| Music Festival Name: | Best Kept Secret |
| Location: | Hilvarenbeek, North Brabant, The Netherlands |
| Dates: | Early-to-mid June |
| Years Active: | 2013–present |
| Website: | www.bestkeptsecret.nl |
Best Kept Secret is a three-day music festival held inside the Beekse Bergen, within the village of Hilvarenbeek, in the south of the Netherlands, since 2013.
Best Kept Secret is a music festival with a line-up in which big names are alternated with new discoveries from indie, folk, hip-hop, rock, electronics or a mixture of styles. The festival's centerpiece is a lake at the back of Beekse Bergen safari park. The festival's founder described his vision as aiming to create "something that we’d like to go to ourselves".[1]
Best Kept Secret festival has one open air stage (ONE), three tent stages (TWO, FIVE and SEVEN) and two dance floor stages: THREE and FOUR. For the 2017 edition Best Kept Secret added 'The Casbah', a dive bar and hang-out, that hosts performances of hardcore bands. For the 2019 edition Best Kept Secret added SEVEN, a smaller tent stage for experimental performers.
The festival is organized by Dutch booking agency Friendly Fire.
In June 2013 the first edition was held, and sold out each day with 15,000 visitors.[2]
The festival has been nominated twice at the European Festival Awards:[3]
In 2013 the festival won the 'Best Festival Award' at the 'IJzeren Podiumdieren' award show at Eurosonic Noorderslag.[4] The 'IJzeren Podiumdieren' award show is an initiative by the Vereniging Nederlandse Poppodia- en Festivals (Dutch venues and festivals association).[5]
Best Kept Secret festival introduced 'the food line-up' for their first edition. The festival organization strives for diverse and sustainable food options, including vegetarian meals, soup and juices.
After the 2019 edition, Maurits Westerik, who is also the frontman of the Dutch band Bewilder, became the festival's new director. He replaced Robert Swarts.[6]
| Edition | Year | Dates | Headliners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 13–15 | Barry Can't Swim · Deftones · Eefje de Visser · Michael Kiwanuka · TV on the Radio · Wilco | |
| 10th | 2024 | June 7–9 | Disclosure · Paolo Nutini · Justice · PJ Harvey |
| 9th | 2023 | June 9–11 | Aphex Twin · The Chemical Brothers · Oscar and the Wolf |
| 8th | 2022 | June 10–12 | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds · The Strokes · alt-J · Jamie xx |
| 2021 | Scheduled: June 11–13 | Scheduled: The Strokes · Massive Attack · The National (cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic) | |
| 2020 | Scheduled: June 12–14 | ||
| 2019 | May 31–June 2 | Bon Iver · Christine and the Queens · Kraftwerk 3D | |
| 2018 | June 1–5 | Arctic Monkeys · LCD Soundsystem · The National | |
| 2017 | June 16–18 | Radiohead · Arcade Fire · Run the Jewels | |
| 2016 | June 17–19 | Beck · Editors · Jamie xx | |
| 2015 | June 19–21 | The Libertines · Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds · A$AP Rocky · alt-J | |
| 2014 | June 20–22 | Elbow · Franz Ferdinand · Interpol · Lykke Li · Pixies | |
| 2013 | June 21–23 | Arctic Monkeys · Damien Rice · Sigur Rós · Portishead | |
| Best Kept Secret 2025 (11th edition) | |||
| Friday June 13 | Saturday June 14 | Sunday June 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eefje de Visser | Wilco | ||
| Best Kept Secret 2024 (10th edition) | |||
| Friday June 7 | Saturday June 8 | Sunday June 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disclosure St. Vincent BADBADNOTGOOD Viagra Boys Ki/Ki La Femme Libianca Omar Apollo Sofia Kourtesis (Live) Baxter Dury The Armed English Teacher St. Paul & The Broken Bones Katy Kirby Mannequin Pussy Chastity Belt Minyo Crusaders Alice Phoebe Lou Snõõper Texoprint Upchuck Iconic (Queer Pop) Vals Alarm Ise Droom Dit | Paolo Nutini Slowdive Vince Staples Osees Parcels Altin Gün Fatoumata Diawara Merol Deijuvhs Ratboys Etran De L'Aïr Library Card Mildlife Royel Otis The Amazons The Mary Wallopers Faux Real Mula B Tjade Tramhaus Grace Cummings Cherry Glazerr YHWH Nailgun Lambrini Girls Infinity Song CMAT Winter Lézard Porcelain ID | Justice PJ Harvey Floating Points De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig Amyl and the Sniffers Billy Woods Jockstrap The Haunted Youth The Mysterines Warhaus Water from Your Eyes Tamino Dorian Electra Sprints Slow Pulp The Indien Pip Blom Ada Oda Ali Coloray Gurriers Hiqpy Paris Paloma Parker Fans Thandii Affaire néomí | |
| Best Kept Secret 2022 (8th edition) | |||
| Friday June 10 | Saturday June 11 | Sunday June 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| alt-J Jamie xx Jessie Ware Leon Bridges Mavis Staples Sigrid 4B2M Altin Gün DIIV Elias Mazian Faye Webster Genesis Owusu Giant Rooks Gustaf Iceage John Talabot Merol Sad Night Dynamite Talk Show Tramhaus Wies Yasmin Williams | The Strokes Beach House Big Thief Boy Pablo dEUS Fontaines D.C. Froukje Metronomy Beach Bunny Carista Cero Ismael Future Husband Jensen McRae Just Mustard Keiyaa Kikagaku Moyo L'Rain Pip Blom Porridge Radio Sef & het El Salvador Ensemble The Vices Unschooling Yin Yin | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Mura Masa Sampa The Great Sky Ferreira Wolf Alice 2manydjs Amenra Automatic black midi Cassandra Jenkins Holly Humberstone Jehnny Beth Luz Meskerem Mees Nagasaki Swim Nilüfer Yanya Novastar Spellling | |
| Best Kept Secret 2019 (7th edition) | |||
| Friday May 31 | Saturday June 1 | Sunday June 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bon Iver Charlotte Gainsbourg DJ Koze Primal Scream Spiritualized Shame Crack Cloud Jambinai Priests Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Stereolab BCUC Cate le Bon SHHT Angie McMahon Bountyhunter Personal Trainer Julien Baker John Grant Miya Folick Ditz Charlie & The Lesbians Krystal Klear Blossoms Faye Webster Broeder Dieleman | Kraftwerk 3D Sophie Cigarettes After Sex Guided By Voices Mac Demarco Viagra Boys Death Grips Toro Y Moi Wooden Shjips Ex hex Yves Tumor Borokov Borokov LSDXOXO Ron Gallo Snail Mail Charlotte Adigéry The Beths Fornet Wallows Fat White Family Feng Suave Lucy Dacus Aldous Harding Phosphorescent Sports Team The Nude Party | Christine & The Queens Carly Rae Jepsen The Raconteurs Interpol Kurt Vile & The Violators Big Thief Indian Askin Kae Tempest Lizzo Cautious Clay Georgia Anne Muldrow Princess Nokia Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Liz Phair Julia Holter Caroline Rose Whispering Sons Cautious Clay Ramses3000 Pink Noise Romperayo Lewsberg Iguana Death Cult Juke Ross | |
| Best Kept Secret 2018 (6th edition) | |||
| Friday June 8 | Saturday June 9 | Sunday June 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Monkeys Chvrches Deerhunter Future Islands Tyler, The Creator ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead Naaz Rex Orange County The Comet is Coming Tom Grennan The Districts Job Jobse All Them Witches Sudan Archives Flohio Volcano Boys Crows | The National Wolf Alice Warpaint Vince Staples The Kills Isaac Gracie Slowdive Johan Angus & Julia Stone Four Tet The Internet Vince Staples Alex Cameron Shanti Celeste Big Ups Wavves Pale Waves Mattiel | LCD Soundsystem Father John Misty Rodriguez Spoon Mogwai Khruangbin Ty Segall Unknown Mortal Orchestra Gang of Youths Preoccupations Rostam Superorganism Waxahatchee Dermot Kennedy Yellow Days John Maus Vagabon | |
| Best Kept Secret 2017 (5th edition) | |||
| Friday June 16 | Saturday June 17 | Sunday June 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run The Jewels Agnes Obel Metronomy King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Section Boyz Amber Arcades Denis Sulta DJ Prime Hundred Waters Jenny Hval Joey Purp Jo Goes Hunting Kelly Lee Owens Kornél Kovács Leif Vollebekk Mannequin Pussy Real Estate | Arcade Fire The Boxer Rebellion Floating Points George Ezra Andy Shauf Chris Cohen Circa Waves Cloud Nothings Froth Her Honeyblood Joy Orbison Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith Kim Janssen Laurel Halo | Radiohead Aurora James Blake Kaleo RY X Soulwax Strand Of Oaks American Football Arab Strap Junun ft. Shye Ben Tzur & The Rajasthan Express Canshaker Pi Cass McCombs Fil Bo Riva Henry Wu presents The Kamaal Williams Experience Iguana Death Cult Kadhja Bonet Kikagaku Moyo Marlon Williams | |
| Best Kept Secret 2016 (4th edition) | |||
| Friday June 17 | Saturday June 18 | Sunday June 19 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beck Beach House Christine & The Queens Wolf Parade DIIV Mystery Jets HONNE Slow Magic Empress Of The Heavy Preoccupations Moon Duo Beach Slang Palmbomen II | Editors Caribou Air Bloc Party Dinosaur Jr. Destroyer Glass Animals Bewilder Sleaford Mods Blossoms Low Julien Baker Black Box Revelation Kelvin Jones Pional (live) | Jamie xx Two Door Cinema Club Wilco Yelawolf Yeasayer Band of Horses BADBADNOTGOOD Fat White Family Oneohtrix Point Never Indian Askin Unknown Mortal Orchestra Half Moon Run VANT | |
| Best Kept Secret 2015 (3rd edition) | |||
| Friday June 19 | Saturday June 20 | Sunday June 21 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Libertines The Jesus and Mary Chain The Tallest Man On Earth Chet Faker Earl Sweatshirt Eskmo The Pop Group Binkbeats Blanck Mass Daniel Norgren Daniel Romano Eagulls Kevin Morby Liima METZ Off! Pissed Jeans St. Paul and The Broken Bones Strand of Oaks The Coathangers Vessels Yak | Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds A$AP Rocky RIDE Death Cab for Cutie Of Monsters and Men The Vaccines Temples Daniel Wilson Fickle Friends Föllakzoid Ghost Culture Hinds Hookworms John Coffey Kiasmos Kindness Little May Matthew E. White Mourn Outfit | alt-J Royal Blood SOHN Black Mountain Evian Christ First Aid Kit Future Islands Jonny Greenwood & The London Contemporary Orchestra Mew Alvvays Ariel Pink Cairo Liberation Front Dan Deacon Gengahr Kae Tempest Marmozets Pretty Vicious Reigning Sound Steve Gunn Sunset Sons Waxahatchee Wolf Alice | |
| Best Kept Secret 2014 (2nd edition) | |||
| Friday June 20 | Saturday June 21 | Sunday June 22 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixies Interpol Caribou James Blake Midlake Breton Circa Waves Telegram Jaakko Eino Kalevi Broken Twin Samaris Eaux Cosmonauts Falco Benz | Franz Ferdinand The War on Drugs Babyshambles Miles Kane Metronomy Chvrches Mogwai Nils Frahm Pink Mountaintops Radkey Night Beats The Wytches TRAAMS Girl Band The Bots | Elbow Lykke Li Belle and Sebastian Angus & Julia Stone The 1975 Catfish and the Bottlemen The Notwist The Horrors Fat White Family Truckfighters Connan Mockasin Ry X Forest Swords Deap Vally Fucked Up George Ezra | |
| Best Kept Secret 2013 (1st edition) | |||
| Friday June 21 | Saturday June 22 | Sunday June 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Monkeys Bloc Party Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Tyler the Creator Fuck Buttons The Maccabees Danny Brown Drenge Splashh Surfer Blood Swim Deep Space Dimension Controller | Damien Rice alt-J Two Door Cinema Club Agnes Obel Allah-Las Balthazar Efterklang Savages Swans Wavves French Films Iceage Mozes and the Firstborn Pantha du Prince Thomas Azier Wolf Alice | Sigur Ros Portishead Kurt Vile & The Violators Everything Everything Black Lips Local Natives Palma Violets Suuns Cashmere Cat Skaters No Age Traumahelikopter Autre Ne Veut The Black Angels | |