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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | festivalsPaaspopEaster weekend, giant campsite, costumes, genre mix | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Paaspop
👍 Recommendedfestival ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Paaspop started in 1969 as a small Easter pop gathering in Schijndel, and today it is a three-day festival for roughly 35,000 visitors a day, mixing techno, hardstyle, rock, hip-hop and pop across several stages and a huge campsite. It sits in Schijndel, North Brabant, about 20 km from Den Bosch and 30 km from Eindhoven. Most of the crowd is Dutch and under 25, so expect costumes and loud group energy. Costs catch people out: tickets sell out early, camping and lockers are extra, and cashless payment means leftover credit needs claiming. I still hear the bass of the Easter Sunday kickoff rolling over the tents at dawn, mixed with frying oil from the snack stands.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 festival in The NetherlandsThe unique appeal for travelers

Backpackers plan around Paaspop because it lands on Easter weekend, when much of Europe is already moving and a Netherlands stop fits neatly between Amsterdam and Belgium or Germany. The campsite is where it gets social. Dutch festival groups are famously welcoming, and sharing a tent field with thousands of locals gives you quick friendships and a look at how young Dutch people actually celebrate, down to the themed outfits and the ritual of Brabant fried snacks at midnight. Price matters too. Compared with the big Belgian and Spanish festivals, Paaspop packs in a dense, varied lineup on a modest ticket, and the Schijndel site is reachable by train and bus from Den Bosch, so you can skip a rental car entirely.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Paaspop

  1. The campsite community. Thousands of tents form a temporary village where neighbors trade snacks, music and costume ideas, and it is the easiest place to meet Dutch festival regulars.
  2. Genre-hopping stages. Paaspop mixes electronic, rock, hip-hop and pop, so you can move from a techno tent to a guitar main stage within minutes.
  3. Easter timing and traditions. Being held over the Easter weekend gives it a distinct spring-opening feel, with many visitors treating it as the start of the Dutch festival season.
  4. Costume culture. Themed outfits, onesies and group costumes are everywhere, which makes striking up conversation simple and the crowd feel playful rather than posed.
  5. Dutch festival food. Expect frikandellen, fries with sauce and other late-night snacks, giving you a taste of everyday Dutch snack
… read more 👉
  1. The campsite community. Thousands of tents form a temporary village where neighbors trade snacks, music and costume ideas, and it is the easiest place to meet Dutch festival regulars.
  2. Genre-hopping stages. Paaspop mixes electronic, rock, hip-hop and pop, so you can move from a techno tent to a guitar main stage within minutes.
  3. Easter timing and traditions. Being held over the Easter weekend gives it a distinct spring-opening feel, with many visitors treating it as the start of the Dutch festival season.
  4. Costume culture. Themed outfits, onesies and group costumes are everywhere, which makes striking up conversation simple and the crowd feel playful rather than posed.
  5. Dutch festival food. Expect frikandellen, fries with sauce and other late-night snacks, giving you a taste of everyday Dutch snack habits alongside the music.
Start with the campsite on arrival day, since pitching early gets you a better spot and the neighbors you meet there will shape the rest of your weekend.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Paaspop?

Paaspop takes place over Easter weekend, usually from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, so the date moves with the Christian calendar (late March to late April). It is held at Evenementenweide in Schijndel, North Brabant.
  • Early Easter (late March): Expect 2 to 10°C (36 to 50°F), frost at night and sunrise near 7:00 AM. Mud and wind are likely, and sunset comes around 7:30 PM.
  • Late Easter (mid to late April): Typically 6 to 15°C (43 to 59°F) with daylight until about 8:45 PM. Showers are common but the days feel kinder.
  • Crowds: The festival sells out at roughly 35,000 visitors a day, and the Saturday night peak is the busiest.
  • Prices: Early bird tickets are cheaper, and nearby Airbnb and hotel rates climb as Easter nears.
Buy tickets as soon as they are released, because a late Easter does not make them any easier to find.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling
netherlands-festival-paaspop
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

The best base for backpackers is the festival’s own campsite next to the grounds, which keeps you a short walk from the stages with no transport to organize. It is the social option too, with groups from across the Netherlands and Belgium sharing tents, music and card games.
Bring a warm sleeping bag, since April nights can drop near freezing, and expect noise until the early hours. If you want quiet, look at Schijndel itself. The small town center has a handful of guesthouses and rooms, about 2 km from the site, and a walk or short bike ride gets you to the entrance.
For a city base, Den Bosch … read more 👉
The best base for backpackers is the festival’s own campsite next to the grounds, which keeps you a short walk from the stages with no transport to organize. It is the social option too, with groups from across the Netherlands and Belgium sharing tents, music and card games.
Bring a warm sleeping bag, since April nights can drop near freezing, and expect noise until the early hours. If you want quiet, look at Schijndel itself. The small town center has a handful of guesthouses and rooms, about 2 km from the site, and a walk or short bike ride gets you to the entrance.
For a city base, Den Bosch (’s-Hertogenbosch) is about 15 km away and has the strongest backpacker scene nearby. Its old center is lively, safe at night and full of student bars, and a bus connects it with Schijndel. Eindhoven, roughly 30 km southeast, offers more hostel and budget hotel choices plus an airport. Both cities work if you need a proper bed and shower between festival days, though you will have to plan transport home after late-night sets.
Best hostels in The Netherlands


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Expect to spend roughly USD 120 to 260 a day at Paaspop, with the ticket as the biggest single cost.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUSD 110 to 140 totalWeekend passes are typically around €100 to 130, and early sales are cheaper. A camping ticket is usually an extra add-on.
AccommodationUSD 10 to 30 a nightFestival camping is the lowest cost. Rooms in Den Bosch or Eindhoven often run USD 70 to 150 a night around Easter.
Local transportUSD 5 to 25 a dayTrain to Den Bosch, then a bus to Schijndel. Festival shuttles and taxis cost extra, and late-night rides are pricey.
Food & drinksUSD 35 to 60 a dayBeer costs about USD 4 to 6 a cup, snacks and meals USD 6 to 15 each, and a prepaid token or card system is used on site.
Miscellaneous expensesUSD 10 to 30 a dayBudget for lockers,
… read more 👉
Expect to spend roughly USD 120 to 260 a day at Paaspop, with the ticket as the biggest single cost.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUSD 110 to 140 totalWeekend passes are typically around €100 to 130, and early sales are cheaper. A camping ticket is usually an extra add-on.
AccommodationUSD 10 to 30 a nightFestival camping is the lowest cost. Rooms in Den Bosch or Eindhoven often run USD 70 to 150 a night around Easter.
Local transportUSD 5 to 25 a dayTrain to Den Bosch, then a bus to Schijndel. Festival shuttles and taxis cost extra, and late-night rides are pricey.
Food & drinksUSD 35 to 60 a dayBeer costs about USD 4 to 6 a cup, snacks and meals USD 6 to 15 each, and a prepaid token or card system is used on site.
Miscellaneous expensesUSD 10 to 30 a dayBudget for lockers, phone charging, rain gear, earplugs and festival merchandise.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

Expect a field of food trucks serving festival staples with a Dutch accent. Fries (patat) with mayo or patatje oorlog (peanut sauce, mayo and onions) are the classic fuel, and you will also find burgers, wraps, noodles, vegan bowls and pizza.
For something local, try a frikandel or a kroket from a hot snack stand, and look for stroopwafels or fresh poffertjes when you need a sweet hit. Brabant is known for worstenbroodjes, a sausage roll, which suits a cold Easter morning.
Drinks are mostly beer in plastic cups, plus soft drinks, cocktails and coffee. Cash is rarely used. Most bars and stalls run on a prepaid cashless wristband or card that you top up at points on site, and leftover balance can usually be refunded afterward through the official process.
Queues peak between headliners, so eat … read more 👉
Expect a field of food trucks serving festival staples with a Dutch accent. Fries (patat) with mayo or patatje oorlog (peanut sauce, mayo and onions) are the classic fuel, and you will also find burgers, wraps, noodles, vegan bowls and pizza.
For something local, try a frikandel or a kroket from a hot snack stand, and look for stroopwafels or fresh poffertjes when you need a sweet hit. Brabant is known for worstenbroodjes, a sausage roll, which suits a cold Easter morning.
Drinks are mostly beer in plastic cups, plus soft drinks, cocktails and coffee. Cash is rarely used. Most bars and stalls run on a prepaid cashless wristband or card that you top up at points on site, and leftover balance can usually be refunded afterward through the official process.
Queues peak between headliners, so eat while the big acts play. Portions are generous, and sharing a fries cone is normal. Bring a refillable bottle if allowed, since free water points are available.

FAQTraveler FAQ

Paaspop takes place over Easter weekend each spring, usually from Friday or Saturday through Easter Sunday or Monday, in Schijndel, North Brabant. The exact dates move with Easter, which falls between late March and late April. Check the official site once dates are published, and plan arrival the day before if you want an easy camping setup.
A weekend ticket typically costs around 150 to 200 euros, with camping and extras adding to that. Budget extra for a camping spot or package, lockers, food and drinks, which often come to 50 to 100 euros or more over the weekend. Payment is usually cashless, so top up a wristband or card and reclaim any unused credit afterward.
Yes, buy in advance, because Paaspop tickets often sell out well before Easter. Early-bird and presale rounds are cheaper and release in stages, so watch the official site and use only authorized sellers to avoid scams. Camping access is usually tied to your ticket or sold as an add-on, so confirm that when you book.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch festivals near Paaspop

Explore more nearby:

  • Carnaval—Lampegat, key handover, brass bands, costume code| 23 km away
  • Roadburn Festival—Artist-in-residence, 013 stages, Cul de Sac, record market| 24 km away
  • Dynamo Metal Fest—Metal weekend, campsite culture, Dutch and Belgian fans, small stages| 26 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Stay all three days if you can. The first night is mostly about settling in and meeting neighbors, and the real rhythm of the campsite only shows up on day two. One day feels rushed, and a full stay costs only a little more once you have your tent and transport sorted. Add a night in Den Bosch afterward to recover.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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