Amsterdam Dance Event is just around the corner. Every year it transforms the city into a buzzing mix of conference, festival, and networking hub, where more than 2,500 international artists come together.
For me, the highlight will probably be the ADE Lab — four inspiring days at the cosy Westergas terrain in Amsterdam.
ADE 2025 takes place from October 22—26, 2025
This year, ADE Lab is expanding into its very own Lab Village, a creative playground dedicated entirely to sound. It’s a multi-day program where sound synthesis, audiovisual art, and innovative ways of making music are shared, demonstrated, and developed. Expect everything from artist and engineer talks, to immersive AV installations, live performances, DIY workshops, and the unveiling of new gear.
The program spreads across several spots at Westergas:
WestWeelde is the industrial heart of it all, where big ideas stick. Here you’ll catch plenary talks and masterclasses, then retreat into the cosy Lab Living area to recharge, meet peers, or simply take it all in.
Radio Radio, the iconic nightclub, will transform into a workshop playground. You can roll up your sleeves in the hands-on sessions or drift into the vinyl listening bar, where the turntable itself becomes the teacher.
Pacific Amsterdam is the place to dream big. This studio-like club will host intimate talks with some of the most influential names in the game. Plus, the Gear Test Lab and Workshop Room will let you try the newest tools yourself — brand reveals are still under wraps, but I can’t wait to see what’s coming.
WestWeelde is the industrial heart of it all, where big ideas stick. Here you’ll catch plenary talks and masterclasses, then retreat into the cosy Lab Living area to recharge, meet peers, or simply take it all in.
Radio Radio, the iconic nightclub, will transform into a workshop playground. You can roll up your sleeves in the hands-on sessions or drift into the vinyl listening bar, where the turntable itself becomes the teacher.
Pacific Amsterdam is the place to dream big. This studio-like club will host intimate talks with some of the most influential names in the game. Plus, the Gear Test Lab and Workshop Room will let you try the newest tools yourself — brand reveals are still under wraps, but I can’t wait to see what’s coming.
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| Me on the Verbos system |
The last time I visited ADE Lab was back in 2016, when it was still called ADE Sound Lab and took place at De Brakke Grond and the Compagnietheater.
I went with my good friend Guido, and had fun wandering through booths from brands like Ableton, Moog, Pioneer DJ, and Roland.
That year, Roland had just introduced their Boutique series — the TB-03 Bass Line, VP-03 Vocoder, and TR-09 Drum Machine.
The VP-03 really stuck with me... I even own one now...
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| With Daniel from LiveStock Electronics |
The European distributor Alex4 was also there, showcasing Doepfer, AQA, and BirdKids, among their other brands, while Elektron and Erica Synths brought their gear-heavy setups, including an impressive Eurorack system.
I played with the Verbos system and had a great chat with Daniel from LiveStock, a Dutch modular manufacturer that sadly closed its doors in 2022.
To close the day, I headed back to the Compagnietheater for a showcase of Dutch modular artists — an unforgettable night of sound exploration.
And now, years later, ADE Lab is bigger than ever. I can’t wait to dive back in.
👉 Get your tickets and i hope to see you at Westergas!
