Huntenpop Festival 2027 – Ulft, Netherlands

Overview

Huntenpop is the largest annual two-day music festival in the east of the Netherlands. Since 1991, the Dutch pop music festival has been held every year in the Gelderland town of Ulft, in the heart of the Achterhoek region. What began as a small tent festival in Varsselder has grown into a major regional festival held at DRU Park, the former ironworks complex that is now one of the most distinctive cultural parks in the Netherlands.

The festival traditionally starts on a Friday evening and runs through Saturday night, with camping available on site. Visitors can stay at the festival campsite and enjoy street food at the festival market, alongside multiple stages featuring rock, pop, hip-hop, dance and metal. Over the years, Huntenpop has presented an exceptional lineup of national and international performers, including Within Temptation, Ilse DeLange, The Kooks, Therapy?, Di-rect and many more.

Set in the industrial heritage of DRU Park, with its old factory halls, water tower and blast furnace structures, Huntenpop combines high-level production with a warm, community-driven atmosphere that is typical for the Achterhoek. It is both a music festival and a regional celebration.

What Makes This Event Special

Industrial heritage location: DRU Park is a former ironworks. The festival takes place among historic factory buildings, which are now venues for culture, music and art. The site is listed as DRU Park, Emailleplein 1, 7071 BV Ulft and DRU Park De Doorsteek, Silvolde, Ulft. The combination of brick halls, steel structures and green parkland creates a unique backdrop you will not find at a standard festival field.

Largest in the East: The festival is described as the largest annual two-day music festival in the east of the Netherlands. This status means it can book national headliners while keeping ticket prices accessible and the atmosphere personal.

Camping with gezelligheid: Huntenpop is known for having the gezelligste festival camping van Nederland. The camping is adjacent to the park, with breakfast options, quiet and party zones, and direct access to the site. Many visitors treat the weekend as a short holiday.

Genre diversity: Rock, indie, hip hop and electronic music are all part of the program. The festival is known for showcasing popular genres from rock to hip-hop and blues, so you can move from a heavy rock set to a Dutch pop singalong to a dance act within minutes.

Regional identity: The Achterhoek hospitality is central. Local beers, food vendors from the region, and collaborations with DRU Cultuurfabriek make it more than just a lineup of bands. The festival is organized by Stichting Huntenpop, based at Hoofdstraat 28, 7076 AJ Varsselder, which has kept the local roots intact.

Lineup / Featured Artists

Huntenpop has a packed schedule with performances from top artists every year, with a mix of international names, Dutch headliners and breakthrough acts.

Historical highlights include:

• Within Temptation, The Kooks, Peter Pan Speedrock, Lacuna Coil, Selah Sue, The Bloody Beetroots, Therapy?
• The Offspring, Danko Jones, De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig, Junkie XL, Shantel, DeWolff in the 2009 edition
• Golden Earring, Dotan, Kovacs, Fresku, My Baby, Paul Elstak, Lucas Hamming in 2016
• Son Mieux and Di-rect in 2023
• JOHAN, Charlotte Wessels, Ch!pz and Bizkit Park tribute show in 2024
• Therapy?, Bizkit Park and Di-rect scheduled for 2026-2027 cycles

What to expect for 2027:
The organization announces new names gradually, with updates like Nieuwe namen, line-up bijna compleet posted on the official site. Expect:

Friday evening: One major Dutch rock/pop headliner, one international rock legacy act, plus rising Dutch indie and hip-hop acts on the second stage

Saturday: Full day program from early afternoon with multiple stages, including a heavy stage in the factory hall, a pop stage in the park, and a dance/hip-hop area

The 2027 lineup continues the tradition of mixing established names with local talent from the Achterhoek and Gelderland, including tribute concepts like Bizkit Park that pays tribute to nu-metal legends like Limp Bizkit, Korn, System of a Down, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Deftones and Disturbed.

Event Experience

Huntenpop offers a complete festival weekend, not just concerts.

Music: Four to five stages including the main outdoor stage, the DRU factory hall, a tent stage and smaller acoustic stages. Production is professional with full lighting and sound, but the distances are short, so you can catch many bands without missing acts.

Camping: The festival campsite is a core part of the experience. It includes showers, toilets, breakfast service, phone charging and a campsite bar. The camping vibe is known as particularly social and safe, with space for both party tents and family tents.

Food and drink: A large festival market with street food, local specialties, vegetarian options, craft beer bars, cocktail stands and coffee. DRU Park itself has permanent catering venues that operate during the festival.

Culture: During the day, you can explore the DRU complex, including exhibitions, the water tower viewpoint, and art installations. The park area allows for chilling between sets.

Atmosphere: The crowd is mixed, from teenagers to longtime regulars who have attended since the Varsselder tent days. The festival has no strict age restrictions noted historically, making it accessible for a broad audience, with a friendly security approach.

Date & Schedule

Event Dates:
Huntenpop Festival 2027 will take place on August 20–21, 2027. The official website lists the edition as HUNTENPOP – 20 & 21 augustus 2027 – DRU PARK ULFT.

Schedule:
Based on previous editions that took place on similar weekends:

• Friday: Gates open at 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with opening acts starting in the early evening. Music runs until 12:30 AM to 1:00 AM. In previous years, Friday was listed as starting at 6:00 PM at DRU Park.
• Saturday: Gates open at 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, with first bands at 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Continuous programming across all stages until 12:30 AM to 1:00 AM.
• Camping check-in: Friday from 12:00 PM, check-out Sunday by 12:00 PM.

The detailed timetable with stage times is published on huntenpop.nl in late June and early July, under the Nieuwe namen announcements.

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

Location & Venue

Venue: DRU Park, Ulft, Netherlands. Official addresses used are Emailleplein 1, 7071 BV Ulft and De Doorsteek, Silvolde, Ulft, part of the DRU Industriepark.

Venue details: DRU Park is a 20-hectare former iron foundry transformed into a cultural park. It includes the DRU Cultuurfabriek, which has hosted 87 concerts between 2011-2024, the Dru-park with 45 concerts, the Dru-fabriek with 30 concerts, plus factory halls used for Huntenpop. The park has permanent infrastructure for large events, including paved paths, park lawns, industrial halls, and a canal.

Layout: Main stage in the open park area, second stage inside the industrial hall, third stage in a tent, plus a smaller acoustic or hip-hop stage. Food market is central, with bars distributed to avoid long queues.

Accessibility: The park is largely flat with paved and grass areas. Accessible viewing areas and accessible toilets are provided. The industrial halls are accessible, though some historic floors may have limited thresholds.

Event History

Huntenpop traces back to 1989-1991 when it started in Varsselder. Early editions were held in a Feesttent on Berghseweg, Varsselder, with listings for 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and onward showing one-day tent festivals with local and national acts.

The festival grew from a local party to a regional festival. By 2004, the lineup already included international names like Oomph!, Popa Chubby, Schandmaul, The Gathering and The Kelly Family, with tickets at 25 euro and camping plus breakfast possible.

By 2009, the festival was at Dru-park, Ulft, with major names like The Offspring, Junkie XL, De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig, The Black Angels and Pete Murray, confirming the move to Ulft and the DRU site.

The move to DRU Park allowed for expansion to two days and multiple stages. In the 2010s, the festival regularly booked Within Temptation, who have played four times, as well as Therapy?, Lacuna Coil, Selah Sue, The Kooks and many Dutch chart acts.

The 2022 edition was promoted as HUNTENPOP 2022 – 12 & 13 augustus 2022 – DRU PARK ULFT with a fantastic lineup and the gezelligste festival camping van Nederland.

Recent years show continued growth: 2023 on 11 & 12 August, 2024 on 16 & 17 August with acts like Antoon, Bad Madicine, Balkanova Orchestra, 2025 on 22 & 23 August, and 2026 on 21 & 22 August. The 2027 edition continues this late-August tradition in the Achterhoek.

Getting to the Event

By car: Ulft is in the municipality of Oude IJsselstreek, near the German border. From Arnhem, take A12 to Doetinchem then N72 to Ulft. From Enschede or Germany, take A18. Parking is organized at designated fields around DRU Park De Doorsteek, Silvolde. Follow signs to DRU Park and Huntenpop parking. Parking tickets are often sold separately from festival tickets.

By public transport: Take train to Doetinchem or Terborg, then bus 40 or 74 to Ulft, DRU Park stop. From Arnhem Centraal, it is about 45 minutes by train plus bus. NS and Arriva operate connections. The park is a 5-minute walk from the Ulft bus stops.

By bike: The Achterhoek is ideal for cycling. Many visitors cycle from Doetinchem, Silvolde and Gendringen. Bike parking is free and supervised near the main entrance.

From Germany: The festival is close to the border, so many German visitors attend. From Bocholt or Emmerich, it is 20-30 minutes by car or bike.

Shuttle: In recent years, a festival shuttle has operated between Doetinchem station and DRU Park on Friday and Saturday.

Where to Stay Nearby

Festival camping: The official Huntenpop camping is the most popular option. It is located adjacent to DRU Park and offers standard camping pitches. Facilities include showers, toilets, breakfast tent and 24-hour security. The camping is known for its social atmosphere.

Hotels near Huntenpop Festival: Hotels near the venue are available in Ulft, Silvolde and Doetinchem. The official site recommends checking the official Huntenpop Festival site for specific information on hotels, restaurants and parking garages around the venue.

Specific options:

• DRU Hotel and boutique stays within DRU Park itself, in renovated factory apartments
• Hotels in Doetinchem, 10 minutes by car, with full range from budget to 4-star
• B&Bs in Silvolde and Varsselder, many run by local families
• Holiday parks in the Achterhoek, including bungalow parks around Ulft and Gendringen

Book early because late August is high season for the Achterhoek and the camping often sells out before the festival.

Things to Do Before or After the Event

Explore DRU Cultuurfabriek: The cultural factory has exhibitions, a library, theater and cafes. The water tower offers a view over the park and the Achterhoek.

Achterhoek cycling routes: Rent a bike and ride through the Oude IJssel valley, with stops at breweries and farms.

Doetinchem city center: 10 minutes away, with shops, terraces and the historic Simonsplein.

German border towns: Visit Bocholt for shopping or Isselburg for historic castles.

Water recreation: The Oude IJssel river runs through Ulft and is suitable for canoeing and SUP.

Local breweries: The region has several craft breweries that often have stands at the festival, but you can also visit their taprooms before the weekend.

Restaurants & Dining Nearby

At DRU Park:

• DRU Grand Cafe and industrial restaurants within the factory halls, serving lunch, dinner and local beers
• Food market at the festival with street food, from burgers and fries to Asian, vegan and local Achterhoek specialties

In Ulft and surroundings:

• Local eateries in Ulft center, within walking distance, including Dutch snack bars, pizzerias and cafes
• Restaurants in Silvolde and Gendringen offering traditional Dutch and regional dishes
• Doetinchem has a larger selection, including Italian, Indonesian and modern Dutch restaurants

Tip: Many festival visitors eat at the DRU complex before gates open, as the permanent restaurants have more seating and shorter queues than the festival stalls.

Ticket Information

Tickets for Huntenpop Festival 2027 are available via https://www.huntenpop.nl/ and official ticket partners.

Historical pricing reference:
Early editions listed tickets at 20 euro advance sale, 25 euro at the festival and camping at 7.50 euro. Modern editions have adjusted for scale.

Based on recent editions, converted to USD:

• Friday Day Ticket: $55 to $65
• Saturday Day Ticket: $75 to $85
• Weekend Combi Ticket without camping: $110 to $130
• Weekend Combi Ticket with camping: $130 to $155
• Camping upgrade: $25 to $35
• Parking ticket: $15 to $20 per car per weekend

What is included: Access to all stages, access to DRU Park facilities, free use of drinking water points, access to camping if camping ticket purchased. Food and drinks are not included and are purchased via token or card system.

Resale: Official resale is handled via TicketSwap or the official ticket provider. Avoid unofficial sellers.

Contact for tickets: info@huntenpop.nl

Tips Before You Go

Bring layers: Late August evenings in the Achterhoek can be cool, especially near the river and industrial halls. A hoodie or light jacket is useful for the camping.

Prepare for grass and brick: The site mixes grass parkland and old factory brick floors. Wear comfortable closed shoes that can handle both.

Cashless: The festival has moved to pin and card payments for most bars and food, but keep some cash for small market stalls.

Explore the site early: Arrive early on Saturday to see the DRU buildings, the water tower and the art installations before crowds build.

Respect the industrial heritage: DRU Park is a protected industrial heritage site. Follow signs, do not climb on historic structures outside designated areas, and use marked paths.

Official Event Information

Official website: https://www.huntenpop.nl/
Email: info@huntenpop.nl
Location: DRU Park, Emailleplein 1, 7071 BV Ulft, Netherlands
Organizer: Stichting Huntenpop, Hoofdstraat 28, 7076 AJ Varsselder
Socials: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for aftermovies and lineup announcements
Ticket info: Available via official site and authorized partners

For lost items, news about new names and camping info, check the official site news section that posts updates like Nieuwe namen, line-up bijna compleet.

Attendee Experiences

Attendees describe Huntenpop as the most gezellig festival in the east, with a mix of serious music and village friendliness. Longtime visitors remember the Varsselder tent days and appreciate how the festival has kept its local character despite moving to a larger industrial site.

Reviews highlight the diversity of the lineup, where you can see a hard rock band like Therapy?, a Dutch pop act like Di-rect and a dance act on the same day without long walks. The sound in the factory hall is particularly praised for rock shows, with natural reverb from the brick and steel.

The camping is frequently mentioned as a highlight, with many saying it is the most social camping in the Netherlands. People meet neighbors, share breakfast and walk together to the park. Families also attend, with Saturday afternoon being more relaxed and family-friendly before the evening headliners.