Qlimax was an annual hardstyle and hard dance event in the Netherlands. It was a major attraction held by Q-dance, and considered to be one of the leading hardstyle events, attracting nearly 30,000 people annually. It contained some of the most sophisticated production and setup, as well as sound system for any Q-dance event. On the 25th of July 2024, Q-Dance announced that Qlimax 2024 would be the very last edition. After being held at several venues, the event settled at the GelreDome in Arnhem in 2003.
History During the first few years following Qlimax's debut, the event used to have several editions each year. From 2004, it was changed to the third or fourth week of November. At first it was held at the Beursgebouw (Eindhoven) and then moved to various other venues such as the SilverDome (Zoetermeer) and Heineken Music Hall (Amsterdam), but eventually settled at the GelreDome in 2003 (Arnhem).
Artists and event Many artists consider being chosen to play at Qlimax as a highlight, since the event was used to showcase the most successful artists in their respective genre. The beginning saw the lineup featuring genres ranging from Hardhouse to Techno. This was changed to traditionally begin with one Hardtrance act, numerous Hardstyle acts and then finish off with one Hardcore/Gabber act. This was changed in 2008 with the removal of the Jumpstyle act and in 2009 with the replacement of the Hardtrance act to one playing early Hardstyle.
In 2021, the event would have taken place during the day for the first time to adhere to the COVID-19 pandemic precautions and guidelines at that time in the Netherlands. A week before the event was due, the event was cancelled and adapted to an online event.
On the 25th of July 2024, Q-Dance announced that Qlimax 2024 would be the very last edition. With this announcement, Q-Dance had ended one of the oldest hardstyle events.
The sound, light, pyrotechnic and stage setup at Qlimax was substantial. Around 350 L'Acoustics speaker boxes were deployed in the arena, with a majority being suspended from the ceiling. The conventional part of the lighting setup was controlled from 3 light desks, and the laser show was done by a certified laser show operator. Booths for technicians were placed out in the crowd, giving them the overview they needed, as well as the sound coverage needed to ensure everyone was having the most ideal possible sound at all times.
Anthems Like most of the Q-dance events, an anthem was made every year by the headlining DJ (with the exception of 2001 and 2002) to represent that edition. Below is a list of the anthems for each edition:
Dutch Anthems 2003: The Prophet – Follow the Leader 2003: Deepack – The Prophecy 2004: Future Tribes – Deadlock (Unofficial) 2005: DJ Zany – Science & Religion 2006: Alpha² – The Dark Side (Co-produced by JDX) 2007: Headhunterz – The Power of the Mind 2008: Technoboy – Next Dimensional World 2009: D-Block & S-te-Fan – The Nature Of Our Mind 2010: Brennan Heart – Alternate Reality 2011: Zatox – No Way Back 2012: Psyko Punkz – Fate or Fortune 2013: Gunz For Hire ft. Ruffian – Immortal Essence 2014: Noisecontrollers – The Source Code of Creation 2015: Atmozfears – Equilibrium 2016: Coone – Rise of the Celestials 2017: Wildstylez – Temple of Light 2018: Sub Zero Project – The Game Changer 2019: B-Front – Symphony of Shadows 2020: None (each artist made an anthem for the source movie) 2021: Ran-D ft. Charlotte Wessels – The Reawakening 2022: Ran-D ft. Charlotte Wessels – The Reawakening 2023: Hard Driver – Enter The Void 2024: None (the overall theme was The Final Prophecy)
Editions
Year Date Location Theme Anthem MC Lineup (in no particular order) 2000 3 June Beursgebouw, Eindhoven (Holland) N/A N/A Ruffian Captain Tinrib, Dana, Nick Sentience, Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Ian M, Remy, Rank 1, Jon the Dentist, The Advent, CJ Bolland, and Pavo. 2001 2 June Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam N/A N/A Ruffian Acid Junkies, Alpha Twins, Bas & Ram, Dana, Gary D, Jon The Baptist, Kai Tracid, Lisa Loud, Marco V, Michel de Hey, and Mauro Picotto. 2002 6 April Thialf Stadion, Heerenveen Cosmos N/A Ruffian Captain Tinrib (Live), Cosmic Spoils, Dana, Gary D, Kai Tracid, Pavo, Technoboy, and Warmduscher. 2002 21 September SilverDome, Zoetermeer Infection N/A Ruffian Alpha Twins, Bas & Ram, Charly Lownoise, Dana, The Darkman, Gizmo, Haze & Abyss, DJ Isaac, Luna, Melanie de Tria, Pavo, Pila, Sunny D, Technoboy, and Zenith DJ. 2003 12 April Thialf Stadion, Heerenveen Follow The Leader The Prophet - Follow The Leader Ruffian Dana, Gary D, Isaac, Luna, Pavo, Pila, Super Marco May, Technoboy, The Prophet (Anthem Show), and Zenith DJ. 2003 22 November GelreDome, Arnhem The Prophecy Deepack - The Prophecy Ruffian Bas & Ram, Daniele Mondello, Deepack (anthem show), Kai Tracid, Luna, Max B Grant, Pavo, The Prophet, Technoboy, and Bass D & King Matthew 2004 27 November GelreDome, Arnhem Destiny's Path Future Tribes - Deadlock (Unofficial) Mouth Of Madness Charly Lownoise, Dana, Luna, Igor S, Outblast, Pavo, Technoboy & The Prophet, and Zany. 2005 19 November GelreDome, Arnhem Science & Religion DJ Zany - Science & Religion Ruffian Bas & Ram, The Beholder & Ballistic, Pila, Zany (Anthem Show), The Prophet, Luna, DJ Isaac, Alpha Twins, Technoboy, and Vince. 2006 25 November GelreDome, Arnhem The Darkside Alpha Twins - The Darkside (Co-Produced with JDX) Ruffian Alpha Twins (anthem show), Dana, Luna, The Prophet feat. Headhunterz, Promo, DJ Ruthless, Showtek, Tatanka, Zany & Donkey Rollers (Live), and Yves de Ruyter. 2007 17 November GelreDome, Arnhem The Power of the Mind Headhunterz - The Power of the Mind Ruffian Fausto, DJ Ghost, Brennan Heart, Showtek (feat. MC DV8), Headhunterz (Live) (Anthem Show), Technoboy, The Prophet & Zany, and DJ Neophyte. 2008 22 November GelreDome, Arnhem Next Dimensional World Technoboy - Next Dimensional World Ruffian Mark Sherry, Showtek, Headhunterz (Live), Project One, D-Block & S-te-Fan, Technoboy (anthem show), Tatanka, and Zany & Vince. 2009 21 November GelreDome, Arnhem The Nature of Our Mind D-Block & S-te-Fan - The Nature of Our Mind Ruffian DJ Isaac, A-Lusion, Davide Sonar (Live), Brennan Heart, Technoboy, D-Block & S-te-Fan (anthem show), Headhunterz, Noisecontrollers (feat. MC Renegade), Deepack, and Noize Suppressor (LIVE). 2010 27 November GelreDome, Arnhem Alternate Reality Brennan Heart - Alternate Reality Ruffian Pavelow, DJ Stephanie, Wildstylez, Wildstylez & Noisecontrollers (Surprise Act), TNT aka Technoboy & Tuneboy (Live), Brennan Heart (Anthem Show), D-Block & S-te-Fan, Psyko Punkz (Live), Zatox, and Endymion vs. Evil Activities. 2011 26 November GelreDome, Arnhem Experiment Dome Zatox - No Way Back Ruffian Stana, Coone, Headhunterz, Zany & The Pitcher (feat. MC DV8), Noisecontrollers, Zatox (anthem show), Ran-D, Gunz For Hire, and The Prophet. 2012 24 November GelreDome, Arnhem Fate Or Fortune Psyko Punkz - Fate Or Fortune Ruffian (with Villain as a B2B MC) A*S*Y*S, Wildstylez, Frontliner, Isaac, Technoboy, Zatox, Psyko Punkz (Anthem Show), Brennan Heart, B-Front (feat. MC DV8), Adaro, and Evil Activities (feat. E-Life). 2013 23 November GelreDome, Arnhem Immortal Essence Gunz For Hire ft. Ruffian - Immortal Ruffian Acti, Wildstylez & Max Enforcer, Code Black, Coone, Gunz For Hire (anthem show feat. Ruffian), Noisecontrollers, Zatox, Alpha Twins, and Mad Dog & Art of Fighters. 2014 22 November GelreDome, Arnhem The Source Code of Creation Noisecontrollers – The Source Code of Creation Ruffian Audiofreq & Technoboy, Headhunterz, Atmozfears, Frontliner, Noisecontrollers (Anthem Show), Ran-D, Crypsis, Endymion, The Viper, and Partyraiser. 2015 21 November GelreDome, Arnhem Equilibrium Atmozfears - Equilibrium Villain DJ Isaac, Bass Modulators, Atmozfears (anthem show), Noisecontrollers & Wildstylez (90 minute set), Brennan Heart, Ran-D, Zatox & Adaro (DJ), Frequencerz, Deetox, and Tha Playah. 2016 19 November GelreDome, Arnhem Rise of the Celestials Coone - Rise of the Celestials Villain Tuneboy, Audiotricz, Brennan Heart (vs. Blademasterz), Coone (Anthem Show), Project One, Bass Modulators, Frequencerz, B-Front, Angerfist, and Ran-D. 2017 18 November GelreDome, Arnhem Temple of Light Wildstylez - Temple of Light Villain TNT aka Technoboy & Tuneboy, D-Block & S-Te-Fan, Wildstylez (Anthem Show), Da Tweekaz, Noisecontrollers & Atmozfears, Frequencerz, Phuture Noize (Surprise Act), Sub Zero Project, Gunz for Hire, and N-Vitral. 2018 24 November GelreDome, Arnhem The Game Changer Sub Zero Project - The Game Changer Villain Luna, Sound Rush, Coone, Bass Modulators, Wildstylez (LIVE), Sub Zero Project (Anthem Show), Tweekacore, Phuture Noize, B-Freqz, and Dr. Peacock (feat. Da Mouth of Madness). 2019 23 November GelreDome, Arnhem Symphony of Shadows B-Front - Symphony of Shadows Villain The Qreator, KELTEK, Sound Rush, D-Block & S-Te-Fan, Headhunterz, B-Front (Anthem Show), Ran-D, D-Sturb, Rejecta, Radical Redemption (feat. MC Nolz), and Miss K8. 2020 28 November The Source (as visual concept album) Qlimax The Source OST Villain The Qreator, Sub Zero Project, Phuture Noize, Headhunterz & JDX, B-Front, KELTEK, and Sefa. 2021 20 November Centrale Markthallen, Amsterdam (Streaming) Distorted Reality (originally as The Reawakening) Ran-D ft. Charlotte Wessels - The Reawakening Villain Zany, D-Block & S-Te-Fan, The Qreator, Sub Zero Project, Ran-D, Shadow Priests (KELTEK, Devin Wild, Frequencerz, Vertile; Surprise Act), Sound Rush, Rebelion, D-Sturb & Act of Rage, and Sefa & Dr. Peacock.202226 NovemberGelreDome, ArnhemThe ReawakeningRan-D ft. Charlotte Wessels - The ReawakeningVillainZany, The Qreator, Sound Rush, D-Block & S-Te-Fan, Ran-D (Anthem Show), Sub Zero Project, The Prophet, Rebelion, D-Sturb & Act Of Rage, Rooler, and Sefa.202318 NovemberGelreDome, ArnhemEnter the VoidHard Driver – Enter The VoidVillainDeepack, Brennan Heart present Blademasterz, Showtek, TNT (Technoboy & Tuneboy), Hard Driver (Anthem Show), Devin Wild, The Qreator, B-Front x Phuture Noize: The Enlightenment, Shadow Priests (Cryex & The Purge & Adjuzt), Vertile, Warface, Deadly Guns, MC Villain.202416 November GelreDome, ArnhemThe Final ProphecyN/AVillainDeepack vs Luna vs Zany, Wildstylez & Noisecontrollers, Coone, The Darkside of Hardstyle, Brennan Heart aka Blademasterz, D-Block & S-Te-Fan, Phases of Hardstyle, TNT (Technoboy & Tuneboy), Sub Zero Project, The Power of the Mind [HeadHunterz's Tribute], B-Front & Phuture Noize, Adaro, Rebelion, D-Sturb & Act of Rage, Mad Dog, Sefa & Dr.Peacock
Most significant artists