A surprise turn of events unfolded during Festival Op de Ring, Amsterdam’s massive 15-kilometer celebration marking the city’s 750th anniversary. Dutch trance legend Armin van Buuren was reportedly blocked from taking the stage by unexpectedly large crowds, according to local media. The DJ was supposed to join fellow DJ Benwal for a b2b performance, but it unfortunately did not happen. Armin van Buuren was scheduled to perform at the Audio Obscura Highway Rave—one of nine hours of DJ sets held near the RAI station on the A10 Zuid section. Festival organizers had anticipated a controlled crowd with free, time‑ticketed entry, but as tens of thousands gathered, crowd flow became unmanageable. Local sites report that high demand and limited access meant many fans never reached the stage, leaving Armin unable to perform. Held on June 21, Festival Op de Ring marked the city’s sesquicentennial with 25+ activities across three zones—A10 West, Zuid, and Oost. Highlights ranged from forest installations to weddings, a 7.5 km run, rollerblading, community dinners, concerts, and mobile DJ floats. The festival attracted huge interest, with 280,000 free tickets claimed swiftly—leaving capacity stretched. Despite the setback, Festival Op de Ring overall was hailed as a spectacular success, spotlighting the unity and creativity Amsterdam is known for. Yet for Armin van Buuren—and countless fans—this incident marks a hiccup in what was meant to be an unforgettable journey atop the iconic A10 ring. Stay tuned for more news!Crowds Prevent Armin van Buuren From Performing at Amsterdam Festival
