PinkPop is undoubtedly one of my top favorite adventures I’ve ever done on my travels! Hosted in Landgraaf, Netherlands every summer, PinkPop is an international music festival that draws top names like Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Hozier, Greta van Fleet, and Niall Horan.
What to Expect
From the moment you arrive, you are overwhelmed with PinkPop’s history. Walking up to the field, each light pole is decorated with a banner of a poster from PinkPop festivals past. The walk starts with posters from PinkPop’s earliest days and progresses to posters from the past few years, like you’re walking through a living portfolio of the festival and its history.
Unlike some festivals, PinkPop is quite spread out in the best way. There are two main stages across the field from one another where most of the larger acts and headliners will perform. There is also a smaller stage towards the entrance and a tent stage for smaller and new artists. But the fun doesn’t stop there.
PinkPop is more than just performances. On site there are silent discos, record stores, vintage merch stores, merch stands … you name it.
PinkPop spans over three days, and while you can choose just one day of the festival to go to, many decide to camp out and make a weekend out of the experience.When you camp, there is a full campsite close to the main field with a variety of options. There are the traditional campsite options where you will bring your tent and anything you need and camp out on sites A and B. Or, if you’re feeling boujee, you can go glamping. If you choose the glamping route, the tents are fully set up for you with a few extra amenities.
My First PinkPop – Summer 2024
Though my family has been to PinkPop before, my first PinkPop experience was just last summer! I had always heard the stories of artists that performed, fun antics on the campgrounds, cool merch, etc. and I’ve been waiting so long to finally go … and it definitely lives up to all of the hype.
Last summer, the roster featured Hozier, Greta van Fleet, Måneskin, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Limp Bizkit, and Loreen, among others. I was initially so nervous about navigating the festival dynamic, but PinkPop is definitely a great first festival to start off with.
Luckily, because of the nature of PinkPop being so spread out, you never feel super cramped when you’re listening to a show, and the camaraderie is amazing. I remember when I was waiting in the front pit section for Ed Sheeran, everyone started to sit and play games while we waited. People brought UNO, were singing songs, and just having a great time relishing in the joy of all being together to celebrate a love for music.
Tokens
One of my favorite unique things about PinkPop is actually their token system. Rather than having to pull your wallet out all day, when you first arrive on the camp grounds you actually purchase a set amount of tokens for the day (that you can always upgrade) to use as your festival currency. Each token can be used to get a drink, a snack, hearty meal, whatever the case may be. PinkPop also has implemented a guaranteed recycling initiative where in order for you to purchase a drink in a plastic cup, you must turn in a drink token. And, to get the drink token back, you have to recycle your plastic cup in one of the designated areas in order for a staff member to grant you another one. It’s the little things like this that make PinkPop stand out and feel like such a wholesome experience.
When you go to use these tokens, I have a few recommendations for food you simply have to try. In the heat of June, there’s no better way to start of your festival day than with a cool smoothie. My first stop on the festival grounds was to the smoothie and acai bowl stand where I got a tropical coconut smoothie and it was the perfect breakfast that filled me up and also kept me cool throughout the day. If you’re looking for a light snack, I also highly recommend the spring rolls. Spring rolls at a music festival you might ask? Yes, they are so good and a perfect light snack to have in the heat.
The Pink Bucket Hat Legacy
A blog about PinkPop wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the famous PinkPop pink bucket hats. Yes, you’ll see the typical leather jackets, boho chic, glittery outfit types at PinkPo; but one thing that remains constant over the years is that literally every other person has a bright pink PinkPop bucket hat on. The hats have become so famous to the festival’s legacy that some artists even give the hats a shoutout when they’re on stage. If you’re looking for PinkPop merch to truly symbolize your experience at the festival, this rite of passage might be the way to go.
I could go on and on about the festival, but the best way to learn more is to go out and experience it for yourself. If you’re an adventurer who loves music and loves to be immersed in other cultures, I couldn’t recommend it more. If you have any questions about anything discussed, let me know in the travel questions form. Have any recommendations on where I should travel to next? Let me know in the recommend an adventure form.
