The return of Marktrock to Leuven after a ten-year absence proved to be a major triumph, drawing crowds to the city centre on both Friday and Saturday.
The festival, organised by Kat and Lyn Kerkhofs to honour their late father, Jos “Jokke” Kerkhofs—one of Marktrock’s original founders—reacquainted Leuven with its beloved music tradition.
Emma Bale opened the festival on Friday night, setting the stage for major performances by Milow and Clouseau. The latter band, whose breakthrough at Marktrock dates back to 1987, transported the audience into musical ecstasy. Nearly 40 years later, Leuven locals clearly haven’t forgotten the Wauters brothers, Koen and Kris.
Saturday brought a heartfelt twist when Kat and Lyn Kerkhofs surprised a packed Oude Markt with the Marktrock Tribute Band. A lineup of acclaimed artists, including Joost Zweegers, Selah Sue, Daan, and Jasper Steverlinck, delivered a stirring homage to Jos Kerkhofs with iconic covers. Meanwhile, Bart Peeters and Ronny Mosuse had no trouble getting the crowd to sing, dance, and jump along.
Later in the evening, Dries Mertens, alongside the cast of De Callboys, set the Vismarkt ablaze with an electrifying DJ set. The former Belgian football star hinted at his retirement during an interview with local station ROBtv, though he left room for speculation, saying, “Honestly, I don’t know. It’s very difficult to say. I’d rather let it fade away, like a candle.”
Back on the Oude Markt, Faisal wrapped up the celebrations around 1:00, bringing an end to a successful edition of Marktrock.
Leuven police also expressed satisfaction with how the event unfolded. “There were only a few reports of public intoxication, urination, and traffic violations, but overall, Marktrock went very smoothly,” said police spokesperson Marc Vranckx.
“The atmosphere was friendly and family-oriented, with no major incidents. We ensured visibility, worked closely with organisers, and coordinated with private security and logistics personnel. The use of drones and a robust camera network through our coordination hub on the Grote Markt allowed for quick responses when needed. For us, Marktrock was a success—and so were the other summer events in Leuven,” Vranckx concluded.
