We are living in a virtual world right now, which means this year’s famed Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), which is the largest EDM conference and festival in the world is digital. While virtual events help us cope with the current world events, they can’t fill the void left behind. With countless parties, pop-up events, art exhibitions, performances, meetings, lectures, and workshops, Amsterdam breathes dance music and becomes a magical city unlike any other.
Here are some things we’ll miss the most this year:
The Food
The moment you walk into the registration area, there are bowls full of black licorice and yellow, banana-flavored candies. That unique mix shows off the trademark colors while giving you a sugar rush after a long journey. Keeping it sweet, the Stroopwaffel is two wafer cookies with a layer of caramel, and you should just think of it as the Dutch remix of an Oreo. For breakfast, Dutch pancakes are always a treat. Thin and large, they are like a crepe and can be made sweet or savory. The true foodies will be missing events at the cookery school and the infamous DJ Cookoffs. My personal guilty pleasure is Wok2Walk, which makes Asian street food. The delicious noodles are great for lunch on the Leisdestraat after daytime meetings, or in the Rembrandtplein for a quick snack before or after clubbing.
Dogging Bicycles
The Locals
The Places
Random Meet-Ups
