Work has been going on for weeks on the Megaland site in Landgraaf. Everything to ensure that visitors to the 51st edition of Pinkpop can enjoy the festival next weekend, but there are a few adjustments waiting for them.
From Whit Monday, the site will be closed to everyone, except the organization.
The festival in Landgraaf was canceled for two years because of the corona pandemic. Enough time for the organization to think about a number of changes. “We looked at how we can grow the festival over the next 50 years. Not so much in visitor numbers, but especially in the experience,” says Niek Murray, manager of Pinkpop. One of those changes is the reversal of the IBA Parkstad stage.
Jan doesn’t like changes
Although Jan Smeets, founder of Pinkpop, has handed over the baton, he remains closely involved in the organization. “But Jan doesn’t like changes so we had to choose a moment to tell him about our plans.” Murray likes that involvement. “Fortunately, he doesn’t let go. He is still often in the office and has been on the site a few times. He is making himself heard. We will be concerned if he does not do that anymore.”
Challenges
Because the festival was closed for two years, the organization now faces a few challenges. “Although fortunately we want to help people from associations and schools, we are still short of people.” In addition, there are also consequences of the war in Ukraine. “We can only get things late, or transporters ask if they can deliver a little earlier. That’s why the pink tent has been ready three weeks, earlier than planned.”
Tension
Murray finds the upcoming edition of the festival in Landgraaf exciting on several fronts. “We want to finally let visitors who already have a ticket in 2020 enjoy the festival. It is also exciting what Jan will think of it. But if we are there and everyone enjoys it, then we are satisfied.”