This was: A State of Trance 2025

A State of Trance (ASOT) returned to Rotterdam Ahoy on February 21-22, 2025, for another unforgettable weekend celebrating the best in trance and electronic music. The two-day festival brought together over 40,000 passionate fans worldwide, showcasing an impressive variety of trance subgenres across five uniquely designed stages. As my third ASOT experience and second time at Rotterdam Ahoy, I was eager to see how this year’s edition would unfold. Friday kicked off with two areas open until 1 AM, while Saturday expanded to the full five-stage experience, keeping the energy flowing until 6 AM.

Venue

Rotterdam Ahoy proved once again why it’s the perfect home for ASOT. The venue’s layout was thoughtfully organized, making navigation between stages effortless even during peak hours. Clear signage directed attendees to each area, eliminating confusion that often plagues large-scale events. The sound quality was exceptional throughout, with each stage featuring finely tuned audio systems that delivered crystal-clear highs and powerful bass without distortion.

One particularly welcome feature was the abundance of seating areas strategically placed around the venue, offering welcome respite between dance sessions. The spacious corridors prevented bottlenecks (an upgrade from last year!), while the overall flow of the venue created a seamless experience from entrance to exit. Compared to other large electronic music festivals, ASOT at Rotterdam Ahoy sets the gold standard for logistical excellence and attendee comfort.

Food & Drinks

ASOT 2025 stepped up its culinary game with a diverse range of options catering to all tastes and dietary preferences. The food court offered substantial meals including original Philly cheesesteaks (€11) with special versions ranging from €11-14, and importantly, vegan alternatives were available. Other options included loaded nachos (€9.50), fries (€5.95), smoothies (€6.95), bananas (€2.50), and döner kebab (€12) with vegan options as well.

The beverage selection was equally impressive, with medium beers priced at €4 and large beers at €7.50. Other options included Desperados and hard seltzers (€6.50 each), water (€5), Pepsi/Pepsi Max and 7-Up (€3.85), iced tea and energy drinks (€5.50), wine (€5.50), and cocktails ranging from €10.50 to €11.50. The cashless payment system was efficient and convenient – card payments were accepted directly, eliminating the need for tokens. For those with cash, special cards could be loaded with funds at designated stations, streamlining the purchasing process.

Stages

ASOT showcased five distinctly designed stages, each with its own personality and atmosphere. Area One, the mainstage, was truly larger than life, featuring balconies on each side and a VIP section at the back offering exclusive views behind the DJ booth. The room’s grandeur was enhanced by towering LED screens and spectacular pyrotechnics that perfectly complemented the high-energy performances.

Area Two made a bold statement with its massive LED tower resembling a skyscraper at the center, surrounded by crossing laser beams that created geometric patterns throughout the space. The industrial lighting and raw energy of this area perfectly suited the deeper, more intense sets performed there.

Area Three occupied the space where Area Four was positioned last year, centrally located near the food court. Its multi-level built structure created interesting perspectives from which to experience the music.

Area Four offered a more intimate setting featuring an impressive LED light installation spanning the entire ceiling, creating an immersive canopy of light.

Perhaps the most talked-about was Area Five, designed as an illuminated tunnel with strings of lights creating an otherworldly atmosphere. As visitors entered this space, they were surrounded by LED panels that pulsed in sync with the music, creating what felt like a portal to another dimension. This area quickly became a fan favorite, with many returning throughout Saturday night just to experience its unique ambiance.

What made ASOT 2025 truly special was how each stage offered a completely different vibe while maintaining perfect sound quality and expertly executed lighting designs. Adding to the global nature of the event, Areas One and Two were live-streamed on ASOT.tv, allowing fans worldwide to join the experience virtually.

Music

Now let’s dive in to the line up. The music at ASOT 2025 perfectly demonstrated the evolving nature of trance music while honoring its roots. A notable highlight was the collaboration between ARTBAT and Armin van Buuren, delivering a high-energy set that blended danceable house vibes with trance elements. Their performance included crowd-pleasers like Bigfett’s “Takatum,” Charlotte de Witte’s remix of “Age of Love,” Meduza’s “Friends” (Artbat Remix), and singalong favorites like Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition” and Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.”

Ferry Corsten once again proved his versatility and consistency, surprising fans with an eclectic set that included his track “Yes Man,” alongside Flowjob’s “Fall from Space,” Brainchild’s “Symmetry C,” and Neutron’s “Poly.”

One of the weekend’s most anticipated performances was Armin van Buuren’s face-to-face set with Maddix. In my 17+ years of attending electronic music events, this unique format created an unforgettable experience as the two artists traded tracks and energy back and forth. Highlights included “Computers Take Over the World” (Maddix remix), T-78 & Roberto Molinaro’s “Bombacid,” and even Showtek’s hardstyle classic “FTS.” The crowd went wild when they premiered their new collaboration “Mouth Go La La,” and sang along passionately to “Lose This Feeling.”

Another boundary-pushing performance came from Armin van Buuren and Adam Beyer’s back-to-back set, which seamlessly blended trance and techno, demonstrating Armin’s versatility as not just the king of trance but a global leader in the dance music scene. Their set featured tracks like “Mr Navigator” and “Come with Me,” captivating the audience with their genre-defying selections.

My personal favorite set of the weekend came from Rocketman, whose fusion of psytrance and hard techno delivered incredible energy. His performance included “4am in the Rave,” “Piano Concerto No. #1,” his track “Una Hora Mas,” “Da Hard House Shit,” and my current favorite, “90s Bitch.”

Atmosphere & Overall Impressions

The atmosphere at ASOT was electric from start to finish. The passionate crowd, comprised of trance lovers from across the globe, created a sense of unity that elevated the entire experience.

The production values were exceptional, with state-of-the-art sound systems and lighting rigs that transformed each area into its own universe. While the event was impressively organized, there were moments when certain areas became somewhat crowded, particularly during headline performances. However, the thoughtful layout of the venue made it easy to navigate even during these peak times. My only minor disappointment was the reduced representation of psytrance compared to last year’s edition.

Overall, A State of Trance 2025 successfully built upon its legacy while pushing boundaries with innovative stage designs and bold line up choices. The event solidified its reputation as the premier trance gathering worldwide, bringing together diverse subgenres and creating memorable moments that will sustain fans until next year’s edition. For trance enthusiasts, ASOT remains an essential pilgrimage that continues to elevate the genre while honoring its rich history.