When the Dutch government reversed its decision to allow live public events to go ahead this summer, the industry response was swift and uncompromising. Music festival promoter ID&T immediately filed legal action to try to reverse the ban. Since then, more than 40 event organisers in the country have joined the lawsuit.
“For us it was basically a slap in the face,” says Rosanne Janmaat, head of operations at ID&T, speaking after the cancellation of its flagship Mysteryland dance music festival that had sold out of its more than 125,000 tickets — the sixth event the company has been forced to ditch this summer.
“Electronic music is closely linked with Dutch culture, so it feels like something worth fighting for,” says the ID&T executive, adding that the country’s wider events sector — including trade fairs — generates €7.2bn in annual revenues and supports 100,000 jobs. “This is a fight for the future of the industry.”