Festival director Peter Sanders is enthusiastic: the construction of Paaspop has started. In five weeks they will open the festival season in Schijndel. There is healthy tension on the festival site. Not only because of the question of whether everything will go according to plan, but also because of the tension about rising prices. “It’s a fight against inflation every day.”
A week ago, the first piles were driven into the ground at De Heikampen in Schijndel. Everything must be ready in 34 days, because then 35,000 visitors will enjoy more than 300 performances on seventeen different stages every day.
It’s already starting to look like something. The entrance gate to the largest stage is already standing and the first masts for the tents are ready. “We build everything from steel,” says Sanders. “We set out the site on Saturday and we really started on Wednesday. We build six days a week. Sunday is a spare day.”
Last year they were able to go wild again in Schijndel after two corona years. There were fewer international names on the program then.
“Last year fewer international artists were touring due to the uncertainty after corona,” explains the festival director. “It is therefore less easy to bring international names to Schijndel.” This year’s program includes George Ezra.
Peter Sanders is director of various festivals such as Extrema Outdoor, Wish and Solar, but Paaspop has a special place in his heart. “That’s because I come from Schijndel, of course. But everything also comes together at Paaspop. Everything is beautiful. It’s just three crazy days of fun. It’s like Las Vegas, here you really get your money’s worth.”
“We fight against inflation every day.”
Speaking of money: that is a thing this year. “We fight inflation every day,” says Sanders, slightly frustrated. “Each road plate has become more expensive. Heineken has increased its prices by sixteen percent. It’s worrisome.”
The price of one coin, and therefore a beer or coke, is 3.43 euros this year. “We have tried to keep it civilized, I already see 3.50 euros per coin in some places.”
And the ticket price? It has risen from 143.50 to 173.50 euros for three days. Anyone who wants to order a ticket quickly is too late, the festival is sold out. Only VIP tickets from 300 to 900 euros are still for sale.
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