Something that had been on my photography bucket list for years finally became a reality in 2025: photographing Apeldoorn's biggest annual event. A large-scale festival with live performances, a vibrant atmosphere and thousands of visitors. And what could be better than doing that in your own hometown? Every year, during the third weekend of June, Apeldoorn is transformed into a festive spectacle for the Grolsch Dragon Boat Festival. This year, I had the opportunity to be part of it as one of the event photographers, capturing the atmosphere throughout the festival.
FRIDAY EVENING: MUSIC, SUNSHINE AND OVER 12,000 VISITORS
The festival kicked off on Friday evening, 20 June, with an impressive line-up on both the Main Stage and in the festival tent. Throughout the evening, well-known Dutch artists took turns performing, captivating the audience with their energy and music.
The line-up featured artists including SERA, Flemming, Hannah Mae, Snelle, Claw Boys Claw, Guus Meeuwis and The Partysquad. More than 12,000 visitors sang and danced along in the sunshine throughout the evening. The weather could not have been better: dry, sunny and pleasantly warm – perfect festival weather!
Armed with my camera, a selection of lenses and plenty of spare batteries, I got to work. What a privilege it was to capture all of this from so close to the action. It wasn't until 1:30 a.m. that I finally headed home, tired but extremely satisfied, with an SD card full of photographs.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY: SPECTACLE ON THE WATER
Saturday and Sunday were entirely dedicated to the dragon boat races. On Saturday, company teams competed against one another, while Sunday saw neighbourhoods, clubs and businesses taking to the water in colourful teams for a day of friendly competition. In each race, three dragon boats lined up side by side, with determined paddlers giving everything they had to cross the finish line first, cheered on by enthusiastic crowds lining the canal.
But the festival is about more than just speed. Creativity also plays an important role, as every team competes for the coveted WaXX Award by wearing the most eye-catching and original costumes. The result is a colourful parade of hilarious, surprising and impressive outfits every year.
MORE THAN JUST RACING
Besides the sporting action, there was plenty to enjoy across the festival grounds. From street theatre and children's performances in Dragonland to a wide variety of food trucks offering something for every taste. Along the canal, visitors could browse the many stalls at the festival market, while DJ Dinant van Tongeren provided the musical soundtrack throughout the day.
The celebrations continued well into the evening. On Saturday, the programme featured performances by Tante Joke Karaoke, FissABBAnd and Bökkers, while Disco Snolly kept the festival tent dancing and jumping for four hours straight. On Sunday, the festival came to a spectacular close with performances by The Stone Ledge, Turfy Gang and singer Jérôme.
AN EXPERIENCE I'LL NEVER FORGET
Where I had always enjoyed this festival as a visitor in previous years, this time it felt extra special to be part of the team behind the scenes. Over the course of the weekend, I spent no less than 28 hours walking around the festival grounds, capturing the event from every angle. I wasn't alone, of course. Three other photographers, who have been covering the festival for years, were also part of the team. It is truly impressive how the organisers manage to put together such a large-scale event year after year, thanks to an incredible team of dedicated volunteers, artists, technicians, security staff and many others.
The Dragon Boat Festival is without doubt one of the most enjoyable and diverse festivals in the Netherlands – and it's right here in Apeldoorn!
If you'd like to learn more about the festival or start looking forward to next year's edition, be sure to visit the official website. And don't forget to mark 19–21 June 2026 in your calendar. Believe me, this is an event you won't want to miss!
Below you'll find all the photographs from the different days of the festival...
