Fresh details released through VRT NWS indicate that the massive fire that consumed Tomorrowland’s mainstage last July likely began during pre-festival fire-bowl testing.
Fresh details released through VRT NWS indicate that the massive fire that consumed Tomorrowland’s mainstage last July likely began during pre-festival fire-bowl testing. The blaze —estimated to have caused nearly €60 million in damages— is believed to have started with a small ignition inside a decorative flame bowl before expanding into a catastrophic stage-wide inferno.
Investigators report that technicians were testing at least four large flame basins, each around two meters wide and filled with flammable compounds designed for dramatic fire effects. Surveillance footage captured the initial burst, though the exact mechanism by which the flames jumped from the bowl to the stage remains under review.
The stage design itself may have contributed heavily to the fire’s speed and scale.
The structure was built mainly from wood and Styrofoam
Fireworks were present near the site, potentially intensifying the blaze
A review of the event permit uncovered procedural issues:
Fireworks appear to have been stored under the stage earlier than authorized
Regulations prohibited storing pyrotechnics in that manner
Unapproved personnel may have been present during hazardous testing
Communication with federal safety authorities was reportedly insufficient
Tomorrowland representatives declined to comment directly, citing the ongoing judicial process. Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen confirmed that all camera footage has been submitted to prosecutors.
Meanwhile, Boom’s Mayor Jeroen Baert expressed frustration at not being formally informed of the findings:
“I cannot judge whether the reports are accurate because I simply do not know,” he stated.
The investigation continues across both criminal and civil channels, with no definitive cause officially confirmed yet.
More updates will follow as the story develops.