re-cap
I’m Justine Ellul, a photographer from Malta, now based in the Netherlands since 2022. I’ve been documenting nightlife and club culture since 2013, a path that began in Malta and grew naturally into festivals, events, and eventually the international scene.
2025 marks my third year photographing Amsterdam Dance Event and here we are, a month later!
Since joining PIP in 2023, I’ve begun to understand The Hague’s music scene from a much closer perspective than the one I had while following the West Coast orbit. Its artists, its clubs, its labels, and the people who keep the scene moving. This perspective shaped my latest curiosity: a documental, journalistic collaboration with PIP Radio, following local artists and cultural workers as they head to ADE.
My interest in electronic music started years ago at Liquid Club in Malta. That experience pushed me toward photographing the culture directly, not just capturing the events themselves but the communities, families behind them. When I moved to the Netherlands, I knew I wanted to continue that work, but with a deeper focus on context, networking and storytelling. For this project, I began by researching which familiar names from The Hague were performing or contributing to ADE 2025. The list quickly expanded; beyond DJs to include speakers, radio hosts, innovators and anyone whose work connects to club culture. Mapping their presence across the event allowed me to build a clearer picture of how the city contributes to the broader Dutch electronic scene.
Photographing ADE is a demanding experience. It covering a fast-paced festival which is spread across an entire city. Cycling in the rain, catching ferries, moving between venues against time, and finding places to take a quick rest wherever possible. The weather has rarely been kind, and 2025 was especially tough, with heavy rain and long commutes. But these challenges are part of documenting the reality of the scene, not just its highlights.
The most difficult moments are often the transitions, leaving a strong set or a great crowd because the intense schedule pulls you elsewhere. Occasionally I get the luck of nearby venues, giving me a short walk and a small break before diving back in. But mostly, it’s a constant balancing act: staying present, telling the full story, and trying to give everyone the attention they deserve.
This documentation is my way of tracing The Hague’s community’s movement through ADE - its artists, its supporters, its ideas and its energy. My work sits at the intersection of documentation and participation. I’m not just observing club culture; I’m rooted in it and committed to showing it as it really is.
Thank you to all the artists and venues who gave me access during their sets and took the time to follow up with interviews. You can find them here;
