In the year 1997, Holland invaded Belgium as about 120 bus coaches crossed the border to celebrate an edition of thunderdome. After thunderdome '96 part 2 and thunderdome 97 the southern edition a special format was developed for Thunderdome party's in the sportpaleis Antwerp. This special Thunderdome party's were given the name "Global Hardcore Nation". This party's proofed to be legendary, especially the first edition. An amazing atmosphere caused over 18 thousand people to party non-stop all night long.
1996-1997 was undoubtly the hight of "the gabber nineties era". Indisputably this party was the peak of that era. "THE best party ever", Thundermagazine wrote in a special edition two years later. Ouite statement, agreed, but many will definitely affirm. The standard set by the organisers that night won't easily be beaten. 18.000 people, amazing lights and lasers, awesome sound, and brilliant sets. Decoration and lights were astonishing.
Busses full of people from the dutch gabber scene traveled to Belgium to witness this party. For this party a total of 115 touringcars had to be commenced! Duncan Stutterheim: for me personally it was the hight of the gabber era. A colone of 5 kilometers, police at the border. We even made it to the frontpage of the Gazet of Antwerp: "invasion of dutchmen". It became bigger and bigger. Everybody was standing for the same thing: the love for hardcore and to have a huge party."
It was DJ Weirdo's last official night as a Hardcore DJ and so he gave it his all in a mental performance. It was announced in the huge flyer, that he was officially saying goodby to the public. The farewell could not have been harder for him after that night.
Dennis Doeland about his last official performace: " the sportpaleis antwerp had massive grandstands. It was really strange to deejay for the last time and looking the crowd straight in the eye. It gave me a really odd feeling. At the moment i layed my final record on the turntable, i knew this would be my final record, now its done."
When the bass cut out, he still got a massive applaus. Dennis Doeland recalled: "The full stadium of eighteen thousand men were singing a heartwarming"we love you weirdo, we do". They didn't stop, it was really cool."
History
Before the Thunderdome concept was started ID&T organized a big rave called The Final Exam, that was held on 20 June 1992. This was the first attempt to bring hardcore and gabber to a wide audience and the first event organized by ID&T, who would later go on to organize other big dance music events such as Tomorrowland, Mystery Land, and Sensation White, and Black.
Later in 1992 they organized the first Thunderdome party, which was simply titled The Thunder Dome.
In 1993, ID&T / Arcade Records also started a Thunderdome compilation CD-series with popular gabber music. ID&T also sold other kinds of merchandise such as t-shirts, bomber-jackets, caps and even an energy drink (Thundertaste).
The Thunderdome concept was considered important to the popularization and spreading of gabber music during the 1990s. Though it was the biggest and most popular concept in the scene through most of the 1990s, that title is now being rivaled by other events, such as the ones organized by Masters of Hardcore.
In late 1999 ID&T took a break from the Thunderdome concept and stopped producing the parties and CDs. The break lasted until 2001, when they resumed throwing parties and producing CDs. After the restart, one or two parties each year were held. In 2002 the concept for the party was the ten-year anniversary of Thunderdome. A CD that was recorded live at the party and an anniversary DVD were released, both entitled Thunderdome a Decade.
In 2007, the 3 CD set XV: 15 Years Of Thunderdome was released.
The December 2012 event was advertised as being the end of Thunderdome. An anniversary compilation album was also released. A press release for this album announced that: "It all comes full circle now. It’s time to let Thunderdome become what it always has been: a legend." The Events
In The Netherlands
The Final Exam 20 June 1992
Thunderdome I - Thialf in Heerenveen - 3 October 1992
Thunderdome II - Frieslandhallen in Leeuwarden - 13 February 1993
Thunderdome III - Statenhal in Den Haag - 13 March 1993
Thunderdome IV - Thialf in Heerenveen - 3 April 1993
Thunderdome V - 'The Final Thunderdome' Martinihal in Groningen - 8 May 1993
Thunderdome - Martinihal in Groningen - 9 October 1993
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs in Utrecht - 27 November 1993
Thunderdome meets Multigroove - Amsterdam - 25 April 1995
Thunderdome vs. Hellraiser - Amsterdam - 26 August 1995
Thunderdome - '96 'Dance Or Die!' Fec Expo in Leeuwarden - 20 April 1996
Thunderdome @ Mysteryland - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 22 February 1997
Thunderdome @ Mysteryland- Bussloo - 4 July 1997
Thunderdome - Fec Expo Leeuwarden - 28 November 1998
Thunderdome - Thialf Heerenveen - 2 October 1999
Thunderdome - Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam - 25 August 2001
Thunderdome - RAI Amsterdam - 12 Oktober 2002 [Thunderdome a Decade]
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 25 October 2003
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 4 December 2004
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 3 December 2005
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 2 December 2006
Thunderdome - RAI amsterdam - 15 December 2007 [Thunderdome XV]
Thunderdome - Pay back time - Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam - 24 May 2008
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 20 December 2008
Thunderdome - Fight Night - Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam - 23 May 2009
Thunderdome - Alles naar de kl#te - Jaarbeurs Utrecht 19 December 2009