Five days, hundreds of dance floors and a city that doesn’t quite sleep. Amsterdam Dance Event is back for its 30th anniversary, and we’ve asked one of our very own Hox Friends to show us around.
Every October, Amsterdam streets are fill with music lovers, the city’s most unexpected corners become dance floors, and the usual nine-to-five makes way for something a little less predictable.
From 21–25 October, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) returns for its 30th anniversary. And for the second year running, The Hoxton, Amsterdam is joining the celebrations as an official ADE partner, with five days of music, food and good company at Lotti’s Restaurant & Bar.
But there’s a whole city to discover beyond our doors. So we’ve called on a familiar face to help us navigate it all: Boris Coelman, Amsterdam-born DJ, event organiser and one of our Hox Friends. After playing at The Hox during ADE last year, he’s back behind our decks this October. We handed him the reins to share what makes ADE so special, where to go and which local artists deserve a spot on your radar.
Born and raised in Amsterdam, music has always been a big part of my life. With two music-loving parents, I grew up listening to everything from Miles Davis to Underworld, which shaped my broad taste in music. After years of playing the piano, I started DJing at 13 and organising events at 17. I’ve been involved in Amsterdam’s music scene ever since.
ADE has always held a special place in my heart. Every year, it transforms my hometown into a global meeting point for music, creativity and culture.
For me, ADE is one big melting pot of music fanatics from all over the world. Whether you’re an artist on stage, a lighting operator behind the scenes, a promoter, an agent or a creative director, people from all backgrounds and disciplines come together through their shared love of music.
And that’s exactly what makes it so special. ADE is about much more than just partying and nightlife. Beyond the dance floors, there’s a whole programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions, art and other music-related experiences to explore.
I love the hectic, slightly chaotic energy it brings to Amsterdam. Suddenly, there’s something happening on every street corner, with events popping up in the most unexpected places. It’s fascinating to see how many people travel here simply for their love of music or curiosity about the industry behind it.
Having grown up here, I feel incredibly lucky that one of the world’s biggest electronic music gatherings takes place in my own backyard. And even after all these years, ADE continues to surprise and inspire me.
– Boris Coelman, DJ, Event Organiser & Hox Friend
22.10 | Palet (b2b Scarlett O’Malley), Sissi’s
23.10 | Audio Obscura, G Star Raw Factory
24.10 | The Hoxton, Amsterdam – Lotti’s Bar
25.10 | Todd Terry & Friends, Het Sieraad
With over 1,200 events across 300 locations, choosing where to go is almost impossible. There are so many exciting things happening, but I’ve narrowed it down to a few music-focused favourites. From orchestral performances to sweaty club nights, here’s where I’d spend my ADE.
Wednesday, 21 October
- KYBBA & Metropole Orkest | Melkweg | Dancehall, bass and Caribbean sounds meet a full orchestra for a special ADE opening concert.
- Jean-Michel Jarre | AFAS Live | An electronic music pioneer celebrating 50 years of Oxygène. A must-see for the heads.
- S!RENE | Paradiso | One of the most skilled DJs I know, blending Afro influences, hip-hop, funk and electronic music.
Thursday, 22 October
- Elias Mazian x EINDER by Boris Acket | Centrale Markthal | Dreamy live music meets an immersive light installation. Stick around for Djrum afterwards.
- Polifonic x SMIIILE | Klaproos | Adventurous B2B sets, great house music and an inclusive dance floor.
- Palet ADE Special | Sissi’s | A personal favourite (I might be biased!). I’ll be playing B2B with Scarlett O’Malley alongside DJ Swisha, Gabrielle Kwarteng and NewTone.
Friday, 23 October
- Bronka x Kurashi | Sissi’s | A taste of Brazil, with baile funk and electronic music from local and international DJs.
- French II | Paradiso | Bass-heavy breaks and techno. His live set was one of my highlights at Draaimolen this year.
- SPIELRAUM | RAUM | A 55-hour celebration of queer club culture. Expect packed rooms, sweaty dance floors and very little sleep.
Saturday, 24 October
- Rush Hour | Rush Hour Store | An intimate in-store session with Ron Trent and Soichi Terada. One for the vinyl lovers.
- Brighter Days x Life and Death | Shelter | Kamma & Masalo, DJ Tennis and more, bringing soulful sounds and plenty of groove.
- Homegrown | Phono Lake | Jyoty’s intimate lakeside party with a secret lineup. Expect the unexpected.
Sunday, 25 October
- Noclubs | Ingang | Frits Wentink, Naone, Mad Miran and Tammo Hesselink. Playful selections at one of Amsterdam’s newest club spaces.
- CODA | Lofi | A deeper, more experimental side of electronic music, with Aurora Halal, Konduku and more.
- FSTM | Skatecafe | One of my favourite venues, with Eris Drew, DJ Masda, Call Super B2B Ryan Elliott and some brilliant local talent.
Special Venues
What makes ADE so special is that the entire city becomes part of the experience. During these five days, almost any space can become a venue. From bakeries and coffee shops to trams, churches and hotels, there’s music around every corner.
Even The Hoxton transforms into an all-day party spot, with DJs taking over from noon until midnight, five days straight. How often do you get to dance in a hotel as iconic as The Hoxton, right on the canals in the heart of Amsterdam?
While I love a good club night, I’m equally excited about the more unusual spaces that open their doors during ADE. Here are a few worth exploring.
- Gashouder | One of Amsterdam’s most iconic electronic music venues finally reopens after years of renovations, and I can’t wait to see its new chapter.
- BAJES | A former prison turned cultural playground, where music, art and creativity take over.
- Ingang | One of Amsterdam’s newest club spaces, bringing fresh energy and underground sounds to the city.
- ARTIS | Electronic music inside a zoo? From the Aquarium to the Planetarium, this is definitely one of ADE’s more unexpected settings.
- Thomaskerk | A beautiful church hosting ambient listening sessions by ZERØBPM, perfect for slowing things down between parties.
- G-Star RAWFACTORY | Raw industrial architecture meets Audio Obscura’s large-scale productions for one final ADE edition at this location.
Names To Remember
Amsterdam is full of incredible local talent, and ADE is the perfect time to discover some new favourites. Picking just a few is nearly impossible, but here are 15 DJs and producers I think deserve a spot on your radar.
- Neska | A brilliant selector who knows how to take you on a musical journey with unexpected tracks.
- Malou | Bringing a refreshing mix of Italo and electro to Amsterdam’s dance floors.
- TINS | Rhythmic drums, swinging vocals and an incredible ability to get any crowd moving.
- Mixolydian | Two talented brothers producing deep, progressive house grooves that keep you dancing for hours.
- Merel Helderman | A true musical talent with impressive productions and carefully curated selections.
- Alec Dienaar | One of my favourite upcoming producers, with a distinctive sound full of groove and drive.
- Vasco | A master of warm, organic selections that feel familiar, even when you’ve never heard them before.
- Lylo | Beautifully built, uplifting sets that take you on a journey from start to finish.
- Foghan | A serious record digger with a collection full of quality house music and unexpected gems.
- Midas Field | Consistently delivering groovy, swinging house productions that are hard not to love.
- Malindi | Joyful disco, soulful house and infectious energy that will have you smiling on the dance floor.
- Estrella | A talented vinyl DJ with a passion for house music and a knack for surprising selections.
- Jaimy | Deep, emotional house records selected with real heart and soul.
- SOLIT | A true house music enthusiast who knows exactly how to build groove and tension on the dance floor.
- PHIA | A versatile DJ with fresh, unexpected selections that keep you on your toes.
My advice? Don’t just follow the big names. Leave room in your schedule to discover someone new. Some of the best ADE moments happen when you least expect them.
The Hoxton as Your ADE Living Room
And when you need somewhere to land between it all, you know where to find us.
For the second year in a row, The Hoxton, Amsterdam is an official ADE partner, and this October, our newly redesigned Lotti’s Bar is turning into an all-day meeting point for music lovers.
From 21–25 October, we’re bringing five days of DJ sets, local and international collectives, good food and plenty of reasons to stick around. From @sandunga.events groove and @jangal_ams x @rec.ess R&B, to disco-fuelled sessions with @la_discotheque and everything in between, there’s something for every kind of ADE mood.
You’ll find Boris back behind our decks too (Saturday 5-7PM), returning after playing at The Hox during last year’s ADE celebrations.
Hungry? Join us for Dine to DJs, where dinner comes with a soundtrack, or stop by for Recovery Brunch over the weekend. Whether you’re gearing up for another night or recovering from the one before, we’ve got you covered. Book through lottis.com
Discover what’s happening at The Hoxton, Amsterdam during ADE, 21–25 October 2026.
ADE Page The Hoxton
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Stay up to date: @lottisamsterdam
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