A Soft Landing

The Stargate occupies a historic chapel on Prinses Irenestraat 19, set within Beatrixpark in Amsterdam, surrounded by water and greenery. The building was converted in 2022 into a dedicated venue for ambient, spatial and experimental music. Its architecture centres on a circular dome, and the space is complemented by a tea house area and a meditation zone, all of which shape the character of what happens inside. The capacity is deliberately small, keeping audiences close to the sound and to each other. Programming at The Stargate operates around a guiding concept: that space itself functions as an instrument. Events include sound bath sessions, deep listening concerts, multisensory performances and ceremony based gatherings, drawing on ambient music as well as experimental and technology driven sound work. Artists and sound practitioners who play here tend to work across the overlapping territories of music, consciousness and technology. Events such as "SUSPENDED" with music hammocks and "Tea and Sound" sessions reflect how the venue frames listening as a physical, even somatic experience rather than a passive one. During the Amsterdam Dance Event, The Stargate positions itself explicitly as an alternative to the conventional club circuit, opening its doors for immersive listening programmes and experimental sound installations. The venue has become something of a reference point within ADE for audiences seeking quieter, more contemplative modes of engagement with electronic and sound art. Where most ADE venues compete on scale and energy, The Stargate runs in the opposite direction.