In just over two weeks Amsterdam will be invaded 375.000 music fans traveling from around the globe to attend ADE.
With over 2,200 artists playing at an astounding 140 participating venues, we can understand why it may be hard to pick which events you should attend. Having the full ADE pass helps, allowing you to event-hop and in some way diminish any FOMO you otherwise suffer from on days and nights where conflicts abound.
With that said, we reviewed the entire ADE 2016 programme to fine-tune a selection of 10 parties you shouldn’t miss. To come to our conclusions we looked at line-ups, venues, promoters, labels and any other information that would determine whether a party was worthy of our list or not.
Are you going to ADE? Tell us what parties we shouldn’t miss by dropping a comment on our Facebook or by sending us a tweet!
This year Awakenings presents 5 ADE Specials! Len Faki kicks off the first night of Awakenings on ADE’s Wednesday at the impressive Gashouder. Alongside the Berghain resident you will find a stellar cast of techno artists such as Rødhåd, Blawan, Cleric, Octave One, Jeroen Search and Roman Poncet.
22:00 – 08:00 | Tickets € 29,50 + service fee
Gashouder | Klönneplein 1, Amsterdam
Techno is again the name of the game at this summit held at Radion. Berlin-based Reclaim Your City collective will be taking over the venue with top-notch quality programming represented by seven leading lights in the new wave of European techno. Expect to be dragged from a world of overwhelming depth to pounding and percussive subs as the following star-studded cast of artists performs during the night: Boris, Ron Albrecht, Volte-Face, Shlømo, Anetha, Doka, Mirella Kroes
23:00 – 08:00 | Tickets € 17,50 + service fee
RADION | Louwesweg 1, Amsterdam
Berlin-based duo Tale of Us bring a lineup filled with impressive talent to Amsterdam for their first Afterlife showcase in ADE’s history. The venue itself is comprised of three connected rooms with first-class facilities and an impressive sound system. The rooms vary from a 12 metre high ceiling to a basement with a grungier feel to it, further enhancing the party’s experience by providing a selection of diverse settings from which to enjoy the music. Oh yeah about that lineup we already talked about, here it is: Tale of Us, Dixon, Mind Against, Âme b2b Rødhåd, Gerd Janson, Matthew Jonson, Vaal, Kettenkarussell
22:00 – 06:00 | Tickets € 19,50 + service fee
Mediahaven | Moermanskkade 107, Amsterdam
HYTE returns to Amsterdam for four nights at Warehouse Elementenstraat, the first of which is our favorite of them all. Dutch techno master Speedy J will be leading the charge, accompanied by Detroit’s Robert Hood, Los Angeles’ Drumcell, Haeken, Matrixxman, DJ Deep & Deniro. The techno will be heavy and the venue adequate for the occasion, providing a true warehouse atmosphere perfectly fit for the heavy sounds that will be played all night.
22:00 – 08:00 | Tickets € 17,50 – € 32,50 + service fee
Warehouse Elementenstraat | Elementenstraat 25, Amsterdam
Once again DJ Tennis has put together an a-list cast of DJs to showcase the sounds that have made the Italian label one of the most respected in the global underground dance music circuit: DJ Tennis, KiNK, Leon Vynehall, Margot, Red Axes, Tim Sweeney, Axel Boman, Fango and Nuno dos Santos are all sure to provide an amazing journey for your Friday afternoon.
15:00 – 23:00 | Tickets € 14,50 / € 19,50 + service fee
Thuishaven | Contactweg 60, Amsterdam
There are three things certain in life: death, taxes and the fact that living techno legend Dave Clarke is the first one to unveil his night at Amsterdam Dance Event. After eleven editions of Dave Clarke Presents at The Melkweg in Amsterdam, he is back with “The Dirty Dozen’: 12 years of Dave Clarke Presents, 12 DJ’s cranking up the pace and 12 hours of bass madness. Those attending will enjoy tunes from Dave Clarke, Ø [Phase], Luke Slater, Estroe, Mr. Jones, Marcel Fengler, Tommy Four Seven, Rebekah, Black Asteroid, Louisahhh & many more
21:00 – 09:00 | Tickets € 27 + service fee
Melkweg | Lijnbaansgracht 234 A, Amsterdam
A festival within a festival. Dockyard’s lineup is underground-focused yet manages to remain diverse with a selection of great acts representing multiple genres including house, deep house, tech house and the heavier sounds of techno. Caught between water and land, between the brick warehouses slipways, cranes, and tracks, the Dockyard radiates a sturdy, yet derelict character. Raw and full of energy, this is a party you won’t want to miss. Check out the fill lineup here.
11:00 – 23:00 | Tickets € 42,50 + service fee
NDSM | Tt. Neveritaweg 15, Amsterdam
If dedicating your Saturday afternoon to Dockyard Festival seems a little too much, then consider checking out this impressive collaboration between Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream and Audio Obscura. De Hallen’s newly converted building has never before hosted an electronic music event and will be exclusive to ADID during ADE. Summer comes to wintertime even after sunshine days have already started to fade to gray. In one room Burridge will host his label with Gorje Hewek & Izhevski and Lost Desert, while in the other it will be the turn of Elke Kleijn and Satori.
15:00 – 23:00 | Tickets €25
De Hallen Studio’s | Hannie Dankbaarpassage 18, Amsterdam
After a successful ADE debut last year, 909 returns to the biggest club festival in the world. This time around they’re going for two nights at Warehouse 22. On Saturday they invite Triangle, showcasing some of the scene’s most respected, established and up-and-coming techno names. Headlining will be Detroit’s very own techno pioneer Jeff Mills, joined by duo Karenn, James Ruskin, Cari Lekebusch, Shifted and Dasha Rush.
22:00 – 08:00 | Tickets € 24,50 + service fee
Casco Amsterdam | Asterweg 22, Amsterdam
Record label Konstrukt and Mirella Kroes’ Motiv will host a great collaboration party at ADE on Sunday. Konstrukt caused quite a stir this year with a massive split EP from Artefakt and Evigt Mörker. Both the Dutch/German duo and the Swede are scheduled to perform along with residents Doka and SHLTR. Konstrukt and Motiv top the bill by adding Northern Electronics foreman Adbulla Rashim and Iori.
16:00 – 01:00 | Tickets € 15 + service fee
OT301 | Overtoom 301, Amsterdam
