Cock Spanner, Rudeboy and Ghost In The Machine play sixteenth Baroeg Open Air

"In 2024, we attracted a record number of visitors and this year we have made the programming even more varied to appeal to a wider audience,'' says director and programmer Leon van Rijnsbergen about Baroeg Open Air. On Saturday 13 September, the sixteenth Baroeg Open Air will take place in the Zuiderpark with 30 acts.

Leon van Rijnsbergen continues: ''Baroeg Open Air is unique in the Netherlands precisely because we combine guitar bands with electronic acts. We are extremely proud of this great line-up and look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to our beautiful festival again."

This year, the festival once again presents a versatile line-up within the hard and alternative music genres: from ripping guitars to pumping beats. Headliners include legendary street punk band Cock Sparrer, Tom G Warrior's Triumph Of Death performing the music of extreme metal pioneers Hellhammer, and hardcore frontier innovator N-Vitral doing an industrial set.

Fans of crossover can indulge in Rudeboy ft. DJ DNA, with a show full of Urban Dance Squad hits. German singer Peter Heppner from Wolfsheim will also be on stage with his project Heppner's Tanzzwang. In addition, hard rock legend Vengeance will enter the stage, as well as popular darkwave band Lebanon Hanover, who previously played a sold-out show in Baroeg.

Full line-up:

Cock Sparrer (UK street punk)
Triumph Of Death performing Hellhammer (CH black/thrash/speed metal)
Rudeboy plays Urban Dance Squad ft. DJ DNA (NL crossover/raprock)
Vengeance (NL hard rock)
Death Squad (BE sludge/noise/grunge/hip-hop)
Tusky (NL punk rock)
Rectal Smegma (NL goregrind)

Electronic Stage:
N-Vitral - industrial set (NL industrial hardcore)
Burr Oak (FR drum 'n bass)
Heppner's TanzZwang (DE synthpop)
Lebanon Hanover (DE darkwave)
Ophidian - live (NL darkcore / industrial)
VOODOOM (NL jungle/breakcore)
Jordy Dijkshoorn (NL electro hiphop)
Master Boot Record (IT synth metal)

Puppi's Playground:
Portal (AU extreme metal)
Impetuous Ritual (AU death metal)
State Power (NL hardcore)
¡PENDEJO (NL stoner/heavy rock)
BOMBSTRAP (NL/UK terror punk)
Lifeless Past (NL new wave/post-punk)
Hyla (NL progressive metal; winner Metal Battle)

Pulse:
VMO a.k.a. Violent Magic Orchestra (JP black metal rave)
Krista Bourgeois - live (US industrial hardcore/industrial techno)
Ghost In The Machine (NL industrial techno/acid)
Zanias (AU electronic wave)
Full Moon Festival presents: Foose (BE goa/psytrance)
Code: Pandorum (DE heavy dubstep)
De Plaag (NL punk hiphop)
POONS (NL drum 'n bass; winner Voltmeester)

Photo: Annemoon Kater

Accessibility and sustainability

Baroeg Open Air is committed to accessibility so that as many people as possible can experience the festival. Therefore, 2025 has once again focused on facilities for visitors with physical disabilities. Leon van Rijnsbergen explains: "We find it important that everyone can enjoy Baroeg Open Air. Therefore, we ensure good accessibility: there are wheelchair stages in the two big tents, accessible toilets at the first aid post and all stages are accessible via paved paths."

In addition, sustainability is again at the heart of this year's event. In cooperation with local partner Rotterdam Festivals, efforts will be made in two areas, the Slim Stroom Challenge and Cup-Challenge. These include increased use of batteries to reduce the festival's diesel consumption and a conscious decision to use as much LED lighting as possible. In addition, hardcups will be used instead of disposable cups for the first time, drastically reducing litter on the grounds.

Also new this year are donation tickets, visitors can make a voluntary donation on top of the ticket price. Van Rijnsbergen: "Due to extreme price increases, it is a huge challenge for the organisation to organise the event. With a lot of diligence and tireless efforts of volunteers, it is succeeding so far. But a helping hand is very welcome and helps us secure our future."

New Baroeg

Meanwhile, a stone's throw from the festival site, on Spinozaweg, work is underway on the nieuwe pand of pop venue Baroeg. In the meantime, Baroeg is 'On Tour', organising concerts at various locations in Rotterdam and its surroundings. At the same time, people are working hard to further develop Baroeg Open Air, which has now become an established name in the Dutch festival landscape.