Ringfeest
Between 27 October 2024 and 27 October 2025 a lot of different events were organised to celebrate the 750th birthday of Amsterdam. One of the most extravagant events of this celebration was the Ring Party. To be clear, the Ring is the highway around Amsterdam, of which about 15 kilometers was used to organise a big event on Saturday the 21st of June 2025. Amsterdam Alternative took part in this event and programmed 150 meters of arts, culture, joy, activism and other craziness to represent the ‘alternative’ scene of Amsterdam. Although that day was extremely hot (over 30 degrees) it was big success. About 200.000 people came out to walk, dance, drink, laugh and enjoy all activities that were organised on the highway. It was one hell of a buzzing experience.
Event details
The Ring Party took place on Saturday 21st of June (mid summer day) 2025 from 10:00-22:00 hrs on the Ring from the East of Amsterdam till the Coentunnel in West. Besides our Amsterdam Alternative program there were many sports activities (marathon, basketball, freerunning, padel, breakdance etc) there were lots of other activities varying from music stages to fashion shows, exhibitions, dance performances, workshops, people getting married, a forrest with 750 trees and many bars and food stalls.
Although it was a free event the organisation decided that everyone needed to register for a ticket. This decision caused quite some problems as the amount of people que-ing up for tickets at the online counter was massive and resulted in thousands of disappointed Amsterdammers that wernt lucky enough to get their tickets in time.
Commercial
Of course we realize that this Ring Party is an insane, big, commercial event that will be used for years in our city marketing. An event that maybe doesn’t allign with everything we stand for. We know there is critisism possible on this but we have put those thoughts aside because we felt that it would be worse to celebrate the anniversary of our city on such a special location without the ‘alternative’ free space scene being present. We are part of this city and we wanted to make sure that all these visitors walking and party-ing on the Ring that day realized that there is still a non-commercial, ‘undergound’ scene in Amsterdam.
Location
Amsterdam Alternative programmed about 150 meters in Amsterdam West. We were lucky enough to have a piece with some shadow, ucoming from the bridge of the Jan van Galenstraat. Next to us were bits of programming by Ruigoord, Urban Resort and some other Free Space or Broedplaats organisations. Together we filled about 600 meters.
Programming
Our program was made after spreading an open call through the networks of Amsterdam Alternative. We wanted to make sure that everyone in our network had the opportunity to send a proposal and be part of this event. Unfortunately we had to disappoint quite some bands and performers who reacted to our open call. Not because we didnt like them but simply because we couldn’t host them all.
On our part of the Ring we created a couple of stages/floors/installations with live music, dj’s, theatre, performance, dance, improv, spoken word, drag performance, circus and other artistic or activist expression. Check the line up overview below for a detailed list of artists and performnaces.
Thanks to
Besides a big thank you to all the artists that made this a great event we also want to thank Moving Arts for a great cooperation and all the volunteers of Amsterdam Alternative that came out to help building up (and down), making decorations and stages, doing stage managent, photography, filming, running our backstage vans etc. We pulled it off together!
Thanks to Stichting Amsterdam 750 and the organisation of the Ring party for giving us a spot.
Program overview
Main stage
11:00-11:45: Paroah
11:45-12:15: Cardigan Inn (live)
12:15-13:00: Malvae
13:15: 13:45: The Earwurms (live)
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13:45-15:15: Break
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15:15-15:45: Binnarytrees (live)
15:45-16:05: Verzet per couplet (live)
16:05-16:45: Burchhhha
16:45-17:15: Kiss my Knoblauch (live)
17:15-18:00: Sonny Schnitzler
18:15-18:45: Bellamy Grove (live)
18:45-19:30: DJ Sjaak
19:45-20:15: Hunk (live)
20:15-21:10: Esther Dune
21:10-22:15: Sjamsoedin
KARLOS stage
12:00-12:30: Talkshow - Gaba & Gabriel
12:30-13:00: Talkshow - Gaba & Gabriel
13:30-13:45: Speeches
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13:45-15:15: Break
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15:15-15:45: Danny Keen (live)
16:15-16:30: Speeches/spoken word
17:00-17:30: Danny Keen (live)
18:00-18:30: Cato Fluitsma
18:30-19:00: Theater Traject Transvaal + Cato
19:30-20:00: Speeches/spoken word
20:30-21:00: Speeches/spoken word
Performance area
11:30-12:00: We be (performance)
13:00-13:30: Nonsense (performance)
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13:45-15:15: Break
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15:45-16:15: Trash Skeleton (performance)
16:30-17:00: We be (performance)
17:30-18:00: GAZE (dance performance)
19:00-19:30: Tatiana Spiewak & Sarah Zechut (dance performance)
20:00-20:30: GAZE (dance performance)
21:00-21:30: Tatiana Spiewak & Sarah Zechut (dance performance)
KARLIE stage
11:00-12:15: Vleesch doch Visch (live)
13:00-13:45: Bom! (live)
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13:45-15:15: Break
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15:15-15:45: The M4ximoffs
15:45-16:30: Afrogrooves (workshop)
16:30-17:30: Afrogrooves (live concert)
17:30-18:30: Afrogrooves (live jam)
19:00-19:30: MadamBruno (live)
20:30-22:00: The M4ximoffs
Blue - Coloured stage
12:15-12:40: Torn (performance)
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13:45-15:15: Break
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16:00-17:00: DarkRaum & Maria Kuchowicz (performance)
18:30-19:00: Harper Love (drag performance)
19:30-20:00: Mala Burlesque (performance)
20:00-20:30: Harper Love (drag performance)
Various spaces
10:00-13:45: Museumboefjes (kids activity)
12:00: Ferengi (theatre)
15:15-20:00: Dolle Mina’s parcours (activist activity)
15:45: Ferengi (theatre)
17:00: Ferengi (theatre)
19:00: Ferengi (theatre)
11:00-22:00: Stealth Piano (music)
11:00-22:00: Meteorite Museum (art installation)
11:00-22:00: Dolly (art installation)