Draaimolen Festival future uncertain as venue becomes unavailable, petition launched

The future of Draaimolen Festival is under threat.

Organisers behind the Dutch electronic music event have launched a petition calling on local authorities to allow the festival to continue taking place in Tilburg’s forested MOB-complex, its home for the past six years.

The festival team has been told the site “will no longer be available” to them. In the absence of an alternative location, this means Draaimolen will “cease to exist”.

“Losing Draaimolen would mean losing a platform for art, music, nature, and social involvement. It is a place where working from the heart is a priority and where creativity and innovation take centre stage.

“Despite many challenges, we have proven that independent, not-for-profit operations can exist if you believe in them enough,” wrote the festival organisers.

They also emphasise Draaimolen’s contribution to the local ecosystem: “This future is inseparable from the MOB-complex. Since 2019, the site has been at the core of everything that Draaimolen does. Independent ecological studies show that their presence not only safeguards but actively strengthens local biodiversity.”

At the time of writing, the petition has collected 4,852 signatures of its 25,000 goal. Find out more and sign here.

Draaimolen 2025 is due to take place on 5th-7th September with sets from Ben UFO, Smerz, Batu, Godflesh and many more. Tickets are still available from the Draaimolen site here.