EDM music festival Tomorrowland's permit to organise a third weekend of the event in July this year has officially been confirmed after an appeal against it was rejected.
The festival was already given the green light for a one-off third weekend of Tomorrowland in Boom under the same conditions and with the same opening hours, however, an administrative appeal was lodged against this decision by one local resident and VZW Aktiegroep Leefmilieu.
On Friday morning, Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir announced that the appeal against the environmental permit was rejected. "Tomorrowland will therefore definitely consist of three weekends in 2022," a statement from her cabinet read.
For her decision, Demir obtained favourable opinions from Mobility and Public Works, Nature and Forest, the fire brigade and the Regional Environmental Permitting Committee.
Making up for lost revenue
In the summers of 2020 and 2021, Tomorrowland was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in a financial hangover of over €25 million. The festival's organisers wanted to organise an additional one-off third weekend as a means of recuperating lost revenue.
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In previous discussions regarding whether this would be possible, local residents and authorities added some conditions, such as reducing noise nuisance and an earlier closing time will be imposed on some of the parties within campsites, as part of the agreement.
Demir stressed that the permit refers to the sufficient measures that will be taken to limit the nuisance from the third weekend.
This year's edition will take place on 15, 16 and 17 July, 22, 23 and 24 July and 29, 30 and 31 July.
Tomorrowland is also organising a new festival "Core" together with Rock Werchter, which will take place in Brussels on Friday and Saturday this week.
