Defqon.1 festival cancels day tickets for Friday and Saturday due to extreme heat
Bad news for day ticket holders for the Defqon.1 festival for Friday and Saturday. The hardstyle festival in Biddinghuizen has canceled these tickets due to extreme heat expected on those two days. According to the festival organizers, the extra measures taken to protect attendees against the heat will be more effective at lower visitor numbers.
“This decision was not made lightly, and it comes with a very heavy heart. We know how much this weekend means to all of you. However, the health and safety of our visitors must always come first,” the organizers said on Instagram. The festival will continue as planned for people who have weekend passes. Day visitors on Sunday are also still welcome, at the current weather prediction.
The Netherlands is in the midst of a heatwave, which is expected to peak on Friday with maximums up to 39 degrees Celsius. A code orange weather warning is in effect and will remain so until at least Saturday.
“Due to the extreme weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, we, together with the authorities, have made the difficult decision to restrict access on those days to Weekend Visitors only. This was the only option to ensure the continuation of Defqon.1 this year,” the organizers said on Instagram.
The organizers said that they’ve taken every measure possible to improve visitors’ safety and well-being. “However, despite the additional precautions put in place, the combination of the forecasted temperatures and the visitor numbers expected on Friday and Saturday creates risks that we are not willing to take,” the organizers said. “Therefore, holders of Friday and Saturday Tickets will not be able to attend Defqon.1 on those days.”
“By significantly reducing the number of visitors on-site, and with the additional measures that have been implemented, we believe, together with the municipality and emergency services, that we can provide a safer environment for all Weekend Visitors. This includes more available shade, better access to facilities, and less crowding during peak moments.”
By canceling day tickets on Friday and Saturday, Defqon.1 expects around 15,000 fewer visitors per day on those days, a spokesperson for the festival told RTL Nieuws. The majority of Defqon.1 attendees hold weekend passes. Around 58,500 people are expected at the festival campsite.
The organizers will inform people with canceled tickets how to apply for compensation after the weekend. “We fully understand the disappointment this brings to everyone holding a Friday and/or Saturday Ticket.”
