Dutch Modular Fest 2026

Dutch Modular Fest 2026 will be held this next weekend on the 28th of August.

Dutch Modular Fest is a one-day event dedicated to modular synthesis and DIY electronic music culture. 

Artists, instrument builders, and enthusiasts from the Netherlands and abroad gather for live performances, hands-on workshops, and a curated market of gear, makers, and independent creators.

When: Saturday, 29 August 2026
Where: WORM, Boomgaardsstraat 71, 3012 XA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Opening hours:12:00 – 22:00

There will be live performances by modular and electronic artists throughout the day. The musical program features Titanic Ambient with T.Raumschmiere ( I once saw him perform a raw Techno-set at the Eindhoven Klokgebouw, but this will be completely different), and performances by Raaf and Estroe, KROON, Numbers Station, Alberta Balsam, and Colloid.

In the DIY area there will be workshops & talks by Jeroen Visser and This is Not Rocket Science, workshops by Jan de Block, Roey Tsemah and Lavendel Kranz, and a curated market with modular synthesizers, electronic music gear, DIY projects, makers, and independent creators.
Full list of exhibitors: https://www.dutchmodularfest.com/market-2026/
This is your annual chance to connect with the community and hang out with builders, artists, and fellow enthusiasts.

More info at https://www.dutchmodularfest.com/

and even more on Instagram: http://instagram.com/dutchmodularfest/

Check the WORM website to get your tickets HERE!

 

The new DMF logo 🧐 

For the first time, Dutch Modularfest will also host a pre-party on August 28 from  19:30 – 23:30.

This evening brings together people involved in the festival for a program of short sets, demonstrations, experiments, and encounters, featuring Synthux Academy / Roey Tsemah, Casperelectronics / Peter Edwards, Sonoscopia / João Ricardo, Schreibmachine, Jeroen Visser, Klemtoon, and Yapace & Pakkadej.

The preparty is free for everyone with a ticket for the Saturday festival, without a festival ticket, entry is only 6.00 €

Tickets and full info on this event are available at

https://worm.org/production/preparty-dutch-modular-fest/

 I will (sadly) not be attending this year again.... I'm a year in recovery now, and still not fit enough for a full day/weekend out and meeting too many people at once... 

About Last Weekend: Solar Vibes Festival @ SuperChill

As soon as i opened my cardoors at arrival and heard the bleeps and chirps from Estroe blown my way by a light breeze I knew it was going te be a good day..

Estroe Live

I had a fun afternoon at the Solar Vibes Festival @SuperChill last saturday. 

The synth-event, organized by Ricardo Verschut (Tectonia), was located in the middle of nowhere on a small and cozy farm just outside Leusden... 

On a small improvised stage under a roof of solarpanels Ricardo presented an interesting lineup, with a good mix of different styles.

There was plenty of room to sit and/or lie down in the dry grass for the small crowd of around 60 spectators/ synth enthousiasts. 

Ron Boots with Harold van der Heijden on drums

Sadly I missed Skoulaman's performance, but I was just in time to see a big part part of Estroe's experimental/ ambient set. 

Synth-legend Ron Boots played some new tracks in his well-known Berlin-inspired style, accompanied by Harold van der Heijden live on drums.

Spectators enjoying the sounds of MAHU's set

After his performance it was time for MaHu's original and inspiring sound-collages.

A crisp and clear solo set by Raaf (RaafModular) on his modular followed.
I found out afterwards that my niece is already a fan of him.

He has a pleasing style, melodic and technical, appealing to most people on the field, from purists to even the random visitors that also stopped by at the festival to have a listen.

The vibe was very picnic-like during the whole afternoon, the location even had decent festival-food for reasonable prices and the people seemed to enjoy themselves a lot.

The Soulmade System and Tectonia (who organized this event) both  delivered solid sets and soundscapes while some darker clouds were getting closer. The swallows even seemed to do a little dance above the captivated crowd but luckily most of the clouds drifted away without leaving much rain.

RobotPoolParty

The day ended surprisingly with an more uptempo and eclectic set from RobotPoolParty.

Some already know Jaïr Darnoud (1998) from his hip-hop act 'Rens, Jaïr & Ome Uncle' and under the name 'Groovegod Jaïr Darnoud'.
Robbert van Zuiden (1988) used to play in bands and has been actively working with modular synthesizers in recent years.
He told me he also designs modules under the name Lucid Modular and working on his first module release 'Hey Bro, help me out!' , a specialized sequencer controller for the Moog DFAM and other 8-step sequencers.

In the past year you could have seen them performing in and around Amsterdam, but it was my first time seeing them.
Jaïr en Robbert have great chemistry on stage and their style is a unique mix of punchy beats, distorted dub, their own alternative groove and influences of Surinamese Kaseko. 

It was good to see how their energy reflected to the audience and finally made quite a few get up and do a little dance...Animistic Beliefs... eat your heart out... this is going to get huge!

It was a perfect way to end the day while the sun was slowly fading away . 

It was a pleasure seeing and meeting some of these artists as well, although I didn't get to speak with everyone. I would like to thank Ricardo for giving some extra info this event at this special location.

There are more modular events like this coming up in the near future.
This next Saturday August the 3rd, for example is Modular On The Spot at an old Bunker/Fort in Maarsseveen

Please follow and support all artists on social media.

__________________

More RobotPoolParty:

Check out their set from last year at Paradiso 

and find them on https://soundcloud.com/robotpoolparty_com

Solar Vibes Festival NL, 26th of July, Leusden NL

There are a lot of interesting Modular events coming up in the Netherlands this summer, and since I recently moved to Hilversum, this event near me caught my attention.

I might go and have a look if I have the time and the right autistic moodset. the line-up looks promising and it's a cool looking location. Well they even name it 'SuperChill'...

Line-up: (Times are subject to changes)

13:00 - Skoulaman
13:45 - Estroe
14:15 - Ron Boots
15:30 - MAHU
16:00 - Raaf
16:45 - Tectonia
17:45 - The Soulmade System
18:45 - Robotpoolparty


Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 1:00PM CEST 

Langesteeg 2, 3831 RZ Leusden, Nederland

Admission is Free! 

More info at:
www.facebook.com/people/Solar-Vibes-festival-NL

and on their Instagram