Bass n Babes Key Takeaways of Amsterdam Dance Event 2025

By Naomi Walerys

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) 2025 was one for the books. Operating simultaneously as a global music conference and absolutely massive electronic music festival, ADE brought together over 3,500 artists, 300+ venues, and 1,200 events across five straight days and nights last October. Hosted throughout the city of Amsterdam, the event attracted over 600,000 attendees from 150 countries—from emerging producers and rave enthusiasts to established music business professionals.

What makes ADE stand apart, however, isn’t just its scale—it’s how intentionally the experience is structured around four core pillars: Connect, Achieve, Experience, and Energy. Throughout the week, these elements overlapped continuously, shaping how artists, professionals, and ravers interacted with both the industry and the city itself.

CONNECT

Connection sits at the center of Amsterdam Dance Event. As a conference, ADE offers one of the most diverse and accessible networking environments in the electronic music industry. From inspiring talks to direct meetings with industry professionals, the possibilities at ADE are extensive.

With a PRO pass, attendees gain unlimited access to panels and industry-focused events, while the ADE PRO app allows direct messaging and scheduling of one-on-one meetings with professionals ahead of time.

It’s common to grab a coffee with a label head or meet with a startup to discuss emerging trends and new, innovative products. Conversations move easily between formal and informal settings. A&R’s, touring artists, startup founders, and fellow producers may all cross paths in cafés, panel rooms, and venue queues. Ultimately, ADE creates an environment where collaboration is natural, allowing ideas to be exchanged and relationships to form without rigid barriers. 

Personally, I leaned into this pillar by sitting down for three interviews with up-and-coming female drum and bass artists while at ADE—Solah, CaitC, and Arcturius. In each conversation, they shared their story: what sparked their love for drum and bass, the journey that brought them to this point, and the women who have influenced their sound along the way. It was a reminder that some of the most valuable connections at ADE don’t happen on stage, but in the moments in between.

ACHIEVE:

ADE is also a space for execution. Beyond learning and networking, the event encourages attendees to actively contribute to the culture. Many arrive with specific goals—to launch projects, share ideas, or create opportunities for themselves and others.

Artists and collectives can organize their own events, secure sponsorships from nearby venues, and earn a space on the official ADE lineup. From exhibitions to showcases, the conference provides a structure where ambition can be translated into real-world outcomes. At ADE, success is defined by initiative.

EXPERIENCE: 

If connection and achievement happen through intention, experience happens through immersion. During ADE, the entire city of Amsterdam flips upside down.   Catch a boat rave drifting through the canals, a train rave crossing the city, or a 150-year-old chapel reimagined as a dance floor. Turn a corner and find yourself in a waffle shop playing drum and bass. Everyday spaces are transformed through sound.

The contrast between music and setting defines many of ADE’s most memorable moments—walking through the Red Light District on the way to a late-night show or watching a big artist perform from a glass-walled skyscraper overlooking the city. These experiences highlight Amsterdam’s architecture and history while pushing the boundaries of what a music conference can be.

ENERGY:

The energy at ADE is unmistakable and deeply cultural. In the Netherlands and much of Europe, dance floors often follow an unspoken no-phone policy. The absence of screens shifts attention back to the present moment—the music, the crowd, and the physical act of dancing.

The atmosphere is communal, and the experience is generated through shared presence rather than something documented. It’s an energy that’s difficult to describe without experiencing firsthand. 

WHY IT MATTERS:

Traveling abroad for an electronic music conference offers more than professional exposure; it provides perspective. Amsterdam Dance Event demonstrates how connection, achievement, experience, and energy can coexist within a single framework—one whose impact extends far beyond the week itself.

By bringing together artists and industry professionals from around the world, ADE reveals how electronic music functions across different cultures and markets. Building a global EDM community, experiencing different rave cultures, and viewing the industry through an international lens can fundamentally shift how emerging artists approach their careers. The connections formed and experiences gained will, without a doubt, influence future opportunities in unexpected ways.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Naomi Waleryś, known by their moniker “nomi”, is a saxophonist and drum & bass DJ/producer based in Los Angeles. As a member of Bass n Babes, they actively contribute to press efforts and host music feedback sessions in support of fellow artists. Born in Poland, they work to leverage their European connections to expand Bass n Babes’ international reach.