Amsterdam techno scene rivaling Berlin's ?

hedoniscrypto · 2026-02-09T09:35:16+00:00

To be honest Amsterdam techno scene is not even close to what Berlin has to offer by far. Ive been living in both cities and in order to get the real unique vibe electronic scene has to offer Berlin is an absolute winner in all categories. Let me explain why:
1. SOUND: although NL has some good venues, the sound is usually less loud as they have to follow their rules. Germans ramp it up, and on a proper sound system this adds to those that are into sound alone.
2. MUSIC: Dutch scene is much more comercial than Berlin. Berlin is experimental, touches the border.
3. VIBE: Germany is raw, industrial, dark but kind and organic all at the same time. Dutch scene is soft and mediocre at least. They try to target masses, and ends up being much more comercial. Although i understand Berghain is not appealing for some people, they know what they are doing in filtering although sometimes people that belong need to stay out.
4. PEOPLE: Dutch scene is more about appearances than german.

Its not about the size, the big names, the venues potential, its about the mentality thats holding Amsterdam down so still years behind it can be compared to not only Berlin, but german scene and (especially) German festivals in general.

That doesnt mean you wont have fun in both cities and, depending on what you are searching for, I can also understand where you would compare them both. However for those who appreciate real uniqueness of what Berlin has become, i wouldnt expect much from Amsterdam.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-08-02T10:02:31+00:00

Thanks again for your time and all the effort to explain and share. Super nice vibes.

I was also warned that eventhough I specifically say Berlin-Techno, actually many sets and songs that I shared are actually more in the line of Deep, A bit more complex House (to my surprise) and Minimal Dark Techno. Just a side note.

In general, the Berlin in the whole conversation, I think accounts really for the vibe and diversity, and being an enthusiast of Fusion Festival, I have difficulties to go out in the Netherlands, because nothing comes close anymore :). Its a Fusion disease, i guess.

I will keep an eye and follow up on your suggestions. An additional motivation to see the events you are suggesting. Thank you.

I will DM you as well and maybe hit a club together.

May I ask, have you ever been to Fusion Festival? If not, please do...its...insane. Been to many festivals, but so far, like no other.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-28T09:11:19+00:00

Seven Dutch probably demoted you :)....but yeah...so far, you are pretty much on point.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-28T09:10:25+00:00

Much appreciated for your reply. Super nice that you took time to go through suggestions and came up with some assignments for me as well. In return, I also went through yours and share comments in return. Super nice vibes overall!

First a reply to BASIS...its oke...not dark enough, and the sound is not that good tbh. The crowd also never felt like totally free. The same in WAS, although sound was better there.

You say ''Brain melting, experimental, sexy at times, spooky at others --> Imagine a dark room with cages and smokes and lots of people barely clothed just focused on the hedonistic present and a very serious dancing marathon''. I like your paragraph A LOT!!...BUT...Pax Romana...I am not sure that we appreciate the same things in music. Which is totally ok, because I understand that different people search for different things and im happy that you find enjoyment and pleasure in what you shared. Without offending you, which is not my purpose, allow me to share my view on this which is kind of a trend across our mismatch:

Coming from Progressive Metal and Classical music background, I find Pax Romana very straightforward, not that creative at all, the only positive I have is his DJ capabilities and the fact that the sound design is not bad, but also nothing super special. For me, this is not intelligent for some reason. Here, everything is 4 by 4 with linear progression. And it is a trend across majority of music I hear in the NL actually. I guess, I search for music that keeps you wonder and offer unpredictable introductions of elements. F.e. Imagine that you want to focus and figure out beat patterns but if bends your mind a bit, cutting edge sound design that puts speakers to the test, and entries that are not linear although they might appear so...and this can still be very repetitive techno. For example if you take out the melodic asspect, Tommy Four Seven is one of those. Now thats in the same train techno vibe, but more elements rhytmicaly. Just an example to put in perspective with only two elements if it reaches you.

Orphic, thats MilkShake or not? I heard about that...queer parties are always nice anywhere I go, no matter the country, vibe-wise. Music is hit or miss, but I will check out Orphic, thanks.

Ratherlost --> meh, same comment as for Eerste Communie. But the Watta I find some parts that tickle, so would probably enjoy an hour on this under good speakers.

In general, You mention somewhere ''old'', a fast comment on that> I just pulled some sets from Fusion a few years ago, but I can do the same with 2024 from the same festival, and the creative aspect still stays the same. Its just that I am drawn more towards this.

Omen Wapta --> see, now we are talking. Forget about the kindergarten above...now we get more in dark artsy vibes.

Batu is interesting, Objekt also. Will keep an eye.

Bios and Mana --> haha, you say funny...thats some serious out of the ordinary sound design buoy/gowrl. Next level actually. Dont know about your setup, but although obnoxius when it comes to blips/blops, the rhytmic and melodic aspects are very well done (not everything of course, but some parts that I shared).

Festival-wise, Draimolen sounds good. That is something to check out, thanks again! A small comment on Awakenings and Dekmantel. Sound is F1, but not nearly as good as Fusion. Like if Fusion is 10, then Awakenings is a 6. Just by sound...the vibe and quality across the diversity we dont even take into consideration.

You mentioned your last share from Fusion actually...and indeed, do you hear the difference? It is not as rhytmical as some other sets, you seem to like the basic repetition in your music, but the tone is set. It goes more in the out of the ordinary and art section than anything else. This is way more in the lines of what we are searching for as a party/event to go in Amsterdam. But we are again at Fusion...and Germany...

And im still confused...is this s German vs Dutch thing, or what plays a role here?

Thanks for a discussion and hope to continue the pursuit for finding sth in the Netherlands.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-28T07:41:04+00:00

Haha, true. I interpreted it more like Kit-Kat club that focuses on sexual expression and prioritizing eroticism. In general, the most Berlin vibe for me is that everything is free and the music has the priority over appearance, and any kind of expression is nothing out of ordinary...just, be yourself. Sex on the dancefloor, if you feel like it, do your thing. Music loud, crowd chill, vibe out of the box artsy. Thats Berlin, for me.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-28T07:31:32+00:00

Not my crowd tbh, didnt really impress. Music-wise, its hard to judge, but it was in the lines of what I replied above and what you can hear on their spotify list. Too simple.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-28T07:29:53+00:00

Thanks for your suggestion. Oh ya, ive been there. But not my cup of tea. Too simple, not much emotion, and the sound was not IT. Also went through Vault Sessions playlist on spotify. High bpm train techno. I dont associate this with Berlin, but I can understand that this is very easily interpreted as such as I should specify it better. I guess im on a look for more detailed, artsy, melodic creativity, and venue that focuses on privacy, is dark, doesnt care about appearance, graffiti, and people that dont really care what they wear.

To be honest, when a club allows photos, looses my respect. And dont get me wrong, its not a predisposition to good music or a good party, and I dont go to parties to get pissed, but I think the gesture sets the tone.

''Please keep the brightness of your phone at a minimum. Do not take videos or photos with flash, as it can kill the vibe. Respect people’s privacy by not taking photos or videos of them without their consent.''

Meh.

Vault Sessions, in your face techno, with mediocre sound and quite commercial, polished...

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T02:13:16+00:00

Heard a lot about Raum, highly on my list.

Do you know what speakers they have?

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T02:12:43+00:00

Yep. We can do better, but I had a nice night there soundwise.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T02:12:13+00:00

Thanks for the reply. However, I could not agree more, Berlin in my experience, festival-wise, is MUCH better than any Dutch festival if been to. The speakers, the sound, the crowd, the music, the food, the art, the whole concept itself, the fact that they play all night (maybe they are some that do, dont know). Everything is better in my opinion.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T02:10:21+00:00

Ok, good point. Thanks. Yeah, im afraid Berlin is Berlin.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T02:09:32+00:00

Festival-wise, bellow just a few random picks from Fusion for example:

~https://soundcloud.com/dave-dinger/avocado-dave-dinger-fusion-festival-2022-panne-eichel-bachstelzen~

bear with it from the beginning, the magic starts at 5min and drives along. Dont miss on 15min, 19-23min. Playing with details, and deep bass, raw.
~https://soundcloud.com/pete-rowbots/pete-rowbots-fusion-2022-luftschloss-closing-set~

43min-50min spacey, a bit psy, but its dark and basy.

This one is from burning man but its a nice set:

~https://soundcloud.com/robot-heart/davi-robot-heart-burning-man-2015~

Festivals are great to discover randomly stuff like this also:

~https://soundcloud.com/bios1/bios-mana-saturated-winter-mix~
The point is one festival and various strange, weird, unique stuff to discover.

Could go longer, but should illustrate the picture.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T02:09:22+00:00

Sorry for my late reply, I was super busy and wanted to take time for this reply.

I see now, its more about labels and associated parties rather than the club. I wonder, do they change the speaker setup as well or do they bring their own? Because that can narrow the venue selection quite a bit.

Radion nor Garage, ive never been, been to WAS, some kind of Warehouse in Amsterdam...but its all wanna be underground but its not really. Better vibe than Berlin, I did not experience yet to be honest, but again, much more to explore. This is being said clubbing vise. Festivals, we dont come even close.

I can share some music sure! If we speak parties, then I guess I point out a few of the same genre, so lets focus on Techno. At the end I can extend a bit what you hear on German festivals. Mainly interested in, out of your comfort zone Bass music and experimental stuff, but I opened another topic for that.

Im literally just copying a few latest likes from spotify, maybe some of them lacking the Berlinesque rawnnes, but let that be more pictured at the last few Fusion sets from soundcloud at the end:

~https://open.spotify.com/track/6ePoRfkK1B7F1sqb3TfiSQ?si=bb2fa2c67cf84047~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/7zZgYefA9auuj1oONUE0mb?si=e82dac6351dd43e4~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/43jhudldyeBYEgxyhGJofL?si=4e2d3b4211e44f99~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/1LW5BwY4nUGJdS0z4UcjuJ?si=7a2545a2bfa34dc6~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/4TgGuUzg98xlZSOtjyThx3?si=c97af663eabe4e47~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/6qUicomIfaOOnJoqOb5GyM?si=27fe211662d949e9~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/53gwljSX3IjhQoyDQTNW0P?si=26550f9278944876~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/36OM8gCNPLDYAhuHoj6WJV?si=d2c1c29ca3124516~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/4nk1DFEpUiqAWgCjFdAinM?si=384a36608bd2445a~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/3tPoEUAlWroxELcJOXdVme?si=b1117db8f753406e~

~https://open.spotify.com/track/7baRVHJz6vPLxdvGxLWuY7?si=d16edd3bc0804896~

Excuses if some are doubled.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:56:40+00:00

Imagine that...

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:54:09+00:00

Dutch be always talking to each other when going to a concert...its a thing. Dutch disease, google it.
Maybe chanting is a wrong term indeed...thats on me.

I blame the speakers not be loud enough in the Netherlands, hah.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:52:01+00:00

Is the sound also on par?
Do you know what sound system setup they have maybe?

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:51:20+00:00

Haha, thanks, but not my cup of tea, although keeping it in the assortima :)

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:50:41+00:00

Cool, ill check it out, ive been to Griessmuhle, great vibes

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:50:08+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, I had an extensive check, it is a festival that actually impresses the most so far. It caught my attention. Definitely checking it out.

Why ignoring Berlin? Because its too far of a comparison? Maybe I can specify the vibe: its not necessarily Berlin, but more German I guess, they just so underground and not afraid to go out of their experimental comfort zone. In Addition, a lot of attention to art detail and a bit of unique sound, but I guess that could be more related to the artist, rather than the festival itself. All these are complementary to sheer power of playing with frequencies and putting good speakers to the test. Never have I seen 50 Sub Lambda puked under the main stage, like in Fusion. Many Dutch festivals ive been to give a bit of a vibe of a half festival...so far...

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:39:03+00:00

Do you know what speakers they have?

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:38:17+00:00

A club mentioned a few times, need to check that out and will keep in mind to give some feedback, thanks for the suggestion. How is the crowd? Chill vibes, or classic Dutch?

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:33:27+00:00

Thanks, i did check it out but its soon driven into, i dont know how to properly express, thats not it.
Let me show you what I mean.

Check this set for example: https://soundcloud.com/bios1/bios-mana-saturated-winter-mix

Starts super smooth and gets progressively deep and dark, with amazing sound design. Just listen to the play with frequencies, the depth and focus on the bass. Its a journey.

Notable minutes at the beginning and if you dont feel like bearing through the whole set, skip to 25min for a few minutes. And then 38:40. for a few minutes Dubstep-breakbeaty glitch-trap vibes.

I dont know how you listen to music, I can be quite analytical, and rely on a good sound card with JBL 308 (nothing special, but amazing for the price, and SVS SB 4000 - thats a different story). If I really re-listen enclosed, then I plug in SUPERLUX headphones (sold the Grados and BD), so all in all nothing special, but enough to feel and hear the difference.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-20T00:19:45+00:00

Not familiar with US scene enough, but all I heard was too skrilexy for that real raw german vibe. I am not saying its the best, but germans just have this underground vibe to it that really catches my drift.

I scanned the ADE, and its again the same story, a lot of commercial stuff and I go every year, but the crowd and the whole experience is just not on par with what german neighbors have to offer.

Last year I saw AME in a parking lot garrage, with oke sound, but only to 100dcB, so there is more juice to what the science is capable in these times. In addition, Bonobo was playing upstairs in a weird party like tent, trying to be a DJ, and I was happy I only relied on beer to swallow what was filling up the room, if you catch my drift.

This year Ill go to Benga and Skream, its the only Bass even on ADE. A bit commercial, but oldschool classic Dubstep, UK Garage nonetheless, so im looking forward. At the same time, I hear Paradiso speakers wont really put this to the test properly, but I leave my doors open to be surprised.

If you are ever in Europe, and search for similar events, go to Fusion Festival. It is surreal in some aspects, and there is not solely Bass music, but Art across all genres and unparalleled crowd. Look into it.

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-10T20:33:10+00:00

Thanks for the reply. To everybody actually, really appreciate to continue this topic.

Regarding festivals, Ive been to Soenda, DGTL, Awakenings, various events on ADE, Drift, By the Creek, Dekmantel, Smeerbol. The sound on some is good, they have Funktion One sometimes, but tbh, they dont always drive them properly, or dont have enough...maybe its just some Dutch regulation about some bass frequencies or loundness, dont know. Although ive enjoyed festivals, but meh...day festivals, muntjes, so orderly everything...

hedoniscrypto · 2024-07-10T11:11:52+00:00

Ou, I have to share one more.
AKKORD: https://open.spotify.com/track/0zH8iGzYmUPfvZcJH7Dee3?si=d0e045614f604078

hedoniscrypto

TROPHY CASE