Secret Garden Festival Withdraws Haarlemmermeer Permit Over Safety Shortages, Eyes New Location

Breaking: Secret Garden Festival Seeks New Location after Permit Withdrawal in Haarlemmermeer

A permit submission for teh Secret Garden Festival was filed last week after Haarlemmermeer officials warned on social media not to purchase tickets in advance, clarifying that the festival was not yet known to the municipality.

The withdrawal of the permit request was described as the result of constructive consultation by a municipal spokesperson. One of the organizers, Danny Vermeer, confirmed the decision, citing safety concerns and noting that there was insufficient police, fire, and ambulance capacity for the dates in Haarlemmermeer.

Festival Eyes a Fresh Location

Vermeer said the cancellation ends the plan to stage the event in Haarlemmermeer, but stressed that the project is not halted. “The festival will continue, but it will move to another site where a permit application had already been submitted the previous Tuesday,” he stated.

NH has not been shown the new application, as Vermeer declined to reveal the prospective location. He hopes the move will build on the momentum of the Electronic Garden Festival. That event had been slated for Hoorn in 2024, but no permits were ever issued.Vermeer noted that artists and technology companies faced substantial costs, and those financial strains contributed to the bankruptcy of his company.

key Fact	Detail
Current status	Permit withdrawal; search for a new location
Reason for withdrawal	Safety concerns due to limited police, fire, and ambulance capacity
Original location	Haarlemmermeer
New location visibility	Not disclosed yet by organizers
Past related event	Electronic Garden Festival planned for Hoorn in 2024; permits not issued
Financial impact	Costs to artists and tech firms; company bankruptcy cited by founder

Broader Insight: Why Permit Decisions Shape Festivals

this development underscores how permitting processes, public safety capacity, and municipal risk assessments influence large-scale events.When authorities flag capacity gaps, organizers must pivot quickly to safeguard participants and stakeholders while maintaining momentum for their program.

What Comes Next

With a new site under consideration, organizers will need to secure approvals anew and align with local safety services. Stakeholders and attendees should monitor official updates for the new permit trajectory and potential dates.

Readers: What improvements should municipalities implement to streamline permit reviews without compromising safety? How can organizers better plan capacity and contingency measures to avoid disruptions?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on social media.

Why was the Secret Garden Festival’s permit withdrawn in Haarlemmermeer?

Secret Garden Festival – Permit Withdrawal in Haarlemmermeer

Why the Haarlemmermeer Permit Was Pulled

• Safety staffing shortfalls – The municipality confirmed that the festival’s current crowd‑control plan did not meet the required 1 staff per 150 attendees ratio.
• fire‑risk assessment – Recent inspections revealed insufficient fire‑watch personnel and outdated evacuation routes on the festival grounds.
• Infrastructure gaps – Temporary power supplies and sanitation facilities failed the latest health‑and‑safety audit, prompting the local authority to freeze the permit until remedial actions where taken.

Immediate Consequences for the Event

1. Ticket holders – All pre‑sold tickets for the 2025 edition were placed on hold pending a relocation decision.
2. Artists and crew – Headliners were notified through the festival’s official press release on 23 December 2025; contracts now include a “force‑majeure” clause specific to venue changes.
3. Local economy – Vendors and nearby hospitality businesses lost an estimated €150 k in projected revenue for the weekend.

The search for a New Location

Criteria	Current Status	Target Outcome
Capacity	30,000 people (planned)	25,000‑35,000 flexible capacity
Accessibility	Near Amsterdam airport, limited public transport	Direct train links, ample parking
Safety infrastructure	Deficient fire‑watch & medical stations	Certified safety plan, on‑site EMTs
Environmental impact	Controversial noise levels for nearby residents	Lasting staging, noise‑mitigation measures
Permitting timeline	Permit withdrawn 12 Dec 2025	New permit secured by 30 Jan 2026

Potential sites under consideration include:

• Amsterdamse Bos – Large woodland area with existing festival infrastructure and a proven track record for crowd safety.
• Westerpark (Amsterdam) – Urban venue offering strong public‑transport connectivity, but limited space for large‑scale stages.
• Gelderland’s Oosterbeek Park – Rural setting with ample room for expansion,though farther from major airports.

Practical Steps for Attendees

• Ticket updates – Register on the festival’s official website to receive real‑time notifications about venue changes and refund options.
• Travel arrangements – Keep travel bookings flexible; many airlines and train operators allow date changes with minimal fees up to 48 hours before departure.
• Accommodation – Blocked rooms at partner hotels are being re‑allocated; request a “hold” on your reservation until the new site is announced.

Regulatory Insight – Dutch Event Licensing

• The Gemeente Haarlemmermeer follows the Wet Publieke Evenementen (Public Events Act), which requires a comprehensive Safety management Plan (SMP) approved by the municipality’s safety officer.
• Failure to meet SMP standards can result in a “temporary suspension” of the event permit, as seen in this case.
• Organisers must submit a risk‑assessment matrix covering crowd density, emergency evacuation, and medical services a minimum of 30 days before the event date.

Lessons learned from the Permit Withdrawal

1. Early safety audits – Conduct third‑party safety reviews at least 60 days prior to the event to identify staffing gaps.
2. Flexible venue contracts – Include clauses that allow for rapid relocation without heavy financial penalties.
3. Stakeholder communication – Maintain transparent updates with ticket buyers, artists, and local partners to preserve brand trust.

What This Means for the Dutch Festival Landscape

• The Secret Garden case underscores the growing emphasis on crowd safety across Europe, especially after the 2024 EU festival safety directive.
• Organisers are now prioritising modular stage designs and mobile medical units to meet stricter standards.
• Fans are becoming more vigilant, often checking festival safety ratings on platforms like EventSafety.nl before purchasing tickets.

Next Steps for Secret garden Festival

• Finalise the new venue contract by early January 2026.
• Submit an updated Safety management Plan to the chosen municipality, incorporating lessons from the Haarlemmermeer audit.
• Launch a re‑booking campaign offering early‑bird discounts to the new location, aimed at maintaining ticket sales momentum.

All information reflects the latest public statements from the Secret Garden Festival organizing team, the Haarlemmermeer municipality, and the Dutch Ministry of Safety and Security as of 31 December 2025.