Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Marktrock will be back in Leuven on 23 August 2025. The festival will be organized by Kat and Lyn Kerkhofs, together with Dries Mertens. The festival, which was originally founded by their late father, Jokke Kerkhofs, in 1982, will return to the Oude Markt.
Marktrock, one of Leuven’s most iconic festivals, is back after a ten-year hiatus. Media personality Kat Kerkhofs, her sister Lyn, and her husband, Dries Mertens, will revive the festival on August 23, 2025. The event is all the more special for Kat since it is a tribute to her father, Jokke Kerkhofs, who was among those who started the festival.
Jokke Kerkhofs, who passed away 20 years ago from a heart rupture, was a key driving force behind Marktrock’s rise to fame. Under his direction, the festival, which began in 1982 as a modest event, grew into the city’s most beloved cultural gathering, attracting more than 350,000 visitors at its peak. Renowned for bringing the greatest legends of the world together, this festival was able to present the likes of Blur, James Brown, Iggy Pop, and Radiohead, stamping its authority as the most important musical get-together in Belgium.
“Marketrock was a significant part of our family, and bringing it back is the best way to honour our dad,”
Said Kat Kerkhofs.
“Growing up, I was backstage at the festival, and now, it feels like I can reconnect with him through this project while also making new memories for the next generation.”
Lyn Kerkhofs, who, alongside Kat, has taken on the task of organizing the event, said,
“It’s an ode to our dad, to Leuven, and life. My sister has poured her heart into bringing this to life, and I am proud to be a part of it.”
The sisters have selected the Oude Markt in Leuven as the venue for the comeback edition, a location imbued with special significance for both the festival and the city.
“It’s a place filled with memories for many artists and for us as a family. It only makes sense to start the revival here,”
Kat explained.
While the sisters have yet to reveal the complete list of performers, the fact that Marktrock is back has been enough to whet fans’ appetites, with the Leuven City Council giving this revival its full support.
Marktrock was discontinued in 2015 after a gradual decline from its heyday when the original organizers stepped down in 2008. In its place, Leuven saw the rise of Het Groot Verlof, yet with the new edition of Marktrock, Leuven’s cultural landscape has been primed for one of its most beloved traditions to witness a revival.
For Kat and Lyn Kerkhofs, bringing Marktrock back to life is more than just music; it’s a personal tribute to the legacy of their father, one that will ring true for both longtime fans and a whole new generation of festival-goers.
