Tomorrowland’s Most Loyal Fans Never Missed an Edition

As Tomorrowland kicks off its landmark 20th edition in Boom, Belgium, one couple stands out among the 400,000 attendees expected across two weekends: Geert Van Gucht (51) and An Van der Auwera (47) have attended every single edition since the festival began in 2005. Their remarkable story, reported by VRT NWS, offers a unique window into how a small local gathering transformed into one of the world’s largest electronic music festivals.

A Chance Discovery at a Local Café

The couple’s journey began the day before the very first Tomorrowland in August 2005. “The day before the start in 2005, we went for a drink at the corner café,” An recalled. “We got talking with friends and they told us about a new festival that would take place in De Schorre.” The next day, they walked to the entrance, bought tickets on the spot, and walked in. “We were immediately sold,” she said.

At the time, Tomorrowland was a modest one-day event with roughly 10,000 attendees and just five stages. Tickets could be purchased at the entrance, local cafés, and even frituren (chip shops). “In the beginning, you just bought them at the entrance or in local cafés and chip shops,” Geert said. “Now we sit ready with multiple computers like everyone else when ticket sales start. Every time it’s a bit more stressful.”

Witnessing a Global Transformation

Living within walking distance of De Schorre, the provincial park in Boom where the festival is held, Geert and An have had front-row seats to Tomorrowland’s extraordinary evolution. The festival has grown from a single day with 10,000 visitors to a two-weekend spectacle attracting 400,000 people from over 200 countries.

Perhaps no change is more striking than the shift in language. “During the first edition, everyone still understood each other. We all spoke Flemish,” An noted. “Today, English has become the common language.” The couple has watched as international visitors from increasingly distant countries walk past their home toward the festival grounds each year.

The Music That Keeps Them Coming Back

“It was great from the very beginning and we kept going,” An said simply when asked about their remarkable attendance record. The music genre was the initial draw. “The music genre appealed to us back then because there weren’t that many dance festivals yet,” she explained.

Now in their late 40s and early 50s, the couple acknowledges they are above the average age of festival-goers. “I’m 47 and Geert is 51,” An said. “That’s indeed no longer the average age of Tomorrowland attendees.” Geert is unfazed: “They sometimes look at me but I don’t let it bother me. As long as I’m enjoying myself, I’ll keep going.”

A Goosebumps Moment: The 2025 Mainstage Fire

Last year brought an emotional gut punch. On 16 July 2025, just two days before the festival, the mainstage was completely destroyed by fire. Geert and An watched the smoke plumes rise from their driveway. The fire, which started during a test with fire bowls, caused an estimated €60 million in damage. Remarkably, the festival went ahead after a new, smaller mainstage was constructed in under 48 hours.

“The fire that destroyed the main stage last year was a goosebumps moment in the negative sense,” An said. A year later, the festival has implemented additional safety measures including extra fire watchers, better emergency exit signage, and fire-resistant coatings on stage materials, as reported by VRT NWS.

The 20th Edition: A Celebration of Resilience

This year’s edition carries the theme “Consciencia” (consciousness/conscience) and features headliners including Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, and Hardwell. A new dedicated Afro house stage has been added to the lineup. The festival runs over two weekends: 17–19 July and 24–26 July 2026.

For Geert and An, the 20th edition is another chapter in an extraordinary personal tradition. They represent a living link to Tomorrowland’s humble origins — a time when the festival was small enough that everyone spoke the same language and tickets were sold at the local chip shop. As the festival continues its global expansion with editions in Brazil, France, and now Thailand, the couple’s story serves as a reminder of the local roots that made it all possible.

“As long as I’m enjoying myself, I’ll keep going,” Geert said. After 20 editions, there’s no reason to doubt him.