Record number of visitors at Booster festival

The twelfth edition, on 4 and 5 April, drew a record number of visitors, once again confirming the festival's impact and relevance. Spread over two days and thirteen locations in the city centre of Enschede, Booster offered a lively stage for more than fifty artists and collectives. "This twelfth edition was the busiest yet, both during the day and in the evening," said Rob Kramer, director of ArtEZ Academy of Music in Enschede. "Booster is generating more and more impact, for musicians and for the pop industry. The festival's power and significance have grown steadily over the years. Thanks to multi-year support from the municipality of Enschede and the province of Overijssel, we can continue to take new steps in the coming years. Moreover, it is a wonderful calling card for our conservatory."

Booster shows that the eastern Netherlands is bursting with talent. And Enschede is the stage. I am incredibly proud of that.” 

Alderman Malkis Jajan also emphasises the importance of the festival: "Booster shows that the eastern Netherlands is bursting with talent. And Enschede is the stage. I am incredibly proud of that."

Kraka Project: equal exchange with Suriname

A special part of this edition was the Kraka Project, an exchange with the Conservatory of Suriname. This programme was set up on the initiative of Xillan Macrooy, BRUT and the Surinamese conservatory, with the aim of equal cooperation and knowledge sharing around musical entrepreneurship.

"With Kraka, we want to build sustainable connections that give Surinamese talent equal opportunities to present and develop themselves," says Marjolijn Dokter of BRUT. "The Kraka collective's performance showed just how much power lies in Surinamese musical diversity. In the Winti religion, there is the concept of Alakondre – the merging of different cultural identities into one whole. That spirit was palpable on stage."

Rakesh Kanhai, co-initiator, adds: "In this way, the Netherlands can contribute to making the music industry in Suriname more sustainable. Surinamese music has a major influence on Dutch pop music - just look at artists like Ronnie Flex. That deserves more attention. Booster offers an important stage for that."

Photo: Tom Roelofs

Booster Soundshift and CTRL: deepening and renewal

The new Booster Soundshift programme kicked off the festival weekend. On Friday 4 April, creators, professionals and policymakers came together to discuss themes such as technology, sustainability and creative production culture. Panels, performances and networking programmes provided direction for the future of the music sector.

The new Booster CTRL development programme also made an impression. This programme gave established artists and musical innovators the space to deepen their vision. One of the highlights was the collaboration between three young students from the Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) and De Niemanders, in which personal narratives and live music deeply moved the audience. Other acts in this programme included Droom Dit and the Kraka Project.

Photo: Tom Roelofs

Recognition and plans for the future

This year, Booster Festival was recognised as a defining event by the Municipality of Enschede and the Province of Overijssel. Thanks to this support, the festival was able to develop further in terms of both content and production. In early 2025, Booster was also awarded an IJzeren Podiumdier (Iron Stage Animal) for Best Festival during Eurosonic Noorderslag – a crowning achievement after years of dedication.

The organisation is already looking ahead to the thirteenth edition: Booster Festival will return to Enschede on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 April 2026.