Best Kept Secret is a three-day music festival held since 2013 in the Beekse Bergen in the village of Hilvarenbeek, which is west of Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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, and a mixture of styles. The festival's centerpiece is a lake in the back of Beekse Bergen safari park. The founder of the festival said that his vision was "aiming to create something that we’d like to go to ourselves".Festival Review: Best Kept Secret 2014, The Line of Best Fit, April 17, 2015
Best Kept Secret festival has an 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, which hosts performances of hardcore bands. For the 2019 edition of the festival, Best Kept Secret added SEVEN, a smaller tent stage for experimental performers.
History The festival is organized by Dutch booking agency Friendly Fire. In June 2013 the first edition was held and it was a sellout with 15,000 visitors daily.Eerste editie festival Best Kept Secret uitverkocht, Nu.nl The festival has received two nominations at the European Festival Awards:Nominees European Festival Awards 2014 Best Festival Line-Up 2014 Best Medium-Sized Festival 2014 In 2013 the festival won the 'Best Festival Award' at the 'IJzeren Podiumdieren' award show at Eurosonic Noorderslag. The 'IJzeren Podiumdieren' award show is an initiative by the Vereniging Nederlandse Poppodia- en Festivals (Dutch venues and festivals association).Nieuwkomer Best Kept Secret beste festival, de Volkskrant, 18 January 2014 Best Kept Secret introduced a concept, a 'food line-up' for the first festival in 2013. The organization strives for diverse and sustainable food options including vegetarian meals, soups, 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.
Festival summary EditionYearDatesHeadliners2026June 12–14Gorillaz · Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds · Jack White11th2025June 13–15Michael Kiwanuka · Soulwax · Eefje de Visser · Deftones · TV on the Radio · Wilco · Barry Can't Swim 10th2024June 7–9Justice · PJ Harvey · Paolo Nutini · Disclosure9th2023June 9–11Aphex Twin · The Chemical Brothers · Oscar and the Wolf8th2022June 10–12Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds · The Strokes · alt-J · Jamie xx2021Scheduled: June 11–13Scheduled: The Strokes · Massive Attack · The National (canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)2020Scheduled: June 12–142019May 31–June 2Kraftwerk 3D · Bon Iver · Christine and the Queens2018June 1–5Arctic Monkeys · LCD Soundsystem · The National2017June 16–18Radiohead · Arcade Fire · Run the Jewels2016June 17–19Beck · Editors · Jamie xx2015June 19–21The Libertines · Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds · A$AP Rocky · alt-J2014June 20–22Elbow · Franz Ferdinand · Interpol · Lykke Li · Pixies2013June 21–23Arctic Monkeys · Damien Rice · Sigur Rós · Portishead
Editions
2026 Best Kept Secret 2026 (12th edition)Friday June 12Saturday June 13Sunday June 14Jack White De La Soul Mula B Amaarae Blood Incantation Curtis Harding MEROL NewDad Sudan Archives Yin Yin Ão Ata Kak Croíthe Elmer Leoniden MAVI Militarie Gun Model/Actriz Pacifica Shady Nasty Supermodel* SwordesNick Cave & The Bad Seeds Hayley Williams Job Jobse Sef Wolf Alice Aldous Harding Hiqpy Naïka Nation of Language Tramhaus Weval (live) Aba Shanti-I Any Young Mechanic BCUC Bruno Berle Crows Dame Area Etta Marcus GHOSTWOMAN Grote Geelstaart Kumo 99 Lucky Done Gone Maddie Ashman Madra Salach mark william lewis Midrift Radio Free Alice Sorry The Zawose Queens Tropical Fuck StormGorillaz Ethel Cain Mac DeMarco Sammy Virji Don West Joey Valence & Brae Jungle by Night Sophie Straat Sylvie Kreusch Wies Yard Act Σtella Another Country $$$$ Apichat Pakwan C'est Qui? Dressed Like Boys DYGL Genesis Owusu Getdown Services Gelli Haha Good Flying Birds Lime Garden Mên An Tol Parker Fans SERVO Skullcrusher
2025 Best Kept Secret 2025 (11th edition)Friday June 13Saturday June 14Sunday June 15Eefje de Visser Barry Can't Swim Kaat Van Stralen Nia Archives Orchestre Baobab Frost Children Daniela Pes The Dare Glass Beams L'Impératrice Nilüfer Yanya Antal Brihang Cassandra Jenkins Das Pop Divorce DJ Storm Droom Dit Erol Alkan (dj) Horsegirl Kabeaushé Kin'gongolo Kiniata Long Fling Sailor Honeymoon Snapped Ankles The Vices WU LYF MorpheusSoulwax TV on the Radio Kneecap Jacob Alon Kae Tempest Amenra L.A. Sagne Lucy Dacus Caribou Songhoy Blues The Streets Baby Berserk Christian Lee Hutson Cliffords Danilo Plessow (MCDE) Daufødt Jasmine.4.T Khana Bierbood King Hannah Lander & Adriaan Paceshifters Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Remy van Kesteren Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 The Pill TVOD Ugly WITCH Iris Jean Lael Neale Ciske CiskaMichael Kiwanuka Deftones Wilco Youth Lagoon Elephant Djo Magdalena Bay Maria Iskariot Waxahatchee Fcukers Blanco White The Backseat Lovers Big Special Brass Rave Unit Dummy Ellis•D Gouge Away Personal Trainer Rats on Rafts Spellling Split System The Thing they are gutting a body of water This Is Lorelei Wine Lips YĪN YĪN Merce Lemon TJE Emma Hessels
2024 Best Kept Secret 2024 (10th edition)Friday June 7Saturday June 8Sunday June 9Disclosure 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 DitPaolo 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 IDJustice 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
2023 Best Kept Secret 2023 (9th edition)Friday June 9Saturday June 10Sunday June 11The Chemical Brothers Caroline Polachek The 1975 Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul De Staat Joey Valence & Brae Cumgirl8 Sudan Archives Personal Trainer Unknown Mortal Orchestra Sylvie Kreusch Billy Nomates The Voidz Erika de Casier Glass Beams Gretel Hänlyn Hermanos Gutiérrez M(h)aol Wodan Boys Silvana Estrada Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn Job & Fred Band Philou Louzolo ShimzaOscar and the Wolf Young Fathers Young Marco Pitou Black Country, New Road De Staat Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Kevin Morby Interpol Two Door Cinema Club Tinariwen Dope Lemon Goldband Alex G Lankum Gaye Su Akyol Big Joanie Terzij de Horde HAAi CLT DRP The Cool Greenhouse Hammok Ineffekt Marathon Peach Pit Sir Chloe Sophie Straat Stone De ToegiftAphex Twin The Mars Volta Nation of Language De Staat Alvvays Christine and the Queens Lambrini Girls Crack Cloud w/choir Cola Julia Jacklin Japanese Breakfast Kurt Vile & The Violators Röyksopp Oumou Sangaré The Comet Is Coming Sorry Arlo Parks Pongo Surf Curse Bumble B. Boy Lime Garden Mich Sarah Neutkens x Kamerata Zuid Somebody's Child Yot Club
2022 Best Kept Secret 2022 (8th edition)Friday June 10Saturday June 11Sunday June 12alt-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 WilliamsThe 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 YinNick 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
2019 Best Kept Secret 2019 (7th edition)Friday May 31Saturday June 1Sunday June 2Bon 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 DielemanKraftwerk 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 PartyChristine & 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
2018 Best Kept Secret 2018 (6th edition)Friday June 8Saturday June 9Sunday 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 CrowsThe 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 MattielLCD 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
2017 Best Kept Secret 2017 (5th edition)Friday June 16Saturday June 17Sunday 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 EstateArcade 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 HaloRadiohead 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
2016 Best Kept Secret 2016 (4th edition)Friday June 17Saturday June 18Sunday June 19Beck Beach House Christine & The Queens Wolf Parade DIIV Mystery Jets HONNE Slow Magic Empress Of The Heavy Preoccupations Moon Duo Beach Slang Palmbomen IIEditors 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 In total, around 100 artists, bands and DJ's performed at Best Kept Secret festival 2016.
2015 Best Kept Secret 2015 (3rd edition)Friday June 19Saturday June 20Sunday June 21The 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