The Pop on Top festival celebrated its 15th edition in 2026. It started out as a one-day pop festival and has grown into an event that has brought joy to many visitors over the years. In recent years, a full-fledged Rock Day has also been added to the lineup. Rock on Top, that is. The lineup consists mostly of tribute acts, but friends of Vengeance and DeWolff are also on the festival bill.
I decided to focus on the TopStage to give a good impression of this—let me just say it right away—super fun festival. The grounds are attractively decorated, with two stages, a café tent, and the Love Field, where bands also played. Although you could sometimes hear the sound from the other stages through the performances, which is likely due to the compact layout of the grounds. There was also a silent disco area, and for those looking to satisfy their hunger, there was a wide selection of food stands available.
The Ultimate Guns
Right from the moment visitors were allowed to enter the grounds, it was pleasantly crowded. And it stayed that way all day. A festival with a super laid-back vibe and, to top it off, absolutely gorgeous weather. At 2:00 p.m., the guys from The Ultimate Guns were ready to play an hour’s worth of this popular band’s best-known songs. In this band, I spotted some familiar faces, such as drummer Hans In ’t Zand, singer Nick Holleman, and guitarist Jasper Verbruggen. I can’t say if it was because of the heat, but with experienced musicians like them in the band, quality should be guaranteed. That wasn’t the case with all the songs, and unfortunately, they sometimes went a bit off the rails.
Still, the audience was clearly entertained by this Guns N’ Roses tribute, and as far as I’m concerned, that means mission accomplished.
Blizzard of Ozz
Blizzard Of Ozz is a band with members from Germany and England. And this band was supposed to be THE ultimate tribute to the legend who passed away last year. They were set to perform songs from both his solo career and his time with Black Sabbath. And I have to say I was really hopeful—the opening song, because “Bark At The Moon,” sounded great, and visually, singer Mojo Solmen even bears a bit of a resemblance to Ozzy.
So, a flying start. Any Ozzy fan knows the man was always surrounded by exceptional guitarists, and taking on that role is quite a challenge. Just try stepping into the shoes—and mastering the different styles—of Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde. Guitarist Thorsten Praest gave it his all, but sometimes he still fell a bit short. The little jumps and water-throwing by singer Mojo, just like the grandmaster himself used to do, weren’t really necessary for me, because after the fourth time it started to look a bit overdone. 10 points for the effort, but 6 points for the musical performance.
Vengeance
At 6:00 p.m., it was time for one of the Netherlands’ most famous hard rock bands, which has been around for over 40 years. Led by singer and frontman Leon Goewie, Vengeance are still alive and kicking in 2026. New to the lineup is guitarist Bram Engelen, who is clearly having a great time with this band.
Guitarist Gert Nijboer had to battle against Bram’s intensity in the mix. While this is a task the sound engineer should handle, the balance unfortunately wasn’t 100%. Gert’s first solos were barely audible. That didn’t stop the guys from playing a fantastic set of old-school rockers. “Deathride To Glory,” “Take It Or Leave It,” “Arabia,” “Planet Zilch,” and of course “Rock ’N Roll Shower” were played, bringing broad smiles to the faces of the older rockers in the audience. Unfortunately, there was a technical issue with the sound, as a noticeable crackling could be heard in the mix during the second half of the show. Anyway, great to see the guys once again.
High Voltage
Then it was time for High Voltage. These likable Belgians pay homage to the “authentic” AC/DC.
And the guys had clearly done their homework, because it all sounded tight. And the crowd was clearly in the mood for some AC/DC rock and roll, because the TopStage was pretty full—PACKED—for the first time that day. Here, too, we got to enjoy the band’s greatest hits. “Highway To Hell,” “High Voltage,” or “Let There Be Rock”—they dug deep into the classics. A very entertaining band.
DeWolff
The finale is reserved for DeWollf, and anyone who has ever seen Pablo & Luka van de Poel and Robin Piso perform knows that this band can easily hold its own against the greats of this world. The gentlemen’s rock, interwoven with psychedelic and blues elements, is played with delightful enthusiasm and the precision of a Swiss clockwork. In addition, there are also two amazing backup singers on stage.
Pablo is a wonderful frontman who fills the silences between songs with just the right amount of humor. DeWolff socks, coffee mugs, or the band’s caps are given away, and those who didn’t catch anything can easily buy these items at the merch stand during or after the show.
The sound and lighting during DeWolff’s show were brilliant. Every time I see this band, I’m amazed all over again at how good they are!! A worthy finale to the Rock on Top festival.
satisfied experience
I can’t help but head home feeling satisfied after a day of music, good company, sunshine, great food, and delicious cold drinks.
And if I were to make just one recommendation, it would be to ensure that the lineup of tribute bands and bands performing their own material is at least equally balanced.
Rock on Top 2026 was my first experience with this festival, but if my schedule allows, it certainly won’t be my last. I’m already curious to see what the lineup for 2027 will be.
Report & Images by Raymond Helebrand
