Shelter and The Loft have introduced the no-phone policy on dancefloors ahead of this year’s ADE

Amsterdam’s A’DAM Tower has introduced a no phones on the dancefloor policy across both its event spaces.

The policy had originally been introduced for its basement venue, Shelter, in 2022, though it was suspended in 2024 when it reopened following a month-long renovation. 

Now it has been reinstated and also introduced for the first time in The Loft; the 440-capacity skyline space – known for its panoramic views across Amsterdam – has often been known as one of the “most filmed” spaces in the city, according to an A’DAM Tower statement. 

“Too often, visitors were focused on creating content instead of being in the present,“ A’DAM Tower’s Head of Program and General Manager of Shelter, Zep Fransen, tells Mixmag. ”With this policy, we say: step into the now and truly live the moment. Our dance floor isn’t a backdrop, it’s an experience.” 

The two venues join an increasing number that have introduced no phones or no photography on the dancefloor policies in this year, including Bristol’s Lakota, Manchester’s The Warehouse Project and Ibiza’s newly-opened Tomodachi. 

The policy comes just in time for Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), which kicks off on October 22 and runs until October 26 across hundreds of venues in Amsterdam. 

The A’DAM tower will be hosting a record programme of 30 events during ADE, featuring well-known names in the dance world such as Mau P, Skepta, and Vintage Culture. 

Annabel Craddock is a freelance journalist, follow her on Instagram.