Damaris is the newest child in Amsterdam's family of open air festivals. Damaris is probably the…read morename of the main organizer's girlfriend's mum. Or maybe not. Anyone who knows more please update me.
Two things before you continue reading.
1) If you don't live in noord, don't come by bike. If you still think it's a good idea, don't park it in front of Pontstation, unless you want to pick it up again some other day. The organizers will generously block the area while you're on the festival ground, to steer the masses heading towards the ferries to Centraal Station.
2) Plan enough waiting time for your way to the ferry. You'll wait together with hundreds and you'll not know if you'll be on the next ferry or one later.
Damaris is like a cross section of the family. There are stages with electronic music artists and dj's, the main and tent stage with live acts, in front of Noorderlicht there was a small folk band playing quiet tones while on the other side the Viese Meid stage entered the genitals-display-competition with Milkshake festival. Consider that if you want to bring your children and they don't know about the birds and the bees yet.
The organizers were lucky that the weather was perfect, a hot and sunny summer day. But I'm sure they had been prepared for rain as well and stockpiled plastic rain ponchos that they would have sold to the visitors for 1 munt per piece. I wonder why they don't also sell suncream samples, cheap sun hats, disposable fans and the like. Hey Damaris marketing guys, get creative! Produce branded gadgets and make the visitors pay for them.
The line-up was impressive, especially the one of the main stage. A lot of big names of the Dutch music scene were playing, like Jacqueline Govaert or Caro Emerald. Kensington was next to hit the stage and I found out that I actually know their famous song "Home Again". (For everyone who also thinks "Where do I know this song from?" - it was used in Jack Wolfskin tv spots.) The band connected well with the audience and incited many people to sit on their friends' shoulders.
Later Jett Rebel appeared on stage in a gospel-ish outfit and made it funky. Hallelujah!
Like
+ Relatively cheap ticket prices because it was the first edition.
+ You cannot return bought munten but you can buy single ones (not sets of 4 or 5 like at many other festivals).
+ The price for one munt was €2,50, which is OK. But consider that they might increase the rate after a successful first edition.
Dislike
- I didn't like the food. For me there was not enough variety, many of the stalls offered fried stuff. And because the waiting lines in front of my few favourite stalls were just too long, I went for nachos from Cantina Mexicana. The guacamole and salsa mexicana were more than bland. Actually the round nachos from the horeca wholesale were the tastiest ingredient.
- There was no water to wash hands after going to the toilet, only disinfectant dispensers. At least there was a girl walking around to fill up toilet paper.
- Being trapped in noord and no ferry timetables or information about extra ferries.
