Rock Werchter’s New KluB C Tent Sparks Backlash From Neighbors
Rock Werchter’s massive new KluB C tent has been erected just a few dozen meters from neighboring homes in Werchter, reigniting tensions between festival organizers and long-time residents. The structure, part of a 1.5-hectare expansion announced earlier this year, now towers over private gardens — and some residents say enough is enough.
A Tent “Twice the Size of My Garden”
The new KluB C tent is a colossal hangar measuring 17 meters high and approximately 4,000 square meters in size — large enough to accommodate around 10,000 festivalgoers. For resident Wim De Jongh, who has lived in Werchter for roughly 60 years, the structure is an unwelcome sight just beyond his backyard fence.
According to VRT NWS, De Jongh described the tent as a “factory hangar” twice the size of his garden. “Agricultural land has been excavated, sand brought in, and concrete slabs laid,” he said. “They’ve been working here for three weeks, with noise from 7 AM to 6 PM.”
Growing Pains After Five Decades
Rock Werchter began in the 1970s as a modest local festival with a single tent. Over five decades, it has grown into one of Europe’s premier music events, drawing 158,000 visitors across four days in 2025 — a scale that residents say has transformed their village beyond recognition.
“Rock Werchter has become a city of 100,000 people,” one anonymous resident told VRT NWS. “That’s five times the number of inhabitants of Rotselaar. It has essentially become unlivable.”
De Jongh, who once let festivalgoers park bikes and pitch tents in his garden, now leaves town during the festival. “You won’t see me here during Werchter,” he said. “I really have to flee.”
Expansion Plans and a New Layout
The festival announced on April 30 that it would expand its terrain by 1.5 hectares, reconfiguring the site to improve visitor flow and add seating areas. The iconic ‘Slope’ stage was removed and replaced with a new discovery stage named ‘NEST,’ chosen by fan vote. As part of the reconfiguration, KluB C was moved to a new location — one now in close proximity to residential gardens.
The festival has emphasized that the expansion is not intended to increase ticket sales, but rather to enhance the experience for the same number of attendees.
Organizer Response: Mitigation Measures
Live Nation, the festival organizer, acknowledged the concerns through spokesperson Nele Bigaré. “Every event — large or small — may bring some form of inconvenience,” Bigaré told VRT NWS. “We are aware of this and therefore focus on open communication with those involved.”
Bigaré outlined several measures taken to minimize disruption: the construction and dismantling period is kept as short as possible, work on KluB C was scheduled between 7 AM and 6 PM, no delivery truck routes pass through the residential area, acoustic wall panels have been installed in KluB C, and screened fences surround the site. She also noted that the grounds were previously used for crew facilities and now serve a new purpose for the public.
According to Live Nation, residents were informed as a priority through the festival’s neighborhood outreach program, and there was coordination with the municipality of Rotselaar.
A Complex Relationship
The conflict reflects a long and complicated history between the festival and its neighbors. Some local business owners, like Raf Van Rompuy of Elektro Bries, view Rock Werchter as “the pride of our village” and a vital economic engine. The local pharmacy sees increased sales of painkillers, blister plasters, and even the morning-after pill during festival days.
But for residents like De Jongh, who founded an action committee years ago to address issues such as trespassing and public urination by festivalgoers, the costs have become too high. The action committee did lead to improvements including fencing and discounted tickets for neighbors — but De Jongh says it’s no longer enough.
What’s Next
Rock Werchter 2026 runs from July 2 to July 5. The new KluB C tent will be in full use, and residents like De Jongh plan to leave town during the event. The municipality of Rotselaar continues to coordinate with organizers on traffic, security, and permits, while a “burenloket” (neighborhood desk) remains available for resident inquiries during the festival period.
Longer-term questions remain. Festival organizer Herman Schueremans has occasionally referenced the possibility of relocating Rock Werchter to a different site — a prospect that divides the community. For now, the tension between the festival’s global ambitions and the quiet lives of its neighbors shows no signs of resolution.
Reporting contributed by Yasmina El Messaoudi and Kirsten Simons of VRT NWS.