For us it also felt a bit like a home game, because after a 20-minute drive we set foot in Schijndel. A village that on a normal day has about 24,030 inhabitants, but during Paaspop that number grows to more than 120,000 visitors in one weekend.
Organizer Peter Sanders of The Live Group, who is also present at Festivak this year, shows here how to build a festival concept that impresses nationally and internationally. The very first thing you notice when walking across the grounds of Paaspop is the ambiance. Everything you see is covered in a real Paaspop sauce. Everywhere you look you see detail, atmosphere and craftsmanship. From millions of lights to gigantic stage constructions and sets straight out of a surreal theater world. You find yourself in a miniature city with completely elaborate worlds. It is precisely this abundance that makes Paaspop a total experience where creativity, technology, production and entertainment come together. And where an enormous diversity of artists are only too happy to climb the stage to show their skills.
Old and new beats
Love hip hop? Paaspop got you. Prefer hardstyle? Why not. Or why not sing along to Dutch hits? No problem either. If your taste in music was not to be found at Paaspop, it probably doesn't exist. The line-up was extensive, surprising and just plain awesome.
Renowned names like Kensington, DI-RECT, Guus Meeuwis and De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig were on the program. But Dutch and Belgian top talents like S10 and Pommelien Thijs also made an impression. The good old days revived with the beats of Scooter, Sean Paul and living legend Paul Elstak. In addition, international stars such as Song Contest darlings Baby Lasagna and KÄÄRIJÄ entered the stage. And if that wasn't enough, Paaspop also programmed an extensive cabaret program including Martijn Koning.
Giants in decor
While the artists were conquering the stage, backstage they were fighting just as hard to create the most spectacular set ever. One of the absolute eye-catchers was undoubtedly 'The Giant'. BNL TentConcepts made its mark on Paaspop with an imposing structure that could accommodate no less than 21,000 visitors. Bigger even than Ahoy or Ziggo Dome! And because the tent is completely free of support poles, every visitor has a perfect view of the stage.
Slightly smaller, but certainly no less impressive, were the tents of Shelterking. Kings of covering. With the Casa Bacardi, among others, they once again showed how atmosphere and functionality come together perfectly. We also met Flor Brôhm, CEO of Roxxi. During Paaspop, Roxxi was responsible for the design, production and realization of various set pieces and the decoration of various stages and areas, including Apollo and Social Club. Last year, Roxxi designed the large iconic F at the entrance for Festivak, among other things.
Local heroes
That all good things don't have to come from far away is something Paaspop proves every year with strong local partners from Schijndel. Like Epic Shelters. Because during a festival in early April, you simply can't have enough shelter spots. And fair is fair, these shelters provided not only comfort, but also impressive pictures. Epic with a capital E.
Another local force is The Purple Group. Without these creative minds, Paaspop would breathe a lot less atmosphere. For over twenty years, they have been providing the technical support for the festival, each year with a unique plan that results in a spectacular show. And better a good neighbor than a far friend, Paaspop must have thought. Because they also shop for suppliers in neighboring towns. For example, Freyja from Nuenen is present every year with all the fencing around the stages and campsite.
Even more acquaintances from Festivak
We feasted our eyes this day, let ourselves be surprised on the grounds and spotted many more acquaintances, all from different disciplines. Because a good festival experience is no longer just about artists and beautiful tents. It's about the complete experience. A big radar work in which everything has to fit together perfectly. From suppliers for road plates and stage builders to artists and security services, everyone contributes to that total experience. And certainly safety plays an important role in that.
That's why CNTRLwas there . With cameras and temperature and humidity meters, the site was continuously monitored. This allows for quick action and communication with visitors and medical teams. And those medical teams were there in the form of EMS, among others. Ronald van Litsenburg, with Event Medical Service, provides professional medical assistance and first aid during the festival.
On our way to the stage we walked past the coin machines and came across our partner Pay Systems . For years, they have ensured that during Paaspop, all payment flows behind the scenes run smoothly and that every transaction reaches the right place. And once we arrived at the Oasis stage, we saw another old acquaintance there: Dr. Robinson live on percussion! From tents to crowd control and artists to payment systems. It's incredible how there is so much progression across the board every year and how innovations and new initiatives spring up like mushrooms every year.
Paradise Hotel
And it's not just the quality of the festival and festival grounds that gets better every year. Even festival campsites have now evolved into almost full-fledged glamping sites. Of course, here and there you can still spot the classic one-person tents, but after a long day of rocking, raving and partying, more and more visitors are opting for a little more comfort. In Paradise City, you will find not only tents, but also complete mini hotel rooms. And there we also find Flexotels. They provide temporary, foldable accommodation at Paaspop that gives festival nights that extra bit of luxury.
And to make the camping experience complete, there was of course our familiar Event Super. The place to go for fresh croissants in the morning, hangover food and all the basic necessities to start a new festival day fresh.
Festivak family at Paaspop
We proudly walked around at the beginning of April on one of the most beautiful productions in the Netherlands. All over the grounds we met Festivak participants, from stagebuilders and technical partners to creative suppliers and security professionals. It's great to see how many companies from our industry contribute to the overall experience of Paaspop.
If this becomes the level of the coming months, we have a fantastic festival season ahead of us. And also very nice, in November all these parties will come together again during Festivak.
Do you want to hear the story behind these suppliers and partners, or do you want to know more about the success behind Paaspop? Then mark November 18 and 19 in your calendar. On Wednesday, November 18, Festivak organizer Peter Sanders will share all the ins and outs about building a successful festival concept.
