Tomorrowland, one of the world’s most renowned electronic dance music festivals, returned for its 18th edition in 2024, celebrating its symbolic 20th anniversary. The festival took place across two weekends, with the second weekend running from July 26-28 in Boom, Belgium.
The Spirit of Life
This year’s theme, “The Spirit of Life,” transformed the festival grounds into a mesmerizing world of fantasy and wonder. The organizers went above and beyond, creating an immersive experience that began even before the festival with the release of a novel detailing the origin story of the theme. This attention to detail set the stage for an unforgettable weekend.
Getting There
Traveling to Tomorrowland from the Netherlands was a breeze, taking about three and a half hours from The Hague to the Crowne Plaza near Brussels Airport. The shuttle service between the hotel and the festival grounds was efficient and seamless, making transportation a stress-free experience throughout the weekend.
Venue
De Schorre, a 75-hectare provincial recreation area in the quiet town of Boom, Belgium underwent a magical transformation for Tomorrowland. The park was converted into an enchanted forest, serving as the perfect backdrop for the festival’s fantastical theme.
Food & Drinks
Out of all the festivals I’ve attended in my 16 plus years of raving, Tomorrowland definitely sets the bar when it comes to food and drinks. It’s important to note that the festival uses its own currency, pearls (1 pearl = €1.82), loaded onto wristbands or cards for easy transactions. Definitely keep this in mind when budgeting for the festival, to avoid draining your bank account. From self-service beer stations to gourmet dining experiences, there was something to satisfy every palate:
– Chef Pam, Asia’s best female chef, hosted a food stand at Mesa Garden
– Two upscale restaurants featuring 13 world-renowned chefs
– 45 food caterers and three mixologists
– Specialty options like the Brassa BBQ Experience and the Tomorrowland Dining Experience overlooking the mainstage
The variety was impressive, with options ranging from loaded fries and Indian curry to sushi, paella, and artisanal sandwiches. Tomorrowland even had its own sparkling wine, Sola Vida, a refreshing collaboration with Spanish winery Vallformosa. As a rosé fan, I drank the Solo Vida rosé most of the weekend, delicious!
When it came to the prices, Tomorrowland food and drink prices are pretty standard for festivals of a comparable size. A small beer or a small portions of fries were 3.50 pearls for example.
Stages
What’s unique about the Tomorrowland stages this year was that the mainstages from previous years were repurposed into new smaller stages, for example Planaxis and Melodia. Let’s take a deep dive into each of the 16 stages (17 if you include the secret stage). Throughout the festival there were also even some pop-up stages like the mini stage that was on wheels by the bathrooms by Atmosphere.
Mainstage
The crown jewel of Tomorrowland, standing 36 meters high with 1,600 square meters of video tiles. It featured 43 fountains, twelve water pumps, and four waterfalls, all synchronized to the music. The stage design paid homage to the ‘Elixir of Life’ theme from 2016, set in the mythical realm of Silvyra. A highlight was the giant flower at the top of the stage that opened and lit up during performances.
Freedom by Bud
An indoor multi-level structure dubbed “the world’s best night club” by the Tomorrowland team. It boasted a massive LED backdrop, giant dragonfly decorations, and an impressive array of spotlights, creating an epic clubbing experience.
The Rose Garden
A personal favorite, featuring a giant animatronic female dragon emerging from the water. The dragon’s head moved and emitted smoke, while its tail alternated between being above and below the water surface, showcasing impressive technological innovations.
Elixir
Built on water, this theatrical stage was home to urban and Latin beats. It also doubled as the inspiration for Tomorrowland’s new perfume line, adding an olfactory dimension to the festival experience.
Cage
An underground 360-degree stage for harder styles and techno. Its dark warehouse vibes and ability for attendees to dance behind the DJ created a unique, intimate atmosphere. On Sunday, it was notably packed when hosted by Brownies and Lemonade.
The Rave Cave
The festival’s smallest stage, set in a tunnel. Despite its size, it was so popular that crowds often spilled into the street. Fun fact: Amelie Lens started her career at this very stage.
Planaxis
A new water-based stage with a giant conch shell design, complete with fountains. DJs had to take a boat to reach the booth, adding to its unique appeal. This stage embraces the 2018 theme of Tomorrowland City of Planaxis.
Melodia by Corona
Inspired by the 2015 theme “Secret Kingdom of Melodia,” this stage featured a giant harp centerpiece, repurposed from the original organ-like castle design.
Rise Stage by Coke Studio
Featuring a stained-glass DJ booth, this stage focused on sustainability and young talent. It hosted performers under 18 and even featured some great psytrance on Sunday afternoon.
Atmosphere
A techno lover’s paradise with a custom-made tent structure and large capacity. It featured a backline of LED screens and insane pulsating lights on the ceiling that synchronized with the music, creating a relentless techno underground vibe.
Crystal Garden
A magical floating stage adorned with plants hanging from the ceiling and drifting on the water. Steam rose from all sides, and fountains shot up behind the stage, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
CORE
Nestled deep in the forest, this stage paid homage to Tomorrowland’s shows in Tulum, Mexico and Medellin, Colombia. It featured a half-head inflatable structure designed to look like stone. Interestingly, the entire stage was developed for touring and could fit into a single container.
The Library
A stage created entirely from giant books, hosting a mix of Future House, Big Room, and Hardstyle. It paid homage to electronic music pioneers, including a tribute to the late Tim Bergling (Avicii).
Moose Bar
An après-ski style stage with a real pub atmosphere, where attendees could buy actual pints of beer instead of the standard festival cups. It featured sing-along tracks like “Europapa” and Dutch classics, complete with an outdoor patio seating area.
House of Fortune by JBL
A new addition offering 360-degree party experiences. At one point, the floor literally shook from the intensity of the crowd’s jumping and dancing.
The Portal to Paradise by Tulum
A secret stage accessible through an elaborate scavenger hunt involving QR codes scattered throughout the festival grounds. Inside of the secret stage area was an exclusive treehouse, where you could climb to the top for a bird’s-eye view of Tomorrowland.
Music
Tomorrowland 2024 featured an impressive and diverse lineup of DJs from around the world. The festival also showcased emerging talents, with the youngest DJ being only nine years old, and featured a strong representation of female artists like Amelie Lens, ANNA, B Jones, Indira Paganotto, Nervo, Sara Landry, and Mandy.
Some of the standout performances for me included:
B Jones
Kicked off Friday afternoon with an energetic set that had hundreds of Spanish fans gathering before her performance. She mixed mainstage bangers like “Show Me Love” and “Satisfaction,” creating an electric atmosphere filled with Spanish flags and unparalleled excitement.
Swedish House Mafia
A bucket-list performance for many, including myself. Their set was filled with nostalgia, featuring classics like “Greyhound,” “One,” “Don’t You Worry Child,” “Lose My Mind,” and “More Than You Know.” The experience of seeing all three members together after 16 years of raving was truly special.
Hardwell
Closed out Friday night on the mainstage with a mix of classics like “Everyday I’m Shufflin'” and “Freed from Desire,” alongside newer hits such as “Follow the Light.” True to form, Hardwell closed his set with a hardstyle finale that had the crowd going wild.
ANNA
The Brazilian powerhouse delivered an amazing set at Crystal Garden on Saturday evening. The stage’s fountains shot up in perfect sync with her pulsating beats, creating a mesmerizing audio-visual experience.
Steve Aoki
Always one for a show, Aoki’s Tomorrowland set was no exception. He dropped bangers like “Voices in My Head,” “Whole Again,” and “Hiro,” keeping the energy high throughout. The surprise appearance of Vin Diesel during his set added an extra layer of excitement.
David Guetta
Closed out the festival on Sunday night with a set that perfectly balanced nostalgia and current hits. From the top of the hill, laser beams cut through the air as fireworks illuminated the sky. Guetta played an eclectic selection of classic sing-along tracks such as “Gimme! Gimme!” and “What Is Love.” The set featured a heavy dose of 2010s throwbacks, including “Put Your Hands Up for Detroit,” “Work Hard, Play Hard,” “Where Them Girls At,” and “When Love Takes Over.” A poignant moment came when Guetta dropped “Levels” as a tribute to Avicii, expressing his desire to bring back the vibe of that golden era of EDM.
Atmosphere and Organization
Tomorrowland’s attention to detail in creating a magical atmosphere was evident throughout the festival. From the illuminated pathways to the nightly fireworks displays, every aspect of the event was designed to transport attendees into a fairytale world.
The festival demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability and inclusivity:
– Recycling stations and staff with recycling backpacks were readily available
– Quiet spaces for new mothers and chill areas for those needing less stimulation
– Clear signage promoting a safe space for all attendees
Final Thoughts
Tomorrowland is a festival that every electronic music lover should experience at least once in their lifetime (for me twice and already planning next year). From the meticulously crafted stages to the diverse lineup and top-notch organization, it’s clear why Tomorrowland remains a bucket-list event for EDM fans worldwide.
Overall, the weekend was an incredibly magical experience. However, experiencing festival weekend two versus weekend one you do miss out on some of the magic of walking up to the mainstage for the first time. Due to social media and the content coverage from the first weekend, by weekend two a lot of information and surprises during the festival are already available online.
Another observation concerns the secret stage. Prior to attending the festival this year, I had seen on social media some information regarding how to find the secret stage but actually it was much harder than it looks. You had to go around the entire festival and scan QR codes. The Tomorrowland app provided very limited clues. After scanning the QR codes you had the chance to enter the secret stage, however due to capacity issues it was at most points full. It was unfortunate for those who took the time to scan every single QR code and still were unable to enter. A piece of feedback I have for next year is rather than scanning one QR code to get access, people can only get access if they scan all 12 since it wasn’t fair to the people who scanned all 12 and couldn’t get in compared to someone who just scanned one.
All in all, Tomorrowland is one of those festivals that I will continue to return to because of its commitment to the small details. Around every corner of Tomorrowland there is something unique to experience, from the post office to a paddle tennis court, to a tattoo parlor, every piece tells a story, and every year there is something new while simultaneously paying homage to the past. Being at Tomorrowland is truly entering a fairytale storybook world which is what festivals are all about. It’s an escape from reality that brings people together from all walks of life united for the love of electronic music and that’s what makes it truly special.
