All About AMF – Amsterdam Music Festival

January 16, 2023
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people-raving-in-front-of-stage-at-Amsterdam-Music-Festival
© @amffestival / Facebook

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Stadium

XL – 20-50k

Electronic

$$

International, Alternative

+3 Days

AMF (Amsterdam Music Festival) is one of City of Sin’s most lusted-after and EDM-fuelled celebrations.

The festival was the creation of ID&T and ALDA, two huge players in the Dutch dance industry, that came to fruition in 2013.

AMF is a core part of ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event), a massive electronic event that spreads its tentacles to 200 city venues with 2,000 shows.

Taking place at the Johan Cruijff ArenA – the famous football stadium southeast of Amsterdam – this one-night-only festival brings in audiences from all over the world year after year in mid-October.

AMF focuses solely on EDM, attracting tens of thousands of electronic dance music lovers, techno greenhorns and house aficionados to party from dusk to dawn.

Internationally known DJs are a common sight at this festival, as AMF brings in the blue-blooded electronic names to Amsterdam’s music scene. Some iconic artists that spun the decks at AMF are Alesso, Steve Angello, DJ Snake, David Guetta, and Armin van Buuren.

Here’s everything you need to know about AMF.

© AMF / Youtube

AMF Festival is a hub for electronic music lovers

ID&T and ALDA, two huge players in the Dutch dance industry, came together to create the first edition of AMF back in 2013. The music mecca’s first edition was originally set up to commemorate the 25th anniversary of dance music in the Netherlands.

It seems like AMF’s inauguration was more than well-welcomed, as it attracted 25,000 festival-goers to RAI, a convention center in Amsterdam.

crowds-in-front-of-dj-in-johan-cruijff-arena
© @amffestival / Facebook

After five years of partenering with ID&T, ALDA went solo in AMF’s production and took full ownership of the event. As the festival grew over the years, so did the city’s economy. This is all thanks to the hordes of festival-goers that flock to Amsterdam each year to relish AMF’s eclectic beats.

By attracting 35,000 revelers every year, the festival generated €28 million, greatly benefiting retailers, hotels, and transportation services.

The electronic giant boasts enviable lineups

Amsterdam Music Festival is at the forefront of everything it does – but when it comes to artists’ curation, this electronic celebration really shows off its skills.

AMF has been bringing some of the most popular DJs of our time since its inception. The festival boasts one of the most enviable lineups, which could easily translate into indicators for the year’s top artists.

steve-aoki-performing-at-Amsterdam-Music-Festival
© @amffestival / Facebook

Only blue-blooded DJs and major league artists graced AMF’s stage with iconic performances.

Whoever is big in the music industry has already been booked by AMF’s management.

Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, and Don Diablo are huge industry names that performed for AMF fans. Other DJs include Tiësto, Timmy Trumpet, Avalan, and The Chainsmokers.

AMF is in the famous Johan Cruijff ArenA

crowds-dancing-at-Amsterdam-Music-Festival
© @amffestival / Facebook

2014 marked the first year AMF was set in Johan Cruijff ArenA (formerly Amsterdam ArenA). With a capacity of over 50,000 people, the venue is the largest Amsterdam stadium and constantly hosts lusted-after concerts.

AMF’s 2013 edition was held in RAI Amsterdam, a smaller venue acting as a conference complex.

AMF boasts state-of-the-art audio-visuals

Although most festivals feature more than one stage, AMF places its bet on main stage’s audio-visual assets. With the variety of lighting systems, surreal stage production, and thumping beats, the Amsterdam festival ensures that ravers’ eyes will be instantly glued to the visual spectacle.

stage-design-at-Amsterdam-Music-Festival
© @amffestival / Facebook

Featuring an impressive stage design, this electronic festival seems to have a soft spot for awe-inspiring and mind-blowing visuals.

When it comes to production, the main stage showcases an impressive 400 robe fixtures light show that is bound to sweep you off your feet.

AMF takes over Amsterdam’s south

AMF gives festival-goers the opportunity to take in the beautiful Amsterdam and explore its streets before hitting the festival.

marshmello-in-central-amsterdam
© @amffestival / Facebook

Since AMF is located in the city’s south, it seems like space and comfort are always top-of-mind for festival organizers.

Rather than deal with the hassle of bringing your camping gear, AMF prefers its festival-goers to explore the city through its various lodgings, from hostels and Airbnbs to luxury hotels.

AMF Festival is part of the Amsterdam Dance Event

In 2015, the AMF extended the festivities to two nights and became the Amsterdam Dance Event‘s number one event.

ADE has been an annual gathering of the electronic music industry since 1996. Over five days and nights, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) hosts over 1,000 events in 200 locations, including AMF.

main-stage-at-Amsterdam-Music-Festival
© @amffestival / Facebook

When you don’t want to come down from the EDM-soaked high that AMF gave you the night before, the good tidings are that the party doesn’t stop.

From intimate underground raves to larger-than-life clubbing sessions, Amsterdam Dance Event shelters anything and everything that your reveler heart desire.

At Amsterdam Music Festival, you can party with your favorite DJs

Year after year, AMF brings some of the most roaring names in the electronic realm. The Amsterdam event leveled up the game with the Party Pit to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for AMF’s ticket holders.

Featuring an exclusive dance area behind the music heroes who spin the decks, this dance floor allows revellers to get up close and personal with their beloved DJs.

The Party Pit Upgrade is available for purchase after you buy a ticket, so hurry and get one because they usually sell like hot cakes.

At the end of the day, who doesn’t want to party two meters away from Martin Garrix?

Amsterdam-Music-Festival-view-from-the-party-pit
© @amffestival / Facebook

AMF plays host to DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs ceremony

For almost a decade, Amsterdam Music Festival joined forces with DJ Mag to name the best electronic artists and recognise their achievements.

© @amffestival / Facebook

The British magazine dedicated to EDM is known for its annual Top 100 DJs tradition, the world’s largest publicly voted music poll.

Along the meticulously curated list of artists, AMF starts the countdown for the awards ceremony with a special crowning of the World’s No. 1 DJ.

And just like that, AMF is the first one to reveal the vaunted list’s rankings in front of a packed house of screaming fans.

From merch to food vendors, AMF has it all covered

When your stomach churns, Amsterdam Music Festival has a wide array of food and drink vendors to refuel your body and satisfy your thirst. Scattered throughout the site, the food options are diverse enough to cater to anybody – from vegan snacks to vegetarian meals.

girl-wearing-amf-merch
© fashion.alda.nl

But if you want to add a dash of branded fashion to your AMF outfit, there are a plethora of merch booths on site.

Equipped with hoodies, backpacks, jackets and water bottles, those pop-up stores give you a little something to remind you of the ineffable electronic experience that AMF fosters.

If we talk safety, Amsterdam Music Festival allows revelers to store their safe through lockers with unlimited in-and-out access – should we also mention that your mobile phone gets charged while stored?

AMF collaborates with Dance4Life to end AIDS

In 2015, AMF chose Dance4Life as their non-profit organization to educate young people on the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The charity aims to empower young people by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to protect their sexual health. With over tens of thousands of festival-goers attending from 100 countries, AMF has the ideal platform to spread awareness about such an important issue.

amf-campaign-with-dance-4-life
© @supportDance4Life / Facebook

Every year, depending on how many tickets AMF sells, a specific amount of each ticket is donated to the charity. For example, AMF raised €11,599 with 50 cents for each ticket sold.

Now that you know everything you need to know about the AMF festival, find your way to Amsterdam for the next edition for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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