"In the Netherlands, we are actually on holiday," say Daphne (40) and Ilja (26), laughing. They are travel experts, with Japan as their core destination. "I visit a few festivals every summer, but whether I'm really a festival-goer? Not so much, I think."
Seven years ago Daphne was last at Lakedance, now she is 'coming of age' and was told before departure, "Mom I want to come!" Her car swings quietly past a series of men in orange vests, who point us in the direction of the right car park between crowd barriers. The last link smokes a cigar and waves away our VIP tickets: "I believe it back-to-back - have fun! A harbinger of conviviality at Lakedance.
Beach club
The biennial festival was there for the first time in 2005 (as a party of Beachclub Sunrise, 800 people), on 9 June 2018 it hosted its 25th edition (35-40,000 visitors). Visitors can "dance with their feet in the sand to fine and summery house music". Artists like Hardwell, Afrojack and Fedde Le Grand started their careers there, according to a prescribed interview with founder Jochem van Pelt.
Lovers of house seemed in the right place indeed. Modestly happy and rather civilised, they danced at the Defected stage, where the nineties and Ibiza sounded nearby. There, big names from the glory days of the eponymous label were spinning, without having lost relevance, according to the atmosphere. Fans of the first hour who had retained nimbleness and grandeur, regardless of their experiences, moved like nobility among house lovers: gone hard and rolled out flawlessly.
Fascinating addition
We speak to a couple who prefer to remain anonymous. Besides her husband, who enthusiastically shares some additional facts from time to time, a lady sums up the benefits: "It's usually slapdash in terms of cocktails, but here they are wicked good. Of course, we are also really lucky with the weather". She dressed in tight dress with tasteful exotic print at least as nicely as she likes the festival itself. "We also go to Hardwell or Tiësto sometimes, but then you're home at 7 o'clock in no time. Rather this. Then you're still a bit bright the next day. I hope Lakedance doesn't get bigger, it's nice like this."
Her husband talks about the luminaries featured at Defected today (such as Low Steppa, Todd Terry and Simon Dunmore) and how they played gigs worldwide. Live, Shovell's combination with saxophone, vocalist and percussion is a captivating addition, at a festival where, of course, mostly skilled record turners and talkers are on stage.
Happy Hardcore
How the jovial MC at the Winter Stage creates conviviality is at times reminiscent of Gaston handing out prizes: "Yahaaa dear people! Hands in the air if you're from the area!" He calls the event "a home game" and dedicates a Beyoncé song to all the women, then urging those present to sing along at the top of their voices. Later, when happy hardcore echoes across the field, the togetherness is complete: "People can we all agree on one thing? We like to party!"
While in the distance, a pink explosion of shreds rose above the festivities for the mainstage swirls, Inge (36) puts on her sunglasses and declares that she does like to party during the day: "At home for a bit and then sleep well. I have a busy job." Fifteen years ago, she sat on this same edge, buttocks on the grass and feet in the sand. She then ran into an acquaintance, who told her, bewildered, that puking wouldn't work. "So then I immediately threw up myself! He went on to say 'I am SO jealous'... hahaha!"
Cosmetics
Whether there are any drawbacks today? The beer is a bit watery, though. With hot weather, Dutch festivals tend to get a bit dusty quickly, but fortunately there are drinks available everywhere and it was allowed to bring cosmetics, so skin or lenses need not dry out. On little hills, people hang out in the grass, watching the rhythm of passers-by, ranging from strolling pace to energetic steps. The wooden decking over which the streams run springs merrily. Within a couple of hours, some screws may be coming up, but everyone is loosening up, so all is well. At the mainstage, "Are you fucking ready?" sounds.
We certainly are. John (47) and Johan (50) have known each other for a long time, says the youngest: "Since I was 14. We can read and write each other." The two take motorbike trips, went to Black Cross, Dynamo Open Air and ADE. "From metal to mellow, as long as it's fun. You used to keep going out, now we are actually the only ones from the friends club who still do that. The rest have dropped out." The festival appeals to them because of the "visual aspect" (decoration and people) and the atmosphere: "Very chill. It's always sunny during Lakedance. There are more parties here by the way. Also a kinky edition, you should go sometime, really special. Very free, anything goes."
The gentlemen have 'mind-altering drugs' with them for the occasion. "Very secretly arranged. A special day, so as a novice user. Just wait, soon I'll be on stage next to a dancer, climbing on a box to pogo. We'll see. At home, I still have whipped cream cartridges... and no whipped cream syringe. For later. Next day suddenly a clinking rubbish bag!"
Thumb in the air
Two ladies further on have decided to dance gracefully in the water. One of them stands awkwardly for a while with both bags in her hands, until she manages to splash the other with some footwork, making it clear that as far as she is concerned, the situation has a limited shelf life. In the evening, a group of security guards (a step away from the beach) fishes a girl wearing luminous sunglasses out of the water, who thereby loses her air mattress and is carried off. The rest of the day, the interaction between security and the public consisted mostly of friendly poking into sobbing visitors, to see if they are still okay: "Are you OK?" Thumb in the air.
Since the first Lakedance, Richard (37) has been going every year 'if possible'. After burning his mouth on a fry, he explains why: "It's become big by staying small. Convivial. Wait - this is getting corny." With a sense of self-mockery, he recovers: "It's accessible here. In a good way." His mate 'say Bertje' (40) from Hellevoetsluis is there for the first time. "We spoke to each other once in a bar in Den Bosch. About my bucket list. He wanted to add something, which became a dance festival. So it happened. Just got here, already fun. Nice that it's by the water. The fries are delicious." When someone asks if they can smoke during other people's fries, the smell of frying and ink quickly come up.
Pizza
Tattoos ranged from feathers and tribals to 'nothing is thicker than blood' in Latin. Fresh young haircuts and long locks, more bald heads than beards, sunglasses from Rayban to Oakley. Jeans and catchy shirt still work fine, thanks to (besides 'this is my festival shirt') mostly English one-liners: 'Bad choices make good stories', 'It's not over when you loose / it's over when you quit', 'Fur is worn by beautiful animals and ugly people', 'I want pizza / not your opinion'. Furthermore, lots of burlesque baroque and gypsy chic, handy-and-elegant cowboy boots, dashing handbags.
A lady, fluttering in moss-green dress, asks if we are tourists, since we are still wearing our shoes on the sand. We explain to her that we grew up in Scheveningen and are 'kind of working', agree with her and take off our shoes. She comes from here and visibly enjoys herself: "No need to get lost walking around, nice and handsome people everywhere, no complaints anywhere, clean toilets!"
Spoiler
A young lady from the capital ('say Jo', influencer, 33), who sells fresh juice and coffee, also says: 'Never had to wait long for the toilet. The atmosphere is always good, it's top-notch organised and expansive. Nice to work here and see colleagues; otherwise I wouldn't just go. In Amsterdam, there is something going on every weekend. So the crowd there is a bit more bored and spoilt."
The 25th edition of Lakedance had many visitors from the region, with a stray exception here and there. It produced a warm mix of people, with an average age somewhere between 20 and 60. They danced to a lot of house (from gabber and techno to Chicago and deep house), to carnival hits at Leven In De Brouwerij (indeed, sponsored by a beer brand) and to pop at the homesick stage. Especially at This = Music, we often found tempo and grooves particularly danceable.
Fucking Amazing
Before we leave the venue, from the mainstage reverberates, "You guys were fucking amazing! A surprised group of fifty-somethings show us the way: 'All the way walking to the station? End of the street left around the corner. We all end up going that way." On the stopping train, Imke, Ietje, Esthy & Marieke tell us about the just-attended show of 'Guus - which one?! Meeuwis!' They wax lyrical about The Party Team and DJ Maurice, so together we sing 'Shirt off and wave' (a jolly echo of 'Freed from desire'). When they get out, they shout 'Goodbye and thank you!'
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