Are you ready for the Alphens Liberation Festival?

Bigger than last year

After the departure of the old organization at the beginning of 2023, a new board has emerged. Last year they organized a great festival in a short time with great success. Often based on existing plans from previous editions. “This year we are giving the festival our own twist. We already had that wish last year, but due to the short timeframe it was not feasible to think bigger. We will do that this year! We hope to surprise Alphen,” said chairman Frank Schildkamp.

This year the festival is spread over several locations in the center of Alphen aan den Rijn: on the Rijnplein (main stage) and on the Aarkade (cultural stage). Furthermore, the program starts earlier in the afternoon, because May 5 falls on a Sunday this year.

Program Rijnplein

The main stage is – just like previous editions – on the Rijnplein. This year along the waterfront, so that you have a good view of the stage from anywhere in the audience.

• 12:00 noon: Stop the Liberation Tour ‘Free on the Rhine’ at Rijnplein and light the liberation fire
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Wild Romance
• 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM: The big
• 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM: Daya Hendrix
• 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM: Father Mouscron
• 7:20 PM: Official opening by mayor
• 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Waylon
• 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM: BENR
• 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM: DJ Ruben van der Meer

It is never quiet on the square. Well-known DJs from Alphen will perform throughout the festival. You can also get a drink at one of the bars on both sides of the Rijnplein all day long and enjoy various food trucks.

Program Earthade

New this year is the cultural stage on the deck at the Aarkade. You can enjoy local professional talent here all afternoon.

The first part of the afternoon consists of musicians and artists in which the freedom telling your own story is central. The program has been put together by Alphen Art Gallery, Rijn en Venen Library and culture platform KHABBAZ.

• 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Duo Josje Goudswaard (piano) and Camilla van der Kooij (violin)
• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Start live painting/performance artists. Ann van Wingerden gives a free workshop for everyone to paint and draw shoes. Jasper Bos will paint live on canvas with the theme of freedom.
• 1:45 PM – 2:00 PM: Performance by spoken word artist Kelly Verdonk, followed by a writing workshop in the Rijn en Venen Library
• 2:00 PM – 2:25 PM: Doggy Dike performance
• 2:30 PM – 2:55 PM: Dance group I’m in Motion

Enter from 3:00 PM Alphen on Fire school bands the deck. Five bands with a repertoire of pop and indie, from the 80s to the zeros and 10s, from covers of Evanescence to their own songs and heavy rock. Alphen on Fire and KHABBAZ want to give young talent a boost.

• 3:15 PM – 3:25 PM: UNKNOWN
• 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM: SILVER LINING
• 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM: OMEGA
• 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM: WINTER TO FALL
• 5:15 PM – 5:30 PM: BLACKLIGHT

“It is important that we continue to value and celebrate our freedom. We have once again organized the Liberation Festival with love for all Alphen residents,” the organization said. “Until then!”

Times may still change. You will always find the most current version of the program on this page.