Location: Cologne, Germany
Capacity: 1,800
Originally a storage and repair facility for boats, Bootshaus has become Cologne's premier club. Across four floors, Bootshaus is a veritable playground for electronic music, with each room cultivating a distinct vibe and aesthetic — and with a sound system to match. Whether you are spending time in BLCKBX, the club's renowned bass sanctuary, or getting hypnotised by the custom-made L-Acoustics sound system in the biggest space, Mainfloor, each of the rooms is designed for an immersive clubbing experience.
This diversity of layout is matched by the distinct programming of the club. Bootshaus has grown alongside a number of Cologne's key musical brands, handing the reins over to local powerhouses like Blacklist, Nibirii and Unreal, who each curate distinct parties — from Nibirii's impeccable psychedelic take on trance to Blacklist’s masterclasses in the dark art of bass weight. These partnerships have also led to esteemed residencies at the club. Alongside Bootshaus' own resident roster, helmed by Brandon, Dave Replay, Emin, Isis Cloudt, Kevin Arnold, and Oliver Magenta, Blacklist has introduced Autodrive, Badfella, Flobu, Makla, and Sekula to the club, and Nibirii brings in Gourski and LYNE. Beyond the club itself, Nibirii and Blacklist have now become established festival brands, further cementing Bootshaus' centrality into the larger electronic music ecosystem.
Over the past year, the club had some of its biggest bookings to date, with parties headlined by Amelie Lens, Reinier Zonnefeld, DJ Diesel (Shaq), Headhunterz, I Hate Models, James Hype, KSHMR, Meduza, Oliver Heldens, Vini Vici and many more. 2023 was also an exciting year for the club, as it added a bit of ’90s throwback thanks to a new chillout lounge and expanded the open space in Mainfloor.
2024 will mark 20 years of business for Bootshaus, a milestone that only a few clubs in the world can boast. To celebrate, the club is introducing the brand new L-Acoustics sound system in Mainfloor. When it comes to musical programming over the next year, the team will continue to think expansively about electronic music in all its forms and aim to push the envelope in terms of the diversification of sounds on offer.