"I don’t want to suddenly go viral on TikTok" - Dirk van Duijvenbode unable to enjoy raves as much since rise to darting prominence

Dirk van Duijvenbode is known for his energetic stage presence, always making his entrance to the pounding hardstyle track Just Like You by Radical Redemption. Outside the world of darts, the Dutchman is also an avid festival-goer, although his growing fame now brings an unexpected challenge.

In the Darts Draait Door podcast by Sportnieuws.nl, Van Duijvenbode shares his experiences. “I went to Karnaval Festival, which is part of Intents Festival. I try to go every year. This time, I’ll be playing in Leverkusen during Intents, so if I lose, I’ll drive straight there. Defqon is also on the agenda,” he reveals.

Read also

"I've literally won two of the last four majors you wally": Luke Humphries claps back after being told his prime has 'been and gone'

Not everyone in the darts world shares his love for hardstyle. Analyst Vincent van der Voort is upfront about it: “I’m not a fan. His walk-on music is fantastic—it creates a great atmosphere. But a whole festival full of that music? No thanks. We were once in a car, and Mark Smith (our driver) was playing love songs. Then Dirk’s playlist came on, and after seven tracks, I thought: haven’t I heard this beat before?”

As a public figure, Van Duijvenbode attracts more and more attention at festivals, something he has mixed feelings about. “Fantastic,” he says sarcastically. “It comes with the territory, but it has its downsides too. Because of my fame, I get invitations to exclusive parties and end up in places I wouldn’t normally go—that’s a plus. But at the same time, I’ve noticed I don’t let loose as much as I used to. I used to go hard all day.”

Van Duijvenbode in action 

These days, it’s not a question of if he’ll be filmed at festivals, but where. “That makes me adjust my behavior. I don’t want to suddenly go viral on TikTok, so sometimes I think: maybe I shouldn’t go all out. If it’s dark, I feel more comfortable—I stand out less.”

Van der Voort isn’t too concerned about being filmed. “I don’t dance—I hold up the bar. Anyone can film that; it’s not exactly spectacular,” he laughs. Still, he and Van Duijvenbode had a memorable night out in Den Bosch. “I walked around with sunglasses on the whole evening. But you won’t find me on the dance floor,” he says matter-of-factly.

Van Duijvenbode sees the humor in it. “Imagine a two-meter-tall guy standing there with sunglasses, holding up the bar,” he grins. “He’d had a few drinks, so he didn’t really care about being filmed,” Van der Voort admits. The next day, people were already looking for him. “Michael kept calling me. ‘Have you seen Vincent? He’s not answering his phone.’” Van der Voort shrugs. “We got home at six in the morning, and I always get the worst hangovers. Just leave me alone for a bit.”

Read also

"There were other options apart from those two": James Wade maintains Aspinall and Dobey shouldn't have been in Premier League Darts

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate darts experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe