The City of Amsterdam has warned event organizer Sona that it faces a penalty of up to 250,000 euros if it sells bottles of hard liquor at future festivals.
City Mayor Femke Halsema has also summoned the owners of the company to a meeting to address recent safety breaches and rule violations.
Violations at summer dance events
Under local regulations, Dutch dance festivals are only permitted to serve pre-mixed drinks, and selling full bottles of spirits is strictly prohibited.
However, evidence surfaced showing that full bottles of tequila and vodka were offered at high-end VIP tables during the Keinemusik event held at Tuinen van West last year.
Prices for these bottle packages reached hundreds of euros, with high-value drinks served in ice buckets on VIP decks.
Safety incidents and council pressure
The decision by city officials follows a series of operational troubles at events run by the promoter across the region.
Last summer’s event at Tuinen van West caused severe traffic congestion along the nearby N200 road as crowds attempted to access the grounds on foot.
Later in the year, police had to intervene at another event in Zaandam when visitors surged the entrance, leading to injuries among staff and guests.
Strict conditions for future permits
Following questions raised by political parties in the city council, municipal enforcement confirmed that future violations could double the penalty to 500,000 euros.
The city has also indicated that repeated non-compliance could ultimately affect the business’s ability to secure event permits in the future.
The organizers issued an apology for the previous breach, stating that VIP tables will no longer be offered at their upcoming outdoor shows.
