The Liberation Festival in the Gronings Stadspark was temporarily evacuated on Friday afternoon due to expected heavy thunderstorms. That did not happen. At five o’clock the gates opened again, for the first time a performance by The Opposites. Festival director Ebel Jan van Dijk later walked across the site with a big smile on his face.
In the course of the evening, the contrast with the sad retreat of many thousands of visitors in the afternoon increased. A huge procession of partygoers was just now approaching the trotting track. At The Opposites, there were only a few thousand people in front of the main stage and the trotting track was mainly green. But when Merol performed there around eight o’clock, it was already old-fashioned busy and many more people would join.
Kraantje Pappie as a surprise encore after midnight
Van Dijk therefore walked gloating near the stage on which Merol entertained the audience. At four o’clock in the afternoon, during the break, he managed to put on an extra act. For after midnight, the actual closing time, as a plaster on the wound. “The council gave me permission. And that little extra could only be one artist: Kraantje Pappie of course, our Groningen hero.”
It was impossible to move well-known acts that stood idly by in the afternoon to a later time. ,,That was just not possible, given the full schedule. I especially thought the deletion of Froukje was a shame. She was Ambassador of Freedom.”
Those who were already inside were allowed to stay first
It had been a strange time in the afternoon. The gates closed to new visitors for two hours, while music continued on the grounds. Those who were already there, were allowed to stay first. Thousands of people waited peacefully for a possible reopening.
However, around half past two the music was stopped and everyone had to leave the site. Although not a drop had fallen in Groningen yet, the measure followed experiences in Assen and Zwolle. Interventions were also made there, although Zwolle, which traditionally hosts the country’s largest festival, was able to resume fairly quickly. A look at Buienradar had not improved the mood at the Groningen organization.
Safety above all
The decision in Groningen to shut down the festival was taken in unison by the municipality and the festival organization. Hans Coenraads, spokesman for Koen Schuiling, mayor and also head of security in the city: ,,We always form a team with organizations at these kinds of events. We made the decision early, to give people plenty of time to find a dry spot.”
According to Ebel Jan van Dijk, there has not been a moment of doubt. ,,With such an open field and all those people, with all kinds of equipment and a lot of metal, you can only choose absolute safety in such a serious thunderstorm. It’s a shame, but in all the scenarios that we make beforehand, this is of course clearly visible.” Around three o’clock he expressed the hope of being able to go again later. The fact that this would happen at five o’clock was a stroke of luck, because heavy showers had been expected for longer.
An appeal to the guarantee fund will certainly follow
There was a fear that it could become a boring affair after a restart. Part of the audience would probably return, but many people would not: those from out of town. A big downer, not least for the festival organization itself. Also financially? Because the income must come from the catering industry? Van Dijk, during that interruption: “It is clear that we have to make a strong appeal to the guarantee fund.”
It is the second consecutive year that Van Dijk has experienced setbacks. Last year, his festival had a pilot (trial) with a five euro entrance fee, to keep organizational costs within limits. Because fewer people came to the trotting track as a result and heavy pressure from outside descended on him (‘peace must be free’), that entrance was once again cut off. Van Dijk: ,,You immediately see today how vulnerable we are as a festival. We really need to discuss this with the city and the province.”
Early evening became late afternoon
Around a quarter to four it really started to rain in Groningen, but there was no thunder. After which the gates opened again at five o’clock, half an hour after Assen. “The threat of severe weather is over,” festival chairman Gerrit Boes said there. “It will remain wet until just before 8 p.m., but with a good coat and shoes it should work.” He called on everyone to return.
In Groningen, after The Opposites, Jammah Tammah, Goldkimono, Bente and Never Been to Berlin first took the audience in tow, followed by Merol on that main stage. ,,Man, I’m so happy now”, said Van Dijk looking around, while the audience (v) en masse Shut up and eat me sang along with Merol. “Even if you don’t have a tongue,” the singer added herself. The party would go on for hours.