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Graspop Metal Meeting is a Belgian heavy metal festival held in Dessel each year since 1996, excluding 2020 and 2021 due to covid restrictions. Despite the small size of the festival grounds (upholding a perimeter of only ~4 km) the festival draws a large number of spectators from around the world, with a total of 220,000 visitors in 2022 and 2023,[1][3] up from 200,000 visitors over the course of the 2019 edition,[4] and 152,000 in 2015.[5]
| Graspop Metal Meeting | |
|---|---|
 | |
 In Flames performing at Graspop 2008 | |
| Genre | Performing arts festival |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Dessel, Antwerp, Flemish Region, Belgium |
| Coordinates | 51°13′48.15″N 5°05′2.36″E |
| Years active | 1996–2019, 2022–present |
| Inaugurated | 30 July 1996 |
| Founder | Peter Van Geel |
| Participants | See lineups |
| Attendance | 220,000[1] |
| Capacity | 55,000[2] |
| Area | Festivalterrein Stenehei |
| Website | www |
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Graspop was not originally a heavy metal festival; rather, it was conceived as a local family rock festival, first organised in 1986. In 1995, the headliners were Joe Cocker and Simple Minds. However, due to the public being oversaturated with family festivals, the number of visitors had dropped to an all-time low.
Founder Peter Van Geel realized that mainstream rock music held insufficient appeal to festival visitors. Reflecting on the most memorable acts of the preceding years (Motörhead, Ramones, Paradise Lost, and so forth) and on his own musical preferences, he decided in favour of a drastic reorientation.
After discussions with Werchter festival promoter Herman Schueremans, Van Geel contacted Bob Schoenmaekers, the owner of the Biebob concert venue and metal club in nearby Vosselaar. A couple of years earlier, Schoenmaekers had set up his "Midsummer Metal Meeting" in Vosselaar and because of space limits, he was considering an open-air festival. The initial contact soon led to close collaboration. The duo decided to launch a brand-new metal festival under the name of "Graspop Metal Meeting". The date of choice was to be the last weekend of June.
The new direction proved to be a successful one. The festival has seen a continually rising number of visitors over the years, and has been able to attract the most popular international bands in the genre. Since the festival's inception in 1996, Iron Maiden has been the most frequent headliner with 10 appearances. Other bands which have prominently been featured are Hatebreed (9), Saxon (9), Sick of it All (9), Slayer (9), Cradle Of Filth (8), Epica (8), In Flames (8), Moonspell (8), My Dying Bride (8) and Within Temptation (8).
The current stages are :
- Main Stage 1 & 2 : The two main stages, host important bands and headlining acts. Before 2014, there was only one main stage.
- Marquee : A tent stage, which hosts mostly thrash metal, death metal, black metal or even stoner rock bands.
- Metal Dome : Host more intimist bands and local acts.
- Jupiler Stage : First held in 2014, it is a small open air stage, mostly dedicated to metalcore, hardcore and deathcore music.
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Map showing the location of Graspop Metal Meeting within Belgium.
The festival is located in Kastelsedijk, in Dessel and is situated about 60 km away from Antwerp, 99 km from Brussels and 35 km from Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Dessel is a municipality with 9103 inhabitants in the province of Antwerp in Belgium.[6] The 27.03 km ² comprehensive community lies in the Flemish Region, also known as Flanders, this is the officially Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. The distance to the Netherlands is less than 10 km. The largest part of the economy of Dessel is determined by different regions of the nuclear power industry. Dessel is the twin town of Hesse-Lichtenau.
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Combination tickets for the Graspop Metal Meeting include camping from Thursday to Monday, parking for a vehicle (until 2022) and entry to the festival site. Day tickets are available, and before 2013 they did not include camping; camping tickets could be purchased separately. Camping tickets allowed day ticket holders to spend the night on the camping site. A camping ticket was valid on the same day as the festival ticket. From 2013 onwards, a day ticket included admission to the campsite.
In 2009 Graspop Metal Meeting introduced a VIP ticket. The VIP package consists of: parking space in the VIP car park; which is nearer the festival ground, access to the VIP lounge, and separate entrances to the campsite and the festival arena.
| Ticket Prices | |||
| Year | Combi Ticket | Day Ticket | Camping Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1996
|
|
|
|
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Most people who stay at Graspop Metal Meeting will camp in a tent. Campsite accommodation is provided in the cost of a combi ticket but festival-goers must bring their own tents.
Caravans and trailer tents are not allowed onto the camp site. However attendees can book a pitch in addition to the main ticket which allows access to Graspop Metal Town.
Graspop Metal Town
Graspop Metal Town is located at just 1 km from the festival site and is a veritable open air hotel with its proper sanitary facilities, breakfast tent, bar and reception desk. Attendees can either spend the night in a Festihut or can book a pitch for their motorhome, caravan or tent.
Festihuts
Introduced in 2008 the Festihut is a wooden cottage equipped with beds or bunk beds and mattresses.
Festihut details:
- Four people per Festihut, equipped with (bunk) beds and mattresses
- Dimensions: 3 m x 2.5 m (7.5 m2)
- Lockable door and insulated roof
- One window as a minimum
- Wooden floor at least 10 cm above the ground
- 1 rechargeable lantern per hut (to be charged at the reception desk)
- All huts have electricity (max. 300W)
- Guests must bring their own sheets
- Smoking inside the Festihut is prohibited
Pitches
Metal Town has space for 250 standard pitches and 50 XL pitches, for people who want to bring a caravan, mobile home, or tent.
Pitch details:
- 1 pitch = max. 6 persons
- Pitch standard: 8m x 4m / pitch XL: 12m x 4m
- Every pitch has electricity (max. 300W). Electricity will be available but attendees still need to bring their own extension leads.
- (Folding) caravan owners must return their car to the car park after leaving their caravan at the pitch.
- Each pitch is rented for 4 nights.
- Owners who leave their vehicle behind will be fined €500/vehicle.
- Cars are not allowed to park next to the Festihut or pitch. Guests must return their car to the car park after leaving their belongings in the Festihut or at the pitch (except for mobile homes).
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| Sunday June 30 | ||
| Mainstage | Marquee | |
|---|---|---|
|
Iron Maiden
|
Type O Negative
| |
- Helloween was announced, but had to cancel and were replaced by Skin
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| Sunday June 29 | ||
| Mainstage | Marquee | Skate Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Megadeth
|
Madball
| |
My Dying Bride was announced as headliner in the Marquee but they had to cancel because of the illness of their drummer.
Obituary was replaced by Napalm Death.
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| Sunday June 28 | ||
| Mainstage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
|---|---|---|
|
Black Sabbath
|
Paradise Lost
|
Primus
|
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| Sunday June 27[22] | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marque II |
|---|---|---|
|
Manowar
|
Cradle of Filth
|
Danzig
|
| Saturday June 24 | ||
| Mainstage | Marque I | Marque II |
|---|---|---|
|
Iron Maiden
|
My Dying Bride
|
Cro-Mags
|
| Friday June 22[23] | ||
| Marquee 1/Campfest | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Action in DC
| ||
| Saturday June 23 | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
|---|---|---|
|
Judas Priest
|
Marduk
|
Suicidal Tendencies
|
| Friday July 5[24] | ||
| Marquee I | Marquee II | |
|---|---|---|
|
Agnostic Front
| ||
| Saturday July 6 | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
|---|---|---|
|
Slayer
|
My Dying Bride
|
Biohazard
|
| Friday July 4[25] | ||
| Marquee I | Marquee II | |
|---|---|---|
|
Type O Negative
|
Stratovarius
| |
| Saturday July 5 | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
|---|---|---|
|
Iron Maiden
|
Ministry
|
Stone Sour
|
| Friday June 25[26] | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | |
|---|---|---|
|
Iced Earth
|
Exodus
| |
| Saturday June 26 | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
|---|---|---|
|
Alice Cooper
|
Cradle of Filth
|
Agnostic Front
|
| Sunday June 27 | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
|---|---|---|
|
Judas Priest
|
Dimmu Borgir
|
Hatebreed
|
| Friday June 24 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
System of a Down
|
Nevermore
|
Kreator
|
In-Quest
|
| Saturday June 25 | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot
|
Anthrax
| |
| Sunday June 26 | ||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
|---|---|---|
|
Iron Maiden
|
Lacuna Coil
|
|
| Friday June 23[27] | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Whitesnake
|
Satyricon
|
Axamenta
| |
| Saturday June 24 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guns N' Roses
|
Death Angel
|
Action in Dc
| |
| Sunday June 25 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Motörhead
|
Cradle of Filth
|
Arch Enemy
| |
| Friday June 22[28] | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Aerosmith
|
Blind Guardian
|
||
| Saturday June 23 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Iron Maiden
|
Dimmu Borgir
|
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
|
Bloodsimple
|
| Sunday June 24 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ozzy Osbourne
|
Amon Amarth
|
Mastodon
|
Stormrider
|
| Friday June 27 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Judas Priest
|
Firewind
| ||
| Saturday June 28 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kiss
|
My Dying Bride
|
Helmet
|
|
| Sunday June 29 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Iron Maiden
|
Action in DC
| ||
| Friday June 26[29] | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mötley Crüe
|
Dream Theater
|
||
| Saturday June 27 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot
|
Lacuna Coil
|
Volbeat
|
Wolves in the Throne Room
|
| Sunday June 28 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Marilyn Manson
|
Children of Bodom
|
Sick of It All
|
Karma to Burn
|
| Friday June 25[30] | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Aerosmith
|
My Dying Bride
|
Saxon
|
Nile
|
| Saturday June 26 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Soulfly
|
Immortal
|
Airbourne
|
Eluveitie
|
| Sunday June 27 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kiss
|
Amon Amarth
|
DevilDriver
|
Finntroll
|
| Friday June 24 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Scorpions
|
Iced Earth
|
Parkway Drive
|
Duff McKagan's Loaded
|
| Saturday June 25 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Judas Priest
|
Cradle of Filth
|
Bullet for My Valentine
|
Pain
|
| Sunday June 26 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot
|
Cavalera Conspiracy
|
Bring Me the Horizon
|
Soilwork
|
| Friday June 22[32] | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ozzy and Friends
|
Lamb of God
|
Kyuss Lives!
|
Cannibal Corpse
|
| Saturday June 23 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Limp Bizkit
|
Dimmu Borgir
|
Pennywise
|
Ihsahn & Leprous
|
| Sunday June 24 | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guns N' Roses
|
Children of Bodom
|
Texas in July
| |
| Friday June 28[33] | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Twisted Sister
|
Soulfly
|
Katatonia
| |
| Saturday June 29[35] | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot
|
Iced Earth
|
P.O.D
|
Absu
|
| Sunday June 30[36] | |||
| Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Iron Maiden
|
Testament
|
The Sword
| |
Megadeth had to cancel their show. They used to be the headliner on Mainstage 2 on Sunday.
| Thursday June 26[37] | |
| Jupiler Stage | Metal Dome |
|---|---|
|
Diablo Blvd
|
Knives to a Gunfight
|
| Friday June 27[37] | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Avenged Sevenfold
|
Sabaton
|
Opeth
|
Graveyard
|
Emmure
|
| Saturday June 28 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Volbeat
|
Limp Bizkit
|
Carcass
|
Dark Tranquility
|
Kylesa
|
| Sunday June 29 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Black Sabbath
|
"Diablo Radio" (covers by Diablo Blvd)
|
Meshuggah
|
Metal Church
|
Architects
|
| Thursday June 18 | ||
| Marquee | Jupiler Stage | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|
|
Present Danger |
Wolves Scream |
Bliksem |
| Friday June 19 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
KISS |
Marilyn Manson |
My Dying Bride |
Ihsahn |
Stray from the Path |
| Saturday June 20 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Judas Priest |
At the Gates |
Alcest |
Every Time I Die |
| Sunday June 21 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Scorpions |
Faith No More |
Cradle of Filth |
DragonForce |
Terror |
| Thursday June 16 | ||
| Marquee | Jupiler Stage | Metal Dome |
|---|---|---|
|
Eurostars Wrestling |
Your Highness | |
| Friday June 17 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Black Sabbath |
King Diamond |
Apocalyptica |
Zakk Wylde |
|
| Saturday June 18 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Volbeat |
Nightwish |
Abbath |
Rival Sons |
|
| Sunday June 19 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Twisted Sister |
Behemoth |
La Muerte |
The Amity Affliction | |
| Thursday June 15 | ||
| Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Brides of Lucifer |
Thurisaz |
Born from Pain |
| Friday June 16 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rammstein |
Emperor |
Brides of Lucifer |
The Dillinger Escape Plan |
The Devil Wears Prada |
- Dee Snider replaced W.A.S.P
| Saturday June 17 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Deep Purple |
In Flames |
Ministry |
Helmet |
Of Mice & Men |
| Sunday June 18 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Scorpions |
Sabaton |
Primus |
Queensrÿche |
Sum 41 |
In 2018 the Festival will have 4 full days and was completely sold out for the first time in its existence. [38]
| Thursday June 21[39] | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Guns N' Roses |
- |
Kataklysm |
Madball | |
| Friday June 22 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Iron Maiden |
Parkway Drive |
Ayreon |
Neurosis |
|
| Saturday June 23 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Volbeat |
Marilyn Manson |
Bloodbath |
Baroness |
Underoath |
| Sunday June 24 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ozzy Osbourne |
A Perfect Circle |
Meshuggah |
The Bloody Beetroots |
Thy Art Is Murder |
(*) Replacing P.O.D.
| Thursday June 20 | ||
| Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Off the Cross |
||
| Friday June 21 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Within Temptation |
Stone Temple Pilots |
Mysticum |
Discharge | |
| Saturday June 22 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Lamb of God |
King Diamond |
Demons and Wizards |
Refused |
| Sunday June 23 | ||||
| Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carcass |
Hawkwind |
Sick of It All | ||
In 2020 the festival planned to organise the 25th edition. Therefore, they would have celebrated it as a full 4-day festival. Bands intended to perform included Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Aerosmith, Mercyful Fate, Disturbed, Faith No More, Killing Joke, The Offspring, Korn, Airbourne and others. On 15 April 2020, the festival announced on its Facebook page that the 2020 edition would be cancelled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The festival was rescheduled to 2021, and then again rescheduled to 2022 because of the ongoing pandemic in 2021.
| Thursday June 16 | ||||
| South Stage | North Stage | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Volbeat |
Mercyful Fate |
Baroness |
Suicidal Tendencies | |
| Friday June 17 | ||||
| South Stage | North Stage | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Scorpions |
Within Temptation |
Heilung |
Perturbator |
Stick To Your Guns |
| Saturday June 18 | ||||
| South Stage | North Stage | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Judas Priest |
Korn |
Opeth |
Myles Kennedy And Company |
Lagwagon |
| Sunday June 19 | ||||
| South Stage | North Stage | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Deftones |
Dimmu Borgir |
Fu Manchu |
Dog Eat Dog | |
| Thursday June 15 | ||||
| South Stage | North Stage | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Guns N' Roses |
Cradle Of Filth |
Carpenter Brut |
As I Lay Dying | |
| Friday June 16 | ||||
| South Stage | North Stage | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Machine Head |
Gojira |
Meshuggah |
VV |
Hollywood Undead |
| Saturday June 17 | ||||
| South Stage | North Stage | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Parkway Drive |
Testament |
Solstafir |
Life Of Agony |
| Sunday June 18 | ||||
| South Stage | North Stage | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Def Leppard |
Mötley Crüe |
Kreator |
Monster Magnet |
Billy Talent |
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