit cards (most don’t). The main grocery store in Amsterdam and in the Netherlands is Albert Hejin and for liquors its Gall & Gall. Your best bet for Defqon depending on your personal dietary needs is getting boxed wine, canned beer (bottles are prohibited), protein shakes, yogurt, granola/protein bars, juice, bread, meat, cheese (to make sandwiches), and some things to grill. Food at the festival is expensive although I always make sure to buy fries and a smoothie there because they are really good. If you do have dietary restrictions (such as celiac disease or a religious restriction) try to get a note from your doctor so you can bring in your own food and drinks onto the festival grounds.  I usually pack at least four protein shakes and coordinate with my crew so we have enough food and drinks to share. Then I usually set aside 40-50 euros for tokens at the festival. Unlike in the US, Dutch festivals do not accept any other currency except for tokens meaning you have to visit the token area (they are all over the camp grounds and the festival, they take international cards and cash) if you plan on eating or drinking that weekend. As for water, I recommend bringing a camelback backpack and just filling it up at the festival. They sell them for 25 dollars now on Amazon.

If you are looking for some good vitamin shops for some pre and post festival supplements while you’re here, Holland and Barrett (similar to GNC in America) is a great one. They have a discount card you can sign up for and always have specials.

3. At Defqon

You made it to Defqon, good for you! Try to arrive as early as possible and coordinate with your friends to secure your campsite. When I get there I usually set up, get tokens, get a program/timetable from the information then hang out at the campsite for a while until the Gathering starts. The Gathering is the official start of Defqon and it starts at 20:00. This past year the only two stages that were open were the Blue and Black stages (bring back the Yellow Silent Disco please!). This year there was also a small area in the sculpture garden where Dr. Peacock played under his Saint Benhard alias dropping some funky, psychedelic and dubby beats. This past year they also had a silent disco but not at yellow but that was still pretty cool! Then after The Gathering is over the party moves to the campsite!

Regarding the rest of the festival, the majority of the stages this year opened at 11:00. Even though I am sure you have a set list of DJs you must see (I used to be like that) take the time to explore all the stages (especially the Yellow Stage!) and to discover some new artists. Additionally, one of my favorite parts of Defqon is the Big Chill. Trust me at some point in the festival you’ll want to lie down in a large fishing net hammock contraption.

It gets cold here in the summer and rains a lot, so be sure you have a jacket with you and pants. I usually would wear shorts in the morning and then bring pants, my leather jacket, and a sweatshirt to put on later. I kept half of my stuff in my camelback backpack and fanny pack (all my power banks, gum, chapstick, charger, extra clothes, hand wipes, etc.) and the rest in a locker. You can rent the locker either on the website in advance or when you get there. One of my friends had one so we all shared it and it really came in handy!

For the end shows on Saturday and Sunday I suggest getting there early and sitting in the very very front left on the grass on the side of the stage. You will be seeing it from the side but you will have plenty of space to either dance or sit (I personally like to sit on the grass and watch the end show) and can more easily get out than just standing in the middle of the crowd. This is good advice for anyone who is short, the Dutch are the tallest people in the world so unless you are one someone’s shoulders it’s hard to see.

What should you do after Defqon? Go and get a kapsalon! Kapsalon is a Dutch-Turkish dish served usually in an aluminum tray consisting of fries, meat, cheese, and a bit of salad on top. You can find them at any snack bar or döner kebab restaurant.

So there you have it! Reflecting on this past edition, Defqon is by far one of my top three festivals in the world. The production level, the music, the energy, the decorations, and the fact that every year more than 200 Americans go are just a few reasons why Defqon is extremely special. This year my favorite sets were Rob Gee, Dr Peacock in Concert (at the red stage which was insane) and the Sickest Squad. I also personally love Power Hour (even though I am more of a Yellow Stage girl) for its insanity and energy.

My final advice is the most important! Take the time to rest, drink water, and eat, it’s worth it. Even if you can’t properly sleep just lay down in your tent for at least three hours a night, your body needs it. Furthermore, wear earplugs AS SOON AS YOU GET INSIDE THE FESTIVAL. Thunderplugs are great and are only 10 euros (www.thunderplugs.com). Also, always look out for your friends, this may be a once in a lifetime experience but your friends are more important than even your favorite DJ.

Reach out to me if you need any advice! See you at Defqon 2019!

Curious about my 2017 experience check out my party report here:
https://af5942a.wixsite.com/mcunicorn/single-post/2016/03/31/Whats-Cooking-Mexico

Disclaimer: The opinions and views in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the artists and organizations I work with or am affiliated with.