Best Kept Secret Festival

Best Kept Secret Festival is a three-day music festival at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands, organized by booking agency Friendly Fire. The 2026 edition (June 12 to 14) sold out with 30,000 visitors per day and headlined Gorillaz, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and Jack White. Best Kept Secret is best suited for independent and alternative artists seeking performance at a curated, mid-sized Dutch festival with a reputation for booking emerging acts alongside major names.

About Best Kept Secret Festival

The first edition was held in June 2013 and sold out with 15,000 visitors per day. The festival is organized by Dutch booking agency Friendly Fire and focuses exclusively on music. The site at Safaripark Beekse Bergen features an open-air main stage, three tent stages, and a dance floor stage (The Floor). The programming combines a few major names with many newer acts across indie, pop, garagerock, rap, electronic, jazz, folk, and americana. The festival terrain lies along Victoria Lake, and attendees can stay at the camping site or the adjacent bungalow park. Directors Elvin Usidame and Marieke te Poele took over programming in 2025. The festival has received two nominations at the European Festival Awards.

2026 Edition in Detail

The 2026 edition ran June 12 to 14 and sold out all three days at 30,000 visitors per day. Over 90 acts were confirmed across the festival's stages. Headliners included Gorillaz, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and Jack White. The lineup also featured Hayley Williams, Mac DeMarco, Wolf Alice, De La Soul, Sharon van Etten & The Attachment Theory, Ethel Cain, Genesis Owusu, Model/Actriz, Nation of Language, NewDad, Yard Act, Sorry, Weval (live), Jungle by Night, BCUC, The Zawose Queens, Curtis Harding, Aldous Harding, MEROL, Grote Geelstaat, Militarie Gun, and Parker Fans. The Floor stage, co-curated by DJ St. Paul, hosted sets by Marie Davidson, Madra Salach, Mr. Cutts, and Rimini Express among others. Past performers include Radiohead, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Arctic Monkeys, Chvrches, Deerhunter, Four Tet, Wolf Alice, Run The Jewels, and Agnes Obel.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Best Kept Secret programs emerging acts alongside established names. Over 90 acts were confirmed for 2026, with many receiving their first major festival exposure. The 30,000 daily capacity is mid-sized, providing meaningful exposure without the overwhelming scale of mega-festivals. The festival's booking agency ownership (Friendly Fire) means the bookers understand artist development. The diverse genre programming means artists from indie, electronic, jazz, folk, and world music can all find a place. The festival's growth from 15,000 to 30,000 daily visitors over 13 years shows increasing audience demand. The lakefront location and camping options create an immersive experience where attendees stay for the full weekend. The Dutch location provides access to the broader European touring market. If you are building a touring strategy, check our guide on touring internationally as an independent artist.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

The festival sells out, meaning the audience is capped at 30,000 per day. The Hilvarenbeek location is in the southern Netherlands, 150 km from Amsterdam and Schiphol airport. The safari park setting means some infrastructure is adapted rather than purpose-built. The festival's focus on newer acts means very established artists may not fit the programming philosophy. The camping and bungalow park accommodations are limited relative to the growing attendance. The June timing means competition with other European summer festivals for both artists and audiences. The diverse genre programming means artists may play to niche audiences rather than the full crowd. The festival's relatively short history (since 2013) means it lacks the legacy of longer-running events. The directorship changed in 2025, so the festival's direction may continue to evolve. For tips on getting booked at festivals like this, read our music festival strategy guide.

Related Resources

• Music Festivals Directory
• Music Festival Strategy: Get Booked and Make It Count
• Touring Internationally: Independent Artist Guide
• How to Price Your Live Performance as a Musician
• Visit Best Kept Secret Festival for tickets and full lineup