Hakken Dance in the Netherlands: Origin, History, Costumes, Style, Technique, and Music

Exploring the vibrant streets and lively dance scenes of the Netherlands, one unique performance always captures attention: Hakken dance. This energetic style is more than just a series of moves; it's a reflection of Dutch culture, echoing through thunderous beats and swift steps.

Hakken dance originated in the Netherlands, closely tied to gabber music — a genre of hardcore electronic dance music that surged in popularity during the 90s rave dancing scene. This article covers what Hakken actually is, a common source of confusion with an unrelated Dutch expression, its origin and history, how it compares to jumpstyle, its connection to Dutch football fan culture, and its style, costumes, technique, and music.

What Is Hakken Dance?

Hakken is a fast, percussive freestyle dance from the Netherlands, performed to hardcore electronic genres like gabber and hardstyle. The name comes from the Dutch verb "hakken," meaning to chop or hack, referring to the dance's sharp, cutting footwork — quick knee lifts, kicks, and shuffling steps performed in close time with the music's rapid beats per minute. It emerged from Dutch rave and warehouse party culture in the early 1990s and remains closely associated with that scene today.

Hakken vs. "Kort en Klein Hakken": A Note on the Dutch Word

If you've come across the Dutch phrase "kort en klein hakken" while researching this dance, it's worth knowing that it's unrelated to Hakken dance — it's a common Dutch idiom meaning "to smash something to pieces" or "to demolish something," using the same verb "hakken" (to chop) in a completely different, non-dance context. The overlap is purely linguistic: both use the same root word, but one refers to destructive chopping and the other to the dance style covered in this article.

Origin and History of Hakken Dance

Hakken dance burst onto the Dutch dance culture scene in the early 1990s, becoming an iconic part of Dutch techno festivals and warehouse dance parties. It originated alongside the rise of hardcore techno, or gabber, music, quickly gaining traction among young people looking to express rebellion against mainstream music trends of the time.

Dancers initially wore traditional Dutch dancing costumes, at times even incorporating clogs into routines, but as the movement evolved, attire shifted toward comfortable sportswear better suited to the dance's fast, sharp movements. Pioneered largely by DJs performing at high-energy warehouse events, Hakken became not just a dance but a broader symbol of Dutch technoculture, growing in visibility as gabber music's fast tempos gained popularity on the global rave stage.

Hakken vs. Jumpstyle: What's the Difference?

Hakken is frequently confused with jumpstyle, another fast-paced dance style that emerged from the same broader hardstyle and hardcore electronic music scene in the Netherlands and Belgium. While both share high energy, quick footwork, and roots in hard electronic dance genres, jumpstyle is generally characterized by a more bouncing, jump-heavy movement pattern, while Hakken emphasizes sharper, more grounded chopping and kicking steps. The two styles overlap and have influenced each other over the years, which is part of why they're often mentioned together or mistaken for one another.

Hakken and Dutch Football Fan Culture

Hakken-style dancing has also become closely associated with Dutch football (soccer) fan culture, particularly at international tournaments like the World Cup, where energetic, hardstyle-influenced jumping and stepping has become part of how Dutch supporters celebrate. This crossover reflects the Netherlands' broader cultural connection to hardcore and hardstyle music more generally — the same high-energy dance tradition that shaped Hakken in warehouse parties has carried over into stadiums and fan gatherings as a form of collective celebration.

Style, Costumes & Music

Hakken's style is defined by quick, precise footwork, often incorporating jumps, kicks, and shuffling movements performed at a high, sustained energy level, blending freestyle improvisation with more structured choreographed sequences. The technique relies heavily on rhythmic coordination and agility, allowing dancers to execute intricate sequences with fluidity despite the speed involved.

Costumes have evolved alongside the dance itself. Early Hakken drew on traditional Dutch dress, including elements like clogs, symbolizing the dance's folkloric roots. Modern Hakken costuming leans toward contemporary street fashion and sportswear — sleeker, more practical attire that still occasionally nods to traditional elements while prioritizing freedom of movement.

Musically, Hakken is tied to hardcore, hardstyle, gabber, and techno — fast-paced, high-energy electronic genres that complement the dance's quick footwork and jumps. DJs at warehouse parties and festivals often tailor sets specifically with Hakken dancers in mind, ensuring the tempo and intensity match what the dance demands.

Basic Steps and Technique

Getting started with Hakken typically involves a handful of foundational moves:

• Running man: Alternating knee lifts while moving forward, one of the dance's signature steps.
• Shuffle: Sliding one foot back and forth in a smooth, gliding motion.
• Jump: Springing into the air and landing with control, adding dynamic punctuation to a sequence.
• Arm movements: Swaying the arms in sync with the legs to create a cohesive, full-body performance.

Mastering Hakken comes down to consistent practice: building muscle memory for footwork precision, developing the stamina needed for the dance's high-energy demands, and gradually incorporating more advanced variations as coordination improves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hakken Dance

What is Hakken dance?
Hakken is a fast, percussive Dutch freestyle dance performed to hardcore electronic music like gabber and hardstyle, characterized by sharp footwork, kicks, and jumps.

Where did Hakken dance originate?
It originated in the Netherlands in the early 1990s, emerging alongside the rise of gabber and hardcore techno music at warehouse parties and rave events.

Is Hakken the same as jumpstyle?
No, though they're closely related — jumpstyle emphasizes bouncing, jump-heavy movement, while Hakken focuses on sharper, more grounded chopping and kicking footwork.

Does "kort en klein hakken" have anything to do with the dance?
No — it's a separate Dutch idiom meaning "to smash to pieces," sharing the same root verb but referring to destruction rather than dance.

Why do Dutch football fans dance to hardstyle music?
Hardstyle and Hakken-influenced dancing has become part of Dutch football fan culture at international tournaments, reflecting the Netherlands' broader connection to hardcore electronic music traditions.