Best Kept Secret Festival 2027 – Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands

Overview

Best Kept Secret is a three-day music festival held in the Beekse Bergen in the village of Hilvarenbeek, west of Eindhoven in North Brabant, Netherlands. Since its launch in 2013, the festival has focused 100 percent on music, with a strong, sharp lineup in which big names are interspersed with new discoveries from indie, folk, hip-hop, rock, electronica and mixtures of styles.

The festival site is built around a lake at the back of Beekse Bergen safari park, surrounded by forest, beach, and swimming water. The centerpiece is a lake that creates a natural amphitheater and a calm backdrop unlike traditional open-field festivals. The location includes a nearby bungalow park and campsite, plus dedicated facilities and food and drink outlets.

Organized by Dutch booking agency Friendly Fire, Best Kept Secret was conceived with a clear vision described by its founder as aiming to create something that we would like to go to ourselves. The festival maintains an intimate capacity, originally limited to 15,000 daily visitors and later to 25,000 tickets, to guarantee the best experience for attendees. It has received nominations for Best Festival Line-Up and Best Medium-Sized Festival at the European Festival Awards and won Best Festival Award at IJzeren Podiumdieren.

What Makes This Event Special

Forest and Lake Setting: The festival takes place inside Beekse Bergen, with stages nestled among woodlands and along a lake. The natural environment provides shade, swimming opportunities, and a tranquil atmosphere that contrasts with the high-energy performances.

Music-First Curation: Unlike multi-disciplinary events, the organization focuses entirely on music quality rather than side attractions. Big names are alternated with emerging artists, allowing attendees to discover new acts between headliners.

Intimate Scale: Capacity is intentionally capped to avoid overcrowding. This approach preserves sightlines, short walking distances, and a community feel despite world-class headliners.

Food Lineup Concept: Since the first edition, Best Kept Secret introduced a food lineup alongside its music lineup. The organization strives for diverse and sustainable food options including vegetarian meals, soups, juices, and hand-picked food trucks.

Safari Park Proximity: The Beekse Bergen safari park surrounds the festival, creating a unique location where music meets nature. Attendees can stay in bungalows, use the beach, and enjoy the natural surroundings.

Design and Sustainability: The festival emphasizes visual identity, sustainable catering, and a well-managed campsite and bungalow park, contributing to its reputation as one of the highlights of the Dutch festival season.

Lineup / Featured Artists

Best Kept Secret books around 100 artists, bands and DJs across five stages, with headliners spanning multiple genres.

Recent Headliner History: Past and upcoming editions have featured Gorillaz, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Jack White, Michael Kiwanuka, Soulwax, Deftones, TV on the Radio, Wilco, Justice, PJ Harvey, Paolo Nutini, Disclosure, Aphex Twin, The Chemical Brothers, Oscar and the Wolf, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Strokes, alt-J, Jamie xx, Kraftwerk 3D, Bon Iver, Christine and the Queens, Arctic Monkeys, LCD Soundsystem, The National, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Run the Jewels, Beck, Editors, The Libertines, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, A$AP Rocky, Elbow, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, Damien Rice, Sigur Rós and Portishead.

Stage Structure:
ONE: Open-air main stage overlooking the lake for major headliners.
TWO, FIVE and SEVEN: Large tent stages for indie, rock and alternative acts.
THREE and FOUR: Dance floor stages dedicated to electronic and club programming.
The Casbah: A dive bar and hang-out added for the 2017 edition hosting hardcore bands.
SEVEN: Smaller tent stage for experimental performers added in 2019.

Discovery Focus: Each day includes a mix of international stars and new discoveries such as Weaves, Glass Animals, Big Thief, Fontaines D.C., Parcels, Viagra Boys, and Merol. Day splits are carefully curated so indie, folk, hip-hop and electronic acts are spread throughout.

Genre Balance: The lineup covers indie rock, folk, hip-hop, dubstep, rock, electronica, and mixtures, with no single genre dominating.

Event Experience

The experience is centered on music immersion in a natural environment. Attendees enter through a forested entrance leading to the lake, where the main stage sits with water behind. Woodlands provide shade during daytime sets, while beach areas allow for swimming between performances.

Days begin with smaller tent acts and build toward lake-stage headliners in the evening. The three tent stages offer continuous programming, while the two dance stages host late-night electronic sets. The Casbah provides a late-night dive bar atmosphere for heavier sounds.

The crowd is diverse in age, with the festival welcoming young and old. The atmosphere is described as open, friendly, and discovery-oriented, where attendees plan to see headliners but stay for unknown names.

Food and drink are integral, with more than 50 hand-picked food trucks in some editions, offering sustainable and vegetarian options. The campsite and bungalow park are adjacent, allowing easy returns during the day. Facilities include well-maintained toilets, showers, and charging points.

Date & Schedule

Event Dates: June 11–13, 2027
Official Website: https://www.bestkeptsecret.nl/
Contact: info@bestkeptsecret.nl
Location: Beekse Bergen 1, 5081 NJ Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands

Schedule Structure: The festival runs Friday through Sunday with camping opening on Thursday and extending to Monday morning. Programming typically runs from early afternoon until late night.

Daily Flow: Friday features opening acts and first headliner on ONE. Saturday includes full day programming across all seven stages. Sunday closes with final headliners and extended late-night sets in dance stages.

Ticket Sale Timing: Weekend tickets traditionally go on sale in late November at 10:00 AM, with day tickets following in February. Early purchase is recommended as the first edition was a sellout.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Location & Venue

Best Kept Secret takes place inside Beekse Bergen, within the village of Hilvarenbeek in the south of the Netherlands, west of Eindhoven.

Address: Beekse Bergen 1, 5081 NJ Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
Venue Type: Safari park lake resort with forest, beach, and open water
Capacity: Approximately 25,000 tickets to preserve intimate atmosphere

Stage Layout:
ONE: Open-air lake stage for 15,000+ audience, centerpiece of site
TWO: Main tent stage opposite ONE
THREE and FOUR: Dance floor stages for electronic programming
FIVE and SEVEN: Tent stages for mid-size and experimental acts
The Casbah: Indoor dive bar venue

Site Features: Forest paths, beach swimming area, bungalow park, campsite, food truck area, and market area. The lake provides natural cooling and scenic backdrop. All stages are within 10 minutes walk.

Accessibility: The site is largely flat with some sandy forest paths. Viewing platforms are available.

Event History

Best Kept Secret was founded in 2013 by Dutch booking agency Friendly Fire. The first edition was held with 15,000 visitors daily and was a complete sellout. From the start it focused 100 percent on music, alternating big names with new discoveries.

In 2014 the festival continued with Elbow, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Lykke Li and Pixies, earning nominations for Best Festival Line-Up and Best Medium-Sized Festival at European Festival Awards.

The 2015 edition featured The Libertines, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, A$AP Rocky and alt-J. The food lineup concept expanded with vegetarian and sustainable options.

2016 brought Beck, Editors and Jamie xx, maintaining weekend ticket price stability. 2017 introduced Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Run the Jewels, plus The Casbah dive bar.

2018 featured Arctic Monkeys, LCD Soundsystem and The National. 2019 presented Kraftwerk 3D, Bon Iver and Christine and the Queens, with Maurits Westerik becoming new director, replacing Robert Swarts.

Editions scheduled for 2020 and 2021 were canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic. The festival returned in 2022 with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Strokes, alt-J and Jamie xx.

2023 featured Aphex Twin, The Chemical Brothers and Oscar and the Wolf. 2024 presented Justice, PJ Harvey, Paolo Nutini and Disclosure. 2025 included Michael Kiwanuka, Soulwax, Deftones, TV on the Radio, Wilco and Barry Can’t Swim.

The 2026 edition announced headliners Gorillaz, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Jack White, continuing the tradition of strong, sharp curation in early to mid June.

Getting to the Event

By Air: Fly into Eindhoven Airport, 30 minutes drive, or Amsterdam Schiphol, approximately 90 minutes by train and bus. Schiphol is super-connected with direct trains to Tilburg and Eindhoven.

By Train: Take a train to Tilburg Central, then bus 143 or festival shuttle to Beekse Bergen. From Tilburg station, travel time to site is approximately 25 minutes. From Eindhoven, bus connections are also available.

By Car: Drive to Beekse Bergen 1, Hilvarenbeek. On-site parking is available with a car park ticket historically priced around $13.50. Carpooling is encouraged. Bungalow guests receive separate parking.

By Bike: Hilvarenbeek is bike-friendly with dedicated lanes from Tilburg. Bike parking is free and supervised.

Shuttle: Official shuttle buses operate from Tilburg station during festival days, included for some ticket types.

On Site: Walking is primary mode. Distances between ONE and furthest tents are under 10 minutes. Forest paths can be sandy, so sturdy shoes are recommended.

Where to Stay Nearby

Festival Campsite: Official campsite adjacent to festival, included with camping tickets. Offers tent pitches, with showers, toilets and charging points. Camping ticket historically priced at $24.50 for three days.

Bungalow Park: Beekse Bergen Safari Resort offers bungalows and lodges sleeping 4 to 8 people, directly adjacent to festival with private lake access. These sell out months in advance and are booked via Beekse Bergen.

Comfort Camp and Secret Fields: Festival offers pre-pitched tent upgrades and better facilities without traditional VIP separation. Includes Comfort Camp with pre-set tents and Secret Fields with enhanced camping.

Hotels in Hilvarenbeek: Small hotels and B&Bs in Hilvarenbeek village, priced $110 to $180 per night during festival weekend.

Hotels in Tilburg: Larger city 20 minutes away with hotels ranging $100 to $200 per night, plus easy bus connection.

Hotels in Eindhoven: 30 minutes drive, wider selection $120 to $220 per night.

For Families: Bungalow park is ideal for families and groups wanting more comfort while staying close to forest and beach.

Things to Do Before or After the Event

Safari Park: Beekse Bergen Safari Park offers safari tours among wild animals, boat safaris on the lake, and walking safaris. Many attendees extend stay to visit park.

Beach and Swimming: The lake beach provides swimming water during and after festival days, ideal for daytime relaxation.

Tilburg City: Visit De Pont Museum of contemporary art, Textile Museum, and vibrant city center with cafes and record stores.

Eindhoven: Explore design district, Philips Museum, and Stratumseind nightlife street.

Nature Walks: Hilvarenbeek forests and nearby Kampina nature reserve offer hiking and cycling trails.

Cultural Extensions: Combine with other Dutch festivals in June, as Best Kept Secret is early to mid June and often coincides with other European tours.

Food Exploration: The region is known for Brabant hospitality, breweries, and farm shops selling local products.

Restaurants & Dining Nearby

On-Site Food Lineup: More than 50 hand-picked food trucks with diverse sustainable options including vegetarian meals, soups, juices, wood-fired pizzas, Asian street food, and gourmet burgers. The organization strives for quality and sustainability over typical festival fast food.

Beekse Bergen Restaurants: Safari Resort restaurants offer family dining, grill, and lake-view terraces, with main courses $18 to $32.

Hilvarenbeek Village: Local restaurants and cafes along Diessenseweg and Gelderstraat serve Dutch and Brabant dishes, Italian, and casual bistros, with mains $16 to $28.

Tilburg: Larger selection including restaurants around Piusplein and Heuvel, with international cuisine, craft beer bars, and specialty coffee, mains $18 to $35.

Festival Bars: Bars serve local beers, including Jupiler partnerships, cocktails, and specialty coffee. The Secret by Jupiler Kin’gongolo bar is a recurring feature.

Dietary: Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are clearly marked and widely available since introduction of food lineup concept.

Ticket Information

Tickets are sold through bestkeptsecret.nl/tickets and primary partner Eventix. Only official tickets are valid.

Weekend Ticket: Three days access without camping historically priced at $136 based on 125 euros excluding service. With camping included historically priced at $185 based on 170 euros plus fees. More recent editions start at $250 based on 230 euros including campsite, and $233 based on 215 euros excluding campsite.

Day Ticket: Single day access historically priced at $75 based on 69 euros, later $97 based on 89 euros, and $108 based on 99 euros excluding 10 euros service costs.

Camping Ticket: Add-on for three days historically priced at $24.50 based on 22.50 euros.

New Gen Tickets: Discounted tickets for fans up to age 21, expanded in recent years to include day tickets following successful launch.

Hotel + Weekend Packages: Combine bungalow and weekend ticket, priced depending on bungalow size and occupancy, typically starting around $300 per person.

Car Park: Ticket around $13.50 based on 12.50 euros.

If 2027 pricing has not been announced, previous edition pricing from 2022 to 2026 applies as reference with weekend tickets ranging $250 to $280 including camping and day tickets $97 to $120.

Tips Before You Go

Buy Early: The first edition sold out completely. Weekend tickets traditionally go on sale in November and sell quickly. Set reminder for 10:00 AM sale time.

Choose Bungalow for Comfort: If you prefer not to camp, bungalow park offers better facilities and is still within walking distance of ONE.

Bring Swimwear: Beach and swimming water are part of the site. Many attendees swim between sets.

Prepare for Forest Terrain: Paths are sandy and forested. Bring sturdy shoes and light rain gear. ONE is open-air so sun and rain protection needed.

Explore New Discoveries: The lineup deliberately intersperses big names with new artists. Allow time for discovery rather than only headliners.

Use Official Transport: Buses from Tilburg are most reliable. Car park fills early.

Sustainable Packing: Bring reusable bottle. The festival provides water points and emphasizes sustainable food.

Official Event Information

Website: https://www.bestkeptsecret.nl/
Email: info@bestkeptsecret.nl
Ticket Sales: Through official website and Eventix
Location: Beekse Bergen 1, 5081 NJ Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
Organizer: Friendly Fire booking agency
Dates: Early to mid June annually, three days Friday to Sunday
Capacity: Limited to 25,000 tickets for best experience

Attendee Experiences

Attendees describe Best Kept Secret as a festival that delivers incredible live music and memories that last a lifetime, with a strong focus on music quality over commercial aspects.

First-time visitors note the beautiful lake setting and forest shade as immediate differentiators from open-field festivals. Many highlight discovering new artists between headliners due to sharp curation.

Returning visitors appreciate the capped capacity that keeps queues short and sightlines clear. The bungalow park is frequently cited as ideal for groups wanting comfort without leaving the site.

Food experiences are consistently praised due to hand-picked vendors and sustainable options. The dive bar The Casbah is mentioned for late-night hardcore shows that contrast with main stage indie.

Families note that everyone is welcome young and old, with a relaxed atmosphere that works for both dedicated music fans and casual weekend visitors.