We all know France is a short hop across the channel, but did you know that the Netherlands is also less than 5 hours away by train? This simple fact has inspired us to go in search of music festivals, held every year in France and the Netherlands, to get us in the mood for a summer of music.

Appelpop – Tiel, The Netherlands

Applepop takes place beside the river Waal in Tiel, south of Utrecht. And with well over 180,000 visitors last year, it’s the Netherlands’ biggest free weekend festival. Okay, there’s no camping, but did we mention it’s free!? With Danish pop pip-squeaks Alphabeat, and Australia’s answer to Lily Allen, Gabriella Cilmi, as past headliners who could turn down the offer of a weekend of outdoor fun?

Who: Within Temptation, De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, The Jacks and School is Cool.

When: 7th-8th September 2012

What: Pop-Rock

Tickets: Free

Nearest Train Station: Tiel, Netherlands | Trains from London to Tiel 

Lowlands Festival – Biddinghuizen, The Netherlands

Beginning life in 1967, Lowlands Festival is one of the Netherlands’ oldest pop festivals. It takes place at a huge purpose-built site, with stages housed in huge elaborately decorated tents. The festival has its roots in experimental dance and theatre, which is a tradition that continues today as guests are entertained by outdoor cinema, stand-up comedy and street theatre performances.

Who: Bloc Party, Feist, Foo Fighters, The Shins, Kasabian, Django Django, and The XX

When: 17th – 19th August 2012

What:  Alternative Music, Stand-up comedy, Film, Visual arts, Literature and Street theatre.

Festival and Camping Tickets: €185.00 (including 3 day festival pass, camping, shuttle service and booking fee)

Nearest Train Station: Lelystad, Netherlands | Trains from London to Lelystad (a shuttle bus goes from Lelystad station direct to the festival)

Dance Valley – Velsen Valley, The Netherlands

From giant tents to giant parks, Dance Valley, the so-called “Woodstock of Dance”, is the mother of all Dutch outdoor festivals. Located in the Spaarnwoude, a recreational area that is also home to an indoor ski-centre and Netherlands’s largest public golf course, this year’s festival is promised to be more “innovative, surprising and cutting edge” than ever before. Bold words indeed!

Who:  Pendulum, Afrojack, Ms Dynamite, Shy FX, Lidback luke, Roger Sanchez, Thomas Gold

When: 4th August 2012

What: Dance Acts (Electro, Experimental)

Tickets: From €25

Nearest Train Station: Sloterdijk or Haarlem, Netherlands | Trains from London to Sloterdijk | Trains from London to Haarlem

Rock En Seine – Domaine de Saint-Cloud, France

Rock En Seine is a 3 day music festival held at a magnificent park at Domaine de Saint-Cloud, just outside of Paris, among 460 hectares of sculptures and gardens. It was here that Oasis very publicly split up onstage, and this year sees Noel Gallagher return with his new outfit High Flying birds, and without his younger sibling. This an environmentally-friendly festival, so you won’t find any plastic cups at this party in the park, proving it’s possible to be green and have fun at the same time!

Who: Bloc Party, The Shins, Sigur Ros, Maximo Park, Of monster And Men, Green Day and Bombay Bicycle Club

When: 24th-26th August 2012

What: Pop-Rock

Tickets: From €49 (day pass and camping options available)

Nearest Train Station: Saint-Cloud, France | Trains from London to Saint-Cloud

Pitchfork Music Festival – La Grande Halle de la Villette, France

After its stunning debut in Paris last year, the Chicago-based Pitchfork Music Festival returns for another outing in the City of Lights. The 3 day event is held at La Grand halle de la Villette, a former 19th century slaughterhouse turned events space in Paris’ largest park.

Who: Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Robyn, Sébastien Tellier, the Walkmen

When: 1st-3rd November 2012

What: Alternative Rock, Rap & Hip-hop, Electronica and Dance

Tickets: From  €49,90

Nearest Train Station: Paris, France |Trains from London to Paris (the Paris Metro station Pantin, on Ligne 5 is nearest the park)

La Route du Rock – St Malo, Brittany, France

Held in St.Malo on Brittany’s Emerald Coast, La Route du Rock, is an alternative seaside holiday. The festival is far from traditional, with daytime performances taking place on the beach and a nearby 18th century castle serving as a backdrop for late night festivities.

Who: Spiritualized, Squarepusher, Dominique A (Vers les lueurs), Patrick Watson, The Soft Moon, Alt-J, Scene Tour, Civil Civic, Yeti Lane, Don Nino, Michael Mayer

When: 10th- 12th August 2012

What: Rock

Tickets: From £14.50/€17

Nearest Train Station: St. Malo, France | Trains from London to St. Malo

Images by gabemac, Next Best Band, ephoz reproduced with thanks under a Creative Commons license

Videos from respective Official festival websites.