10 triumphant years: Dekmantel’s biggest ever festival is still a tight-knit community of electronic music obsessives

As I roll into the campsite on Thursday afternoon for four days of Dekmantel —this time with a remarkable crew of 30+ Northerners—I instantly feel at home. People are all around, cracking cans and chatting heads off. With so much on offer, like Actress and Space Afrika performing live in the city centre in the evening, staying put at the campsite is a tough decision. But as I dance the night away on the homemade campsite beach and reconnect with familiar faces, I set a mission for myself this year: to fully embrace the atmosphere and soak in the environment of the Bos, rather than slipping into my usual dark room, head-down, deep-in-the-abyss routine of Amsterdam’s clubs.

From its early days the festival has grown significantly, yet it continues to maintain a close-knit community atmosphere, a characteristic often lost as festivals expand. Dekmantel makes conscious changes to the stage experience, including redesigns and soundsystem upgrades, while preserving the close proximity of its eight stages. Although close to one another, each stage maintains a distinct atmosphere, both visually and in terms of the overall vibe. The most notable change for this year’s edition was at The Loop, which was designed as a 360-degree circle. According to Creative Director Albert van Abbe, this design was intended to symbolise unity and create a space for the audience to “celebrate Dekmantel together as one united crowd.”

Across the line-up, Dekmantel maintains its reputation for showcasing a diverse range of electronic music, featuring established artists like Jeff Mills, Carista, Young Marco, Jyoty and Palms Trax flexing their might, as well rising talents such as Amor Satyr b2b Siu Mata, Otis, and Nick León deliver dynamic performances, contributing to the festival’s forward-thinking approach to dance music.