ABOUT DUTCH CHILI FEST 

LA FIESTA PICANTE
Dutch Chili Fest is the only Dutch festival entirely dedicated to the chili pepper. This versatile fruit vegetable sets your taste buds on fire, yet sometimes surprises with unexpected sweetness. Our tribute to this spicy little pepper translates into a day filled with spicy food and various forms of entertainment.

Professionals and amateurs alike offer their hot peppered products at the market, where you can find everything related to urban gardening. There are competitions to determine who can handle the greatest amount of spiciness, cutting-edge music performances, and of course, an extensive selection of delicious food and drinks.

Even the youngest visitors have a blast thanks to our special activities tailored for children at Dutch Chili Fest.

HOT RODS & HOT SAUCE
Herald Coolbergen, founding father of Dutch Chili Fest, came up with the idea for a festival dedicated to the chili pepper while at a rock festival in 2012: “There were hot rods on display and hamburgers for sale. Hot sauce was really the missing element, I decided.”

It formed the starting point for Dutch Chili Fest. In just 3 months the first edition was a fact. “It soon became clear that many more people were working with chili peppers in their free time or in a professional capacity. I brought those people together.”

After 5 successful editions, it was time to pass the torch to Leo Hoeksema. With Dutch Chili Fest Leo combines his two greatest passions: music and (spicy) food! In 2022 the team expanded with Bas van Baal and Stefan School. They were all involved since the first edition of the festival.

FOODprint
Dutch Chili Fest is not only a celebration of the hot pepper, but also of the earth and nature that give rise to this remarkable fruit. That’s why we’re committed to keeping the festival’s ecological footprint as small as possible. We see it as an opportunity to inspire and raise awareness among our audience — because together, we can make a difference.

Our biggest step lies in the food we serve: we take a critical look at our FOODprint and choose a menu that’s future-friendly. This means plant-based and vegetarian dishes take center stage. We ask all caterers to offer less meat dishes — preferably chicken, and no beef, due to its significant environmental impact. Meat should be something special, not the norm. Think of it as a delicacy: enjoy it, but in moderation.

We also run on green energy, partly generated by the solar panels on the roof of the Klokgebouw. We think in circular terms: we reuse our decorations year after year, serve food on plastic-free plates, and pour drinks into reusable cups. We ask the same commitment from our vendors and caterers.

To reduce transport-related emissions, we work with as many local suppliers as possible. And we encourage our visitors to come by foot, by bike, or by train — after all, the festival site is less than a minute’s walk from Eindhoven Strijp-S train station.