Qlimax – Hard Dance’s most historical, legendary & mesmerising event…

Qlimax.

This six letter word is much more than just a word. Behind each letter stands over fifteen years of history and legendary tales that visitors of this illustrious event will hold in their hearts forever…

Any Hard Dance fan would be well-aware of the fact that Qlimax is THE mother of all indoor events and boasts a magical, mysterious vibe that builds throughout the night to eventually reach one big… wait for it… Qlimax! This gigantic indoor event is practically the equivalent of Hard Dance’s ‘world cup’ and is a showcase of the artists who have shined bright and earned their badges over the past year.

Legend states that both performing artists and visitors lucky enough to obtain a ticket leave the GelreDome in an altered state of consciousness… And with this highly anticipated night held in just one month, we decided to delve into this mystical concept and explore the history, emotion and legacy behind it.

And ‘Qlimax’ was born…

Executed by event heavyweights Q-dance, the very first edition of Qlimax was held back in 2000 in the Beursgebow, Eindhoven. With Ruffian hosting this enchanting evening, although Qlimax was theme-less at this stage, this initial edition made a solid mark in the pavement as something truly unique…

Before settling down in the GelreDome, Qlimax moved to various venues such as the Heineken Music Hall, Silverdome in Zoetermeer and Thailf Stadion in Heerenveen. During the years 2002 and 2003, Qlimax was held twice per year – talk about multi-climactic!

2003 was a turning point for Qlimax, which entailed the inclusion of an anthem to represent the night’s magic. The very first anthem titled “Follow The Leader” was created by no less than The Prophet as it set the standard for the event’s overall ambience. Later that year, Deepack’s unforgettable anthem “The Prophecy” followed up and the notion around the Qlimax anthem became an élite mission as well as an incredibly special milestone for the creating artist(s).

From 2004, Qlimax was held once a year during the third or fourth weekend of November and has become a worldwide attraction not only for die-hard fans, but for thrill-seekers as well.

The Sacred Ritual…

Those fortunate enough to have Qlimax-ed at some stage in their lives can vouch that this exclusive gathering is not just an indoor event – it’s a life-altering experience. With its mysterious ambience and visionary approach, diverse themes are created to open the minds of visitors and push their consciousness into new realms. Simultaneously, the music and immaculate production heightens our senses and reverberates through the hearts of the thousands of visitors inside the venue.

The attendees of Qlimax come from all around the globe with the sole mission to unite with other like-minded souls and cherish the sacredness of our scene. Call them crazy, but the devotion of the visitors who fly from as far as Australia and The United States with a sole mission to attend Qlimax is simply remarkable.

The Qlimax experience doesn’t just begin when visitors start flooding into the GelreDome – it begins as soon as the years’ theme is revealed. Everything from the trailer, to the exposure of the line-up and anthem, right up to the minutes before the doors swing open are all part of each individual’s Qlimax experience.

The Qlimax experience embodies breath-taking theatrics, especially during the dramatic moment when the curtain drops and the stage is revealed. That earth-shattering moment is of course one of the night’s biggest highlights as it signifies the birth of a new edition and the beginning of the breath-taking voyage.

If Q-dance is known for one thing, it’s their endless creativity when it comes to executing their themes. I’m talking about colossal stages that transform during the night, irresistible designs that tell intricate stories and even artists dressed in costumes for their performances! Who could forget about the incredible transformation the 2013 stage did throughout the night? Another mention goes to the spectacular 2014 design which included strands of DNA that lowered and rose above the heads of visitors.

Renowned for its grand build-up, the night traditionally begins with the sounds of Hard Trance, Subground or Early Hardstyle. This allows the visitors to soak up the atmosphere, grab a few drinks and find their perfect position before the overwhelming reveal. Next, Hardstyle’s most acclaimed acts take the stage and the sound typically builds up from euphoric and uplifting to dark, raw and intense Hardstyle.

One of the most awaited happenings of the night is the jaw-dropping anthem show; the anthem-maker takes centre stage and is introduced with an overwhelming, astounding production that sends attendees into a state of awe. As the sound, production and atmosphere simultaneously intensify, towards the early hours of the morning, the night is brought to one big climax when the years’ Hardcore act takes the stage in aim to squeeze the last bit of energy from the visitors.

Then it’s all over. A magical night has flashed right before your eyes, however countless memories are held in your heart forever…

Qlimax 2016 – Rise Of The Celestials

We’re now one month away from yet another edition of Qlimax, and once again Q-dance has some big expectations to fill! This year, the scene was thrown into an absolute frenzy when the resurrection of legendary act Project One was announced and there’s no doubt that the pair has an immense performance up their sleeves. The night is set to be an emotional rollercoaster filled with nostalgia, passion, intensity and surprise.

After years of devotion to Hardstyle, Belgian hero Coone had the honour to create this years’ kick-ass anthem “Rise Of The Celestials,” which of course, became a huge topic online. Like every other year, the Qlimax anthem has generated quite the heated discussion as fans have expressed both their love and disappointment for it. Nonetheless, Coone did an incredible job and this anthem was well-deserved… We can’t wait to see the damage this anthem does to the GelreDome on the big night!

Furthermore, this years’ line-up is nothing less than solid as well-loved names such as Tuneboy, Frequencerz, B-Front, Brennan Heart, Bass Modulators and Angerfist are set to control the gears. A new act is welcomed onto the Qlimax catalogue too – dynamic duo Audiotricz are set to melt the hearts of visitors with their signature melodic style.

Qlimax 2016 is set to be one hell of a night, and as much as I’d like to say “you can get your tickets here,” it’s sold out. So for those fortunate enough to get their hands on a golden ticket, we’d like to wish you an unforgettable Qlimax experience!

To check out last years’ article devoted to Qlimax, written by Steven Orr, CLICK HERE.