75,000 people enjoyed the Kasteeltuin concerts in Helmond this year, with a record number of visitors for the concerts on eight Friday evenings in the summer. But the question is whether the free event will still exist next year. The organization is very shocked by the new rules imposed by the municipality of Helmond. “We fell sharply backwards.”
The Kasteeltuin concerts have become an indispensable part of Helmond and attract tens of thousands of people to the center every year. Whether this will also be possible in 2026 is a question mark, due to three strong measures from the municipality. About set-up and dismantling, end times and the number of days of the party. “We can no longer organize the Kasteeltuin concerts in the way we do now. And it is very difficult to organize a completely free event at this time,” says organizer Geert Blenckers.
What will change with the new rules? To save costs and time, the organization has been leaving certain parts in place for the entire eight weeks for about ten years, such as the bar floors. Blenckers: “No one has ever complained or suffered from this, but now it is suddenly no longer allowed.” The consequences are immense. “If we have to set up and take down everything in 24 hours, it is not feasible or feasible for us to also set up and take down those large scaffoldings and stages every week. The financial consequences of this are not feasible for a free event.”
The municipality indicates that it has a clear reason for this measure. “The soil at this specific location is more vulnerable than at other locations. The location is lower, wetter, has a higher soil density and contains less oxygen. This increases the chance that water will remain on the site for a long time and that tree roots will die. A total of nine (some old) trees have died in recent years and eight old trees are struggling in the Castle Garden,” says a spokesperson.
“We just don’t know what we read. We were completely shocked.”
Where previously demolition could continue until half past two in the morning, the organization now has to stop at one o’clock. “We just don’t know what we read. We were completely shocked.” The municipality says it is doing this because, according to local residents, demolition is sometimes accompanied by a lot of noise.”
While concerts have taken place on eight Friday evenings in recent years, there may now only be seven, to give other organizers the opportunity to perform in the Castle Garden. Blenckers is not happy with that either, to say the least. “In all preliminary consultations we have indicated that we understand very well if several organizers want to organize something in the garden. Only the Kasteeltuin concerts, as a free event, are based on a budget as it currently stands, with eight concerts,” Blenckers indicates. “We can’t go back to seven.”
“This seems like a kind of frontal attack on the events in Helmond.”
According to the spokesperson, if no other organizer steps up, an eighth evening for the Kasteeltuin concerts may still be possible. So Blenckers doesn’t know where he stands now. He will soon have a meeting with the responsible councilor. “This seems like a kind of frontal attack on the events in Helmond. These are disastrous rules for the Kasteeltuin concerts.”