Each summer, nearly half a million visitors arrive at De Schorre in Boom for Tomorrowland. For a short period, the population of Boom and Rumst multiplies. What could easily become a strain has instead evolved into a long-standing relationship between the festival and its neighbours.
At the heart of this relationship is Love The Neighbours — an initiative launched in 2010 to invest in dialogue, involvement and mutual respect with the local community, long before the festival gates open.
“Our neighbours are our best ambassadors,” says Joris Beckers, who leads the initiative. “They hang flags from their windows, wave to festivalgoers from their benches, and even help visitors with their luggage.”
A year-round point of contact
Love The Neighbours is supported by a dedicated neighbourhood team, led by an ombudsman who handles questions, concerns and insurance claims. During the festival period, from 15 July to 1 August, the neighbourhood centre serves as an accessible meeting point for local residents.
Between the two festival weekends, the Neighbourhood Party brings around 12,500 neighbours together. Beyond the summer months, the connection continues through practical initiatives: a flag campaign involving 2,000 households, a children’s drawing competition with around 500 entries, tailored guidance for people with disabilities, and a neighbourhood mailbox that receives approximately 4,500 emails each year.
Every June, a neighbourhood newspaper with a circulation of 35,000 copies provides clear information on festival planning, mobility and local stories.
When the festival comes to them
Not every neighbour can experience Tomorrowland from inside the festival grounds. That realisation led to one of the most distinctive elements of Love The Neighbours: bringing the festival atmosphere to residential care centres in Boom and Rumst.
The idea emerged during an exceptionally hot summer, when many seniors were unable to attend the annual neighbourhood party. Instead of accepting that absence, the festival went to them. What started as a one-off moment quickly became an annual tradition.
Respect as a starting point
Love The Neighbours is built on a simple principle: large-scale events only work when the people living next door are treated as partners, not bystanders.
That approach has drawn attention from public broadcaster VRT and regional media, but its real value remains local. It reflects a broader commitment to taking responsibility for the festival’s immediate surroundings — from community engagement to initiatives focused on food waste reduction and biodiversity in nearby nature areas.
Change does not only happen on global stages. Sometimes, it starts with listening to the people next door.
