538 Koningsdag 2026
Apr 2026 | Breda, The Netherlands | Radio 538
Apr 2026 | Breda, The Netherlands | Radio 538
On April 27th, 538 Koningsdag 2026 took place for the 13th time at the Chasséveld in Breda. 40,000 visitors enjoyed a lineup of 43 (!!) Dutch artists, bands, and DJs, all celebrating the King’s 59th birthday during an 11-hour-long show.
This year’s stage measured 85,7 meters wide and 24.98 meters high. The design was, of course, orange, combined with Radio 538’s signature purple and green. The centerpiece of the stage was the large royal crown at the top. For show elements, motion systems such as turntables and hoists were incorporated from the roof. Artists were lifted from behind the stage, moved out of sight through the ridge of the stage roof to a catwalk bridge, and then lowered back down as a reveal moment between the balloons in the crown. During one of the performances, a swing was also integrated into the stage. And there was a lift positioned in the middle of the audience. That lift brought the DJ duo Lucas & Steve up during the “5:38 moment” to perform their set. The entire show was broadcast live on TV and radio, supported by an 18-camera setup that included a flycam and drone cam.
Our Backbone team worked closely with Radio 538 and handled the technical design, technical production, production management, and overlay management.
Backbone was actively involved in planning changeovers, coordinating technical and logistical connections among bands, shows, and broadcasts, the show flow, and timetables. This ensured that all acts had the space and support they needed to deliver their performances on stage. There was a tight schedule to ensure the performances started and ended on time, partly because they needed to transition to other festivals in the country.
In addition to the mainstage, the Backbone team also handled all temporary infrastructure, including backstage and hospitality tents, fencing and crowd barriers, signage, and bar setups.
Event photography courtesy of Radio 538.
