Amsterdam Dance Event 2024 was an incredible experience, full of sound, culture, and a thriving community that turns the city into a lively dance hub every October. This year’s event went beyond expectations, pulling attendees right into Amsterdam’s musical core with highlights all the way through. With five days of non-stop activity, ADE demonstrated why it remains one of the most anticipated gatherings for electronic music fans worldwide. The event included over 1,000 happenings across 200 venues, with around 3,000 artists, making the entire city come alive with an energy that left no corner untouched.
Wednesday: Wheeling Through Amsterdam’s Electric Nights
Cycling through Amsterdam’s cobblestone streets is a perfect way to dive into ADE. Starting Wednesday evening, the buzz was everywhere. Riding from venue to venue, stopping along the glowing canals, feeling the crowds—each moment felt like an adventure. It set the stage for everything that was coming—pure excitement and connection.
Wednesday night featured a host of activities, one of which was Tomorrowland presents Afterlife Amsterdam 2024. The show lived up to its reputation, offering otherworldly visuals that felt almost surreal. Heavy-handed techno matched the entrancing visual show the event series is so well known for, making for a night that was both top-tier and mind-blowing.
Fotograaf: Jasper ten Tusscher
Thursday: Panel Discussions & Insights
Thursday was a more relaxed day, perfect for taking in insights from industry leaders. The ‘Meet The Media’ panel, with its fun speed-dating networking style, was executed with excellence and was a stand-out. It was relaxed and gave artists, media, and fans a chance to connect naturally in an easygoing setting. Later, the EDM.com Networking Event across the river offered a chill hostel-setting where everyone could hang out, chat, and vibe to DJ sets.
Thursday night’s Kompass MGMT boat party was an experience that perfectly captured the spirit of ADE. The coolest part was when the crowd jumped to the beat, making the entire boat bob up and down due to the weight of everyone moving together. Even when you stood still, you felt the ground shifting beneath you, which made you want to join in with the flow of the motion. The music flowed over the water, and the boat swayed with the rhythm, making everyone feel part of something special. The crowd was alive—dancing, laughing, and truly connecting. It was one of those moments where you could just feel the magic of ADE, with the music bringing everyone together into a shared experience you’ll never forget.
Friday: Low Steppa and Defected Showcase
By Friday, the city was in full swing. I made my way to the Defected showcase that evening where Low Steppa was in charge when I arrived. The 360 set up of the DJ booth made the moment, as the crowd could be positioned around the DJ at any point. His set all the house magic he is known for all rolled into one special set, totally bringing Defected’s style to life as well. The crowd was right there with him, feeding off every downbeat, and Low Steppa knew exactly how to keep that energy high, kicking off the weekend perfectly.
Saturday: Panels and Nostalgia
Saturday started with a panel called ‘The EDM Boom: Lessons From the 2010s.’ It was a chance to reflect on how far electronic music has come. The talks were full of nostalgia, celebrating the decade that helped EDM go global.
The real highlight of Saturday was AMF—Amsterdam Music Festival. As the venue lit up, the excitement was undeniable. Everyone was waiting for one of ADE’s biggest moments: the reveal of the DJMag Top 100 DJ rankings for 2024. The atmosphere was electric, with lights and pyrotechnics kicking and the crowd going wild. AMF was the ultimate celebration of where electronic music stands today.
Fotograaf: Jasper ten Tusscher
Reflections and Moving Forward
ADE is about getting lost in Amsterdam—biking from venue to venue, catching the vibe at iconic spots, meeting new people over the music. These moments are what ADE is all about, and my time at the 2024 edition was unforgettable, pack-jammed with insightful panels, incredible sets, and a real sense of community. Amsterdam Dance Event is the place for anyone who lives for the music and the stories behind it.
This year’s ADE set a new bar, blending music, culture, and community in a way that captured the spirit of electronic music.
Connect with Amsterdam Dance Event
https://x.com/ADE_NL
https://www.instagram.com/amsterdamdanceevent
https://www.linkedin.com/company/amsterdam-dance-event/
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