Discovering Boom, Belgium: The Heart Behind Tomorrowland's Magic
By: Katalina Collins
Tomorrowland really puts you through a lot, before you've even got your tickets in hand. You fight through a pre-registration process, hoping you might be lucky enough to become a 'first 20' guest. If (probably when) you miss out on this, you have to pray that lady luck shines down upon your group out of millions, to even make it to the purchase page. Finally, you've bought those tickets, you've arranged your transport to the festival, and your tickets have finally arrived (and all those extra goodies along with them) but you might find yourself thinking, "Wait, why is this in some rural Belgian town again??"
The Quiet Town That Started It All
Boom is located in the province of Antwerp, north of its capital Brussels and is home to less than 20,000 residents. The streets are lined with gorgeous classical European houses, wide footpaths, and picturesque garden beds. The bike lanes are almost wider than the car lanes, and residents silently glide around town attending to their chores, passing with a smile.
When the festival began in 2005, Belgium wanted a music festival to capture the attention of Europe. The stage (yes, only one back then!) saw none of the production quality we're used to now. It welcomed less than 10,000 people to the town of Boom that year, a far cry from the hundreds of thousands the town now expects every July. Fast forward to today, and Tomorrowland has become the holy grail of electronic music festivals, drawing ravers from every corner of the globe.
A Community That Embraces Festival Culture
The 2019 iteration of the festival made it crystal clear that travelers attending weren't the only ones celebrating. The locals of Boom were out in force, even given the heatwave they were experiencing (40C/105F+). Every few houses saw another local sitting by a cooler of water ready to pass on to the visitors to their town. Some houses had gotten together to put up shade structures, offering a reprieve from the heat, already blasting tunes to set the mood, before we'd even stepped foot onto the festival grounds.
I have never traveled to an international festival before and felt so completely welcomed. After we had entered the festival and moved all our gear into our pre-erected tent, we decided to head out to explore the town, and the experience continued to amaze us. This is what separates Tomorrowland from other massive festivals – the entire community becomes part of the experience.
The Spirit of Boom Comes Alive
Along the streets between the festival site and the rest of the town, the passion for Tomorrowland was evident. Every other window seemed to be flying the Tomorrowland flag. Temporary speakeasies had been set-up in garages, where residents were welcoming guests into their own homes to cool down and share a beverage. Even the local children were getting involved in the festival – some boys had jerry-rigged carts to their bikes, and were helping campers transport their bags from their car to their tents (best €5 you could spend in that heat). A young girl even poked her head out of her house as we passed by with a tub of ice cream and cones to offer us one 'to cool down in all this heat'. That's something you just don't see anywhere else.
Picture yourself walking through these streets after months of planning your rave outfits and preparing for the journey. You're thousands of miles from home, but somehow, you've never felt more at home. The locals smile at your festival bodysuits and glitter, they offer you water and shade, they celebrate your presence in their town. This is the magic that makes Tomorrowland more than just another festival.
What This Means for Festival Culture
This atmosphere in town drives the overall feel for the entire festival. All of these smiling, positive, happy people in one small place drives the good vibes deep into the very bones of the festival. It's a reminder that the best festivals aren't just about the music or the production – they're about the community, the connections, the shared experience of self-expression.
Whether you're rocking men's rave outfits or eye-catching festival tops, you're not just dressed for a party – you're dressed to be part of something bigger. Boom understands this. The residents don't see festival-goers as invaders or nuisances; they see kindred spirits celebrating life, music, and human connection.
Planning Your Tomorrowland Journey
If you're lucky enough to secure tickets for a future edition, here's what you need to know: arrive early, explore the town before the festival starts, and don't be shy about interacting with the locals. They genuinely want to share their home with you. Bring your most creative rave scarves and statement pieces – Boom appreciates self-expression as much as any festival grounds.
The town is easily walkable, with most accommodations within 20-30 minutes of the festival entrance. Local cafes and restaurants stay open late during festival weekends, offering everything from traditional Belgian waffles to quick bites between sets. The train station connects directly to Brussels and Antwerp, making it easy to extend your trip and explore more of Belgium's vibrant culture.
Welcome Home, People of Tomorrow
After all that trouble to secure your tickets, traveling thousands of miles away from where you thought home was, to find that home can truly be anywhere. Boom embodies the values of the EDM community: Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. Just like the rainbow welcoming you to Dreamville says, Welcome Home, People of Tomorrow, to the community of Boom.
The town of Boom proves that the magic of festivals extends far beyond the main stages and headline DJs. It's in the smile of a stranger offering you cold water, the excitement of children helping you carry your camping gear, the pride of residents flying festival flags from their windows. It's a reminder that when we show up authentically – in our boldest rave clothing, our most open hearts, our truest selves – we create spaces where everyone belongs.
That's the real secret of Tomorrowland: it's not just happening on the festival grounds. It's happening in every street, every garden, every conversation between a local and a traveler who came from halfway around the world. Boom doesn't just host a festival – it becomes the festival. And in doing so, it shows us what's possible when an entire community embraces the spirit of celebration, connection, and radical acceptance.
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