DGTL Amsterdam

History

DGTL was founded in 2013 by Jasper Goossen's Amsterdam promotions company Apenkooi Events, debuting as a one-day event at NDSM Docklands, the former shipyard across the IJ from Amsterdam's city center that had spent the prior decade turning into an arts and creative-industry hub. The first edition sold out, and so did the next two, which pushed the festival from a single day into the two-day (later three-day) format it runs today. NDSM's mix of cavernous former warehouse space and open dockside area gave DGTL a venue that could hold both a dark, warehouse-scale techno room and an outdoor, daylight-facing house stage without feeling like two separate events bolted together, a layout the festival still leans on.

Sustainability became a defining part of DGTL's identity early and stayed there. The festival began working toward circularity as far back as 2014, and by 2020 had set an explicit goal of becoming the world's first fully circular dance music event. It got there in 2022: residual waste per visitor per day dropped from roughly 93 grams in 2019 to around 20 grams, food across the site went fully plant-based, and energy sourcing moved away from diesel generators toward renewable supply. That track record is a big part of why DGTL gets cited internationally as a reference case for festival sustainability rather than treated as a marketing angle, and the festival has continued pushing the framing further, including exploring Amsterdam's "doughnut economics" model with the city.

Ownership changed hands during that same stretch. In September 2022, ID&T, the Dutch dance promotion group behind Sensation and Mysteryland, acquired Apenkooi, folding DGTL into ID&T's platform while Goossen's company stayed on to run it day to day. ID&T itself sits inside Superstruct Entertainment, the roll-up promoter that also owns Sónar in Barcelona, Boiler Room and roughly eighty other festivals across Europe, and which KKR acquired a majority stake in during 2024. When artists pressured Superstruct-owned festivals over KKR's other investments in 2025, DGTL was one of the properties, alongside Sónar, that issued its own public statement addressing the pressure. The brand has also expanded well beyond Amsterdam since then, with editions in Barcelona, Chile, Brazil and, as of late 2026, India, where Nina Kraviz played DGTL's Bengaluru and Mumbai dates.

The Amsterdam bill has long mixed festival headliners with names that come out of club culture. Nina Kraviz headlined the 2016 edition alongside Bonobo and Âme, Jeff Mills was booked for the 2018 Easter edition, Amelie Lens and Motor City Drum Ensemble were announced for 2019, and Chris Stussy was on the Sunday lineup in 2024.

The Amsterdam edition remains the flagship and, as the spring opener on the European festival calendar, has kept its original identity: a techno and house-leaning lineup split across NDSM's warehouse and waterside stages, still built around the circular, low-waste production standard the festival spent the better part of a decade establishing.

The 2027 edition is set for 26 to 28 March at NDSM Docklands, starting with a Friday night session (22:00 to 05:00) followed by day and night programs on Saturday and Sunday. As of early October 2026, DGTL's own page says ticket sales will launch at the end of the year and names no artists yet.

Getting there and practical info

DGTL Amsterdam sits across the IJ from the city centre, so the ferry is part of the experience. The festival points visitors to the ferry and to bikes and recommends against driving.

• Venue: NDSM Docklands, NDSM-Plein 85, 1033 WC Amsterdam (Amsterdam-Noord), the former shipyard site with warehouse and dockside stages.
• By ferry: from the ferry platform directly behind Amsterdam Central Station. DGTL puts the sailing time at about 15 minutes, followed by roughly a five-minute walk to the NDSM warehouse. Extra festival ferries run on top of the regular schedule, day and night, and departure times are listed live on Pontveer. Waiting times can grow after the event ends, so build in time if you need the last train home.
• By bike: recommended by the festival. Take the ferry from Central Station to Buiksloterweg (about 5 minutes) and cycle roughly 10 minutes, or take the ferry from Pontsteiger to Distelweg. Bikes are not allowed on the ferry from NDSM back toward Central Station, and there are designated bike parking areas.
• By car, Uber or taxi: not recommended, and there is no dedicated visitor parking. The Uber drop-off is at Ms. Tarnweg, kiss and ride is at Tt. Vasumweg, and taxis use the crossing of NDSM-straat and Ms. van Riemsdijkweg.
• Airport: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with direct trains to Amsterdam Central Station that typically take 15 to 20 minutes, then the ferry.
• Tickets: not on sale yet. DGTL says sales for 2027 launch at the end of 2026, and you can pre-register on the festival site. Tickets are sealed: they are sent to the main buyer on 24 March 2027 after every ticket in the order has been personalised. Resale runs through TicketSwap, capped at 20 percent above or below face value.
• Age: 18+ only, with a valid ID document, under DGTL's terms and conditions.
• Payments: cashless and card-only, by debit card, credit card or Apple Pay. There are no cash cards or tokens.
• On site: lockers sit just inside the entrance, with a separate locker required for the night program. There is free tap water in the toilet areas, all food is plant-based, cigarettes are not sold, and DGTL states a zero-tolerance policy on drugs. All stages are accessible to wheelchair users.
• Camping and accommodation: the official site does not mention camping or festival accommodation, so book a stay in Amsterdam yourself.

FAQ

When is DGTL Amsterdam?

The Amsterdam edition runs every spring, opening the European festival calendar. The 2027 edition is scheduled for March 26-28 at NDSM Docklands, with a Friday night opener and day and night programs on Saturday and Sunday.

What makes DGTL a "circular" festival?

DGTL set a goal in 2020 of becoming the world's first fully circular dance festival and reached it in 2022, cutting residual waste per visitor per day from about 93 grams in 2019 to roughly 20 grams, switching to fully plant-based food across the site, and moving its energy supply toward renewable sources.

Who owns DGTL now?

DGTL is organized by Apenkooi Events, founded by Jasper Goossen, which has operated within Dutch promoter ID&T's platform since ID&T acquired it in September 2022. ID&T is itself part of Superstruct Entertainment, the festival group majority-owned by investment firm KKR since 2024.

Is DGTL only held in Amsterdam?

No. Amsterdam is the original and flagship edition, but DGTL has expanded to other cities and countries over the years, including Barcelona, editions in South America, and, more recently, India.

How do I get to DGTL Amsterdam?

Take the ferry from the platform behind Amsterdam Central Station to NDSM, which DGTL says takes about 15 minutes, with extra festival ferries added. The festival recommends cycling and advises against driving, since there is no dedicated parking.

What is the age limit at DGTL Amsterdam?

DGTL admits visitors aged 18 and over only, and you need a valid identity document.

When do DGTL Amsterdam 2027 tickets go on sale?

DGTL says ticket sales for 2027 will launch at the end of 2026, and pre-registration for updates is open on the festival's website. Tickets are sealed and sent to the main buyer on March 24, 2027.

RTS.FM artists connected to this festival

• Amelie Lens
• Chris Stussy
• Jeff Mills
• Motor City Drum Ensemble
• Nina Kraviz

Only sourced appearances at past editions or on announced lineups are listed.