Once again, this year, thousands of international visitors to dance music festival Tomorrowland have opted for overnight stays in Brussels. The festival, which takes place in Boom this past weekend and next weekend, accounts for an estimated 60,000 hotel overnight stays in the Belgian and Flemish capital. The figure is comparable to that registered during the previous three editions of the Antwerp dance music festival.
For thousands of international music lovers, Tomorrowland does not begin on a field in Boom (Antwerp Province), but in the heart of Brussels. For its all-inclusive ‘Global Journey’ package, the techno festival boasts no fewer than 43 partner hotels in the capital, compared with 12 in Antwerp.
According to the Brussels Hotel Association (BHA), Tomorrowland festival-goers account for an estimated 60,000 hotel overnight stays in Brussels. As the first weekend coincided with another major Belgian event – the F1 race at Spa-Francorchamps – Brussels’ hotels were virtually fully booked.
“Unfortunately, we don’t see a similar impact in August,” says Rodolphe Van Weyenbergh, Secretary-General of the BHA. He would have preferred Spa to be on the F1 calendar in August, so that the influx of international visitors would be spread out more.
Tomorrowland experience
Belgian flag carrier Brussels Airlines is hosting some 25,000 festival-goers from 106 different countries, travelling on 409 flights. That is over 10,000 more than during the 2024 edition. Over 1,000 passengers opted for one of Brussels Airlines’ seven exclusive party flights – complete with a live DJ set – from destinations including Ibiza, Barcelona, Rome and Prague to Brussels Airport.
Brussels’ partner hotels are doing their bit with temporary Tomorrowland-themed decorations. The classic Hotel Le Plaza on the Adolphe Maxlaan was transformed into a trendy venue with a make-up service for festival-goers and beach chairs out on the street.
The festival attracts 1,000 visitors and a full house, director Laurent Dekeef told BX1. He admits that his hotel is pretty traditional. “But we’re trying to extend the Boom experience right up to the doors of the Plaza.”
Pre-parties
Last Thursday, festival-goers staying in the city were able to walk to one of Tomorrowland’s pop-up parties in the city centre: the controversial DJ set on the Muntplein, barely two days after the fatal fire in the adjacent OXY building, and the free parties on Brussels’ Grand Place. Another pre-party takes place today.
Tomorrowland organisers enjoy a good relationship with Brussels Mayor Philippe Close, who formerly served as alderman for tourism for 10 years. For the city council, this collaboration is ideal for putting Brussels on the map as a city break destination.
Brussels cafés that have managed to become go-to spots for the Tomorrowland crowd are also doing a roaring trade. One of them is Delirium Village, a beer temple that is already a major tourist attraction.
Taxi companies are also experiencing a busy period. Although the techno festival does provide shuttle buses from Brussels North and Brussels Central stations and the Palace of Justice, these are quickly fully booked during the busiest hours.