Man Found Dead in Tent at Antilliaanse Feesten Camping in Hoogstraten

A 37-year-old festival-goer was found dead in his tent at the camping site of the Antilliaanse Feesten festival in Hoogstraten, Belgium, on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services and bystanders attempted to revive the man, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Context

The Antilliaanse Feesten is a three-day music festival held annually at the Blauwbossen in Hoogstraten, near the Dutch border. Now in its 42nd edition, the festival is one of the largest Caribbean music events in the world, featuring Caribbean, Latin, and Afro music. According to VRT NWS, more than 4,000 festival-goers are camping at the site this year, with camping areas named after Caribbean countries such as Curaçao, Aruba, and Jamaica.

The Incident

The man was found unconscious and alone in his tent on the camping grounds in the afternoon. Tinne Rombouts, Mayor of Hoogstraten, confirmed the details to VRT NWS: “The man was found unconscious in his tent on the camping site. Emergency services were quickly at the victim, but help unfortunately came too late.”

“The emergency services were present on the site and were quickly at the victim,” Rombouts added. “Bystanders also immediately administered first aid. Unfortunately, all help came too late and the person died.”

The victim did not attend the festival alone; acquaintances were present at the camping site. The exact cause of death remains unknown. The public prosecutor’s office is investigating, with the lab and forensic doctor examining the precise circumstances. “We are awaiting the investigation by the lab and the forensic doctor into the exact cause,” Rombouts said.

Festival Response

Freya Verschueren, spokesperson for the Antilliaanse Feesten, expressed the organization’s condolences. “It is with pain in our hearts that we must announce that a festival-goer has died at the camping site of the Antilliaanse Feesten,” she said. “This despite the quick response of our emergency services and bystanders.”

“We want to express our condolences, love and support to the family members and friends,” Verschueren continued. “We call on everyone to take care of each other and offer help when someone is in need.”

The festival organization communicated about the death via Instagram, and the remaining performances on Saturday evening and Sunday continued as planned. The Red Cross was present on site to provide psychosocial support to those affected by the tragedy. As the mayor noted, “We try to ensure that everyone is in a safe environment.”

Previous Incidents at the Festival

This is not the first safety incident at the Antilliaanse Feesten camping site. In August 2025, three festival-goers were hospitalized with carbon monoxide intoxication after cooking with a gas stove inside their tent, which was not properly ventilated. As VRT NWS reported, all three recovered after hospital treatment, and the mayor at the time warned campers about the dangers of cooking inside tents.

Analysis

Festival deaths are a recurring concern in Belgium. In July 2025, a 35-year-old Canadian woman died at Tomorrowland, with indications of drug use, and the cause of death was under investigation by the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office. These incidents highlight the importance of safety measures and medical support at large music festivals.

The Antilliaanse Feesten, organized by Belgium Oversees VZW, attracts visitors from Belgium, the Netherlands, and beyond. The festival has been running since 1983 under the motto “Feeling different since 1983,” and the camping experience is considered by many attendees to be as integral to the festival as the performances themselves, as detailed by Nostisia. Dutch artists including Jonna Fraser, Dylisa, and Quique were among this year’s lineup, as noted by RTL Nederland.

What’s Next

The investigation into the man’s death continues, with lab results and forensic examination expected to determine the exact cause. The festival’s final day on Sunday proceeded as scheduled, with the organization and emergency services providing support to those affected. Questions remain about whether the heat—temperatures in the region reached around 27°C—or any pre-existing medical condition may have played a role in the tragedy. The community awaits answers as authorities work to establish what happened.