Endless Dreams 2026

“Then a person starts thinking about existence. This is where the world begins.” 

 

 Somewhere, spring is starting, and somewhere else, autumn is approaching. Somewhere it’s summer, and somewhere it’s winter. It’s like Europe and Australia: The world on this planet itself is so vast that the seasons are not the same everywhere. 

Recently, 

Sidney SN released Happs. The “happs” is within him. And so Sidney SN is here with the 

 Endless Dreams.  

Sometimes music captures everything exactly. I listen something, and I know precisely what I mean. Sometimes I think that music (for me, tech-house, progressive, trance, liquid DnB, hip hop, New Retro Wave and different music) itself should be the answer—and if someone doesn’t understand it, then they don’t understand anything that’s being said.  

But the World is too vast to be expressed by a single idea. Existence requires structures that don’t come from just one source...

  01. See the Ocean - a intro

  02. Bob x Subwave - Wait For Me

  03. Etherwood - Caliban

  04. Flava D - Womb Machine

  05. Y-Zer - 3rd Eye Lies

  06. Business As Usual & Liv Campbell - Light

  07. Alexvnder - What Do I Love

  08. [KSR] Dogger - Sweet Jungle

  09. Nymfo & Riya - Something Tells Me

 10. Bop & Unquote - Drifting Away

 11. Boxplot Remix - Leap Year Gal

 12. Fred V feat. Lottie Jones - Homesick

 13. Silence Groove, Arp Nova - Mauve

 14. SOLAH - Love For Me Too

 15. Lucidity- No More Tears

 16. LENS - Feels Like

 17. In:Most - Spectre

 18. Big Lou, Y-Zer - Glam & Glitter

Released 03/31/2026

Dumb and Dumber

 Western Europe is known as a place where people can communicate using one language. English serves as a kind of navigational tool that is expected from everyone if it is not their native tongue.

I had an experience on a trip. During March on the journey from Brussels to Strasbourg, a French woman was sitting next to me. In the seat ahead of us was a lady from Brazil, apparently living in France. In front of her was a darker-skinned woman also living in France. Across the aisle sat a Spaniard. And behind him was a girl — I don’t know where she was from.

On the highway, you could start to feel wind inside the bus. I was quietly amused when I saw the French woman take off layers down to a T-shirt after she had sat beside me. Someone on the bus had left a window open or opened one. For a moment, nobody knew where the draft was coming from. It was still dark outside. It turned out to be a roof window, with cold air blowing directly into someone’s face.

First, a discussion started in English about where the wind was coming from. The French woman asked what was happening. I said that the roof window was open. The Spaniard tried to close it. But meanwhile, the lady who had become friendly with the Brazilian woman passionately insisted that he should leave the window open. Her reasoning was that the bus needed fresh air.

Everyone seemed quite surprised by the confidence of that lady — that the younger generation, which all of us were, were complaining about the cold, while the older woman saw it only as fresh air.

Maybe she did not realize that icy wind was blowing directly into someone’s face. She was sitting in the seat in front of the window. Of course, the French woman immediately put her jacket back on and was probably covering herself with a scarf as well.

To me, the whole situation was almost comical. When the bus was moving fast and smoothly on the highway, you could really feel it on your body and face. After a while, the Spaniard threw his jacket directly over his face. I started wondering whether my own face was freezing too, while laughing at the sight of the Spaniard with his winter jacket draped over his head. This weird situation reminded me the movie Dumb and Dumber, where these idiots ride through freezing weather across America on a tiny motorbike and end up frostbitten. I thought to myself, “That’s going to be us in a minute…”

The girl sitting behind the Spaniard finally couldn’t take it anymore and asked us whether the window really had to stay open, or what was going on. Spaniard said that he was closing the window, but the lady wished it to remain open. Once the girl said that, the Spaniard silently stood up to that older lady. He went to close the window again.

This time, the older lady did not object.

Across all those languages — French, Portuguese, Spanish, maybe Irish, Czech language I know, and others — we managed to communicate on the bus in one language. If someone had not known that language, they would have been lost when it came to solving problems on the bus. 

EDM 2018 as the Peak of One Era and the Changes After the Pandemic

 Because of my relationship with techno music for instance, some people may be surprised by my attitude. But I also like EDM, Martin Garrix (Garrix also brought my person to Dua Lipa because his collaborations with Dua Lipa), Alesso, or MATTN from the female DJs for example. 

What saddens me is that many things changed after the pandemic. To this day, I regret that I did not visit Tomorrowland in 2018. I see it as the peak point for EDM, and also the peak point of the time when EDM was dominant at Tomorrowland. Attendance was also at its peak.

Honestly, I am not very enthusiastic about the fact that Tomorrowland became something else after the pandemic. And EDM gave way out. It may be a case for sociologists to explain why. In practice, I no longer have much interest in visiting Tomorrowland. I wanted to experience the EDM atmosphere and community there, and that time is gone…

Drum and bass is also visible at Tomorrowland today. In the past, it was mainly the Belgian Netsky at a Belgian festival who stood out. I like Netsky. Although there may now be people performing at Tomorrowland from DnB whom I personally like, I still do not like that DnB is now common at Tomorrowland. I do not like it in relation to the EDM community and to the experiences I may never have had.

When I look at the changes at Liquicity Festival, in my opinion it is similar. 2022 was the break point, after which what came next is no longer something that attracts me. I also see some similar reasons there as at Liquicity for why the changes happened. But at Tomorrowland among these reasons is not a person :D

 2018 as a Symbol of the Peak

The year 2018 can be seen as one of the strongest moments in Tomorrowland’s history. At that time, the festival benefited from the peak of EDM popularity, massive international interest, and an atmosphere that had been building throughout the previous decade. Mainstage culture, festival anthems, big melodies, and euphoric moments were still at the center of the festival’s identity.

At that time, Tomorrowland did not represent only a music event, but also a cultural phenomenon. For many fans, it meant a place where the global EDM community came together. That is exactly why, for many people, 2018 is associated with a feeling of the peak — not only in production, but also emotionally.

 EDM as the Dominant Identity of the Festival

In the pre-pandemic period, for years EDM at Tomorrowland was perceived as the main language of the festival. Progressive house, big room, and the festival sound defined the character of the main stages and the overall image of the event. Names such as Martin Garrix, Alesso, Hardwell, or Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike were symbols of that era.

That does not mean that other genres did not exist. Tomorrowland was always musically broader. The difference was in what formed its dominant identity and what most people automatically associated with the festival.

 Changes After the Pandemic

After the pandemic, festival culture changed, and Tomorrowland changed with it. Styles such as techno, afro house, tech house, or harder modern directions of electronic music, including neurofunk gained more space. If someone longed to experience the atmosphere of the peak EDM era, they may feel that they will never experience it now. 

EDM 2018… Both weekends were sold out in about an hour. With a capacity of around 400,000 visitors across two weekends, the festival was already fully established as the biggest EDM event in the world.

The approach as a Mirror of Economy

 In the article The Landscape as a Mirror of Society, I wrote about Dutch land management, which is clearly visible at first sight. 

The Netherlands is also considered 

the second-largest exporter 

of food in the world... 

This is mainly about the value of exports, not the number of tons of food produced. 

As in other areas of the economy, the Netherlands is also remarkable in how much it can earn from exports.

I already wrote in the above-mentioned article about Dutch farming, and the truth is that the Netherlands uses high-tech greenhouses, precision agriculture, automation, and innovative cultivation methods. Thanks to this, it is able to achieve high yields even on a small area and with lower resource consumption.

A one of the major roles is played by the connection between farmers, companies, and research institutions. Dutch Wageningen University & Research is globally known for its research in agriculture and food production.

Another key factor is strong logistics, especially the Port of Rotterdam. Goods quickly reach both European and global markets. The Netherlands also functions as an important trade hub. Thanks to its strong ports and logistics centers, goods from all over the world are in the Netherlands and are then distributed further to other countries.

Last but not least, a major reason is that instead of focusing on cheap commodities, the Netherlands concentrates on products with higher value due to quality, specialization, or technology. These include seeds, greenhouse vegetables, flowers, cheeses, dairy products, or processed foods. 

Life Shorter by One Hour

 I feel like I’m missing an hour of my life. First of all, back in autumn I left daylight saving time on one of my watches—my favorite ones. I keep catching myself thinking that the time shown on the watch is the real current time. And that brings me to the second point: I’m missing that hour of life in my life. Because of it, I can’t keep up with what I want to do. I wish a day had 28–32 hours.

Now I associate this with the loss of that hour. A 24-hour day feels too short to me, and on top of that, according to my own watch, I’ve even lost an hour of my life. It’s no longer five in the evening—it’s six. I always pause, realizing the watch is now set correctly, and it’s already six. The same goes for the morning. It’s already so late, when it feels like it should be an hour earlier.

In fact, I feel like I’ve lost two hours of my life — one hour in the evening, and another hour in the morning.

Lekker

 Hah… I recently mentioned that I like hip hop, among other music genres.

At the Happs mix, I also mentioned that Amsterdam is sometimes perceived as a kind of “black sheep,” but I said that I don’t see it that way, that this isn’t like a hip hop track mixed into Happs.

Additionally, I talked about Christmas in Amsterdam. In my opinion, Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful places in Europe during Christmas. I love the real Christmas atmosphere there. 

I also wrote a lot about how I perceive the Netherlands as a genuinely safe country. Sometimes it gives me an indescribable atmosphere, one I find hard to find elsewhere: The West Coast of Europe.  

I came across a video on Dutch Instagram, belonging to a Dutch girl, Somi Linda aka driplist. The video’s description says, “Dutch rappers: I was raised by the streets…” This video is another one, in my opinion, that captures what I often write about the Netherlands. I laughed when I saw this video for the first time.

Experiences Over Statistics

 Recently, I wrote about Grand Est in France. The truth is that, statistically, French cities often rank among the most dangerous in Europe. In many cases, this is true not only statistically.

Grande Île de Strasbourg 

I wrote about Grand Est intentionally because cities in Grand Est, such as Strasbourg, do not rank among the most dangerous cities.

 I don’t like statistics. Safety statistics, including those from Eurostat, are based on reported cases. Reality can be different, and from experience, it is. In Czechia, cities have everyday crime that Eurostat does not cover, I think. This is precisely because it concerns safety—things are either not reported, or people don’t see that reporting would solve the problem, or the issue does not turn against the person reporting another. In many Czech cities, people complain that they are afraid to be outside during the day, let alone after dark. Eurostat, however, shows nothing like this.

„definitions and counting of official crime vary between countries, and comparisons between countries can therefore be misleading“ European Commission 

The same goes for cost of living. Statistics often deal with prices but not with wages, for example. When statistics claim that living costs are lower somewhere, income is not taken into account at all. This is just one example of how statistics fail when it comes to cost of living or poverty.

I don’t know exactly how Strasbourg compares statistically to cities in Czechia, for instance. However, my impression is that Strasbourg itself is safer and calmer than cities in the Czechia. For example, at night, a drone is enough to cover many areas and monitor moving people. In Czech cities, a drone would not be sufficient in similar places.

At first glance, this might seem like excessive control. But the situation is clear: Strasbourg is calm at night in these areas. People are practically absent, homeless people or drug users are minimally visible—or rather, they are simply not there—and the space is well monitored. In such a case, a drone is sufficient for prevention and monitoring.

The contrast with many Czech cities — statistically different places — is stark. In city centers and main areas, movement of various “undesirables” is common even during the day—homeless people, drug users, thieves, or even worse. People often fear intervening, even when something happens that would require a reaction. In such an environment, a drone would not be sufficient—the area is too lively.

It is also clear that official statistics, for example Eurostat in my view, do not provide an accurate picture. They are based only on reported cases and often do not reflect how people actually feel or how safe their daily environment is. In cities, people regularly experience fear from everyday crime, complain about the situation, which statistics almost never capture.

Strasbourg, which I used here as an example, is, from the perspective of nighttime calm around the center and safety, simply a “different world.” Drone there work as an effective supplement for prevention. In similar Czech cities, this approach would fail because the dynamics and concentration of problematic groups in the center and main areas do not allow for simple technological monitoring.

 During the COVID-19 pandemic, drones began to be used in France to monitor compliance with lockdown measures and the movement of people in public spaces; this practice was subsequently restricted by courts due to privacy concerns, which led to the adoption of legislation in 2023 that legalized the use of drones and established conditions for their deployment—officially for purposes such as maintaining public order or preventing crime.

So calm and a sense of safety in a city are not just about statistics or technology, but about the actual reality, the visibility of problems, and the experience of the people who live and move there. Strasbourg shows that sometimes it’s enough to simply have a space where people “normally aren’t” for prevention to be effective. In my view, if there were a society that denied the existence of crime, Eurostat would evaluate that society as perfectly fine.

I don’t even need to mention why so many people outside of a country know me. This is also something that could be sociologically questioned. 

      

        “These styles focus on melodic builds and smooth evolution rather than big drops.”

 Who is Miss Monique?

  I found myself wondering why I’d even make a post about Miss Monique. Then I thought—what if this were 11 or 12 years ago? What would I have said about Miss Monique back then?

A progressive stream by a DJ I’d never heard of appeared on YouTube. Her music made me feel something immediately—melodic, flowing in a really engaging way.

Miss Monique 2016

I remember being drawn to how colorful it felt. I was listening to streams from Ukrainian Radio Intense. Her name is Miss Monique.

It must have been around the time of the war in Donbas. Back then, I remember being somewhat naive about it all, even surprised by who Miss Monique was. But those Radio Intense streams had a certain atmosphere—they stood out.

Today, of course, many more people know Miss Monique. Miss Monique doesn’t really need an introduction anymore… Miss Monique is a Ukrainian progressive producer and DJ, now recognized all over the world.

Electric, Biosphere, Loona, Raindrop, Timelapse, Means To An End, Concorde, Eros, I need U, Miss Monique Remix of Yang, etc. I like this music. 

 This post came from spending a few days listening to Miss Monique music again on Spotify. What surprised me was that she still creates the same kind of sound I used to search for 11, 12 years ago on YouTube. That feeling hasn’t changed—and that made me genuinely happy.

In what Ukraine represents today; It holds onto something not everyone once expected from it. Ukraine is strong. 

The Dutch CCTV

 I had an arguments about why the Netherlands is a pretty friendly country and seems to be safe.

  Yet, 

the fact that the atmosphere in the Netherlands often feels more relaxed: 

 Dutch cities also tend to have CCTV networks, integrated with AI-based monitoring and real-time alert systems, and you can be everywhere immediately warned by police through loudspeakers on the street or in a park about your behavior without any intermediary.

Once, for example, I experienced a situation where someone who was trying to have a “picnic” in a Dutch park was warned over the police loudspeaker. It was quite a shock, because in other parts of the same park man can clearly see people sitting on benches and for example they smoking a joint, since THC is legal in the Netherlands. But this particular area is more nature protected.

Another example is this experience where a Czech bus drivers tried to enter the Maastunnel in Rotterdam, and they were immediately warned over the loudspeaker by police and given instructions to back out of the tunnel entrance. People in the cars near the tunnel were quite surprised by the event. The yellow bus had to turn around in the bend of cars in front of the tunnel. Traffic into the Maastunnel was blocked because of it. At first, I was surprised that the bus drivers didn’t know where to go in Rotterdam towards Centraal Station, and then that they drove into a Maastunnel meant for cars, which caused the incident. In the end, though, I couldn’t help laughing at the confusion they caused and how they were being instructed over the loudspeakers by police, they were shocked because this immediately CCTV system and loudspeakers itself. It was such a typical “Czech” decision to “just cut it off there and see what happens”. The bus drivers probably didn’t know about CCTV networks in Rotterdam and police loudspeakers which a one can find all over Rotterdam. The truth is, it was crazy to want to go into a tunnel with passenger cars. 

When Euphoria Turns Into an Opponent

 Recently, I read that in the United States there has been a significant increase in THC use in recent years. Along with this, a phenomenon known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) has been appearing more frequently.

 THC, which many perceived as a beneficial, calming, or medicinal substance, has in some cases turned into an opponent.

THC often acts as a means of inducing euphoria, relieving various types of pain, and improving appetite. However, in some cases—especially with chronic use—it transforms into the opposite of what it was meant to provide.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is precisely that opposite, and it appears to occur in many chronic THC users.

From experience, I have encountered this in certain individuals as well. They often appear tired, weakened, lacking appetite, frequently vomiting—yet they continue using THC, believing they will overcome the condition, or perhaps due to a perceived dependence. This is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

I looked into 

 the reasons behind CHS:

 The endocannabinoid system is a part of the human body—it regulates mood, appetite, stress, and pain perception. When this system is stimulated externally over a long period of time, it adapts. It reduces sensitivity. It recalibrates. It searches for a new balance: The paradox is that the more a person tries to stabilize their experience through an external substance, the more they may disrupt the body’s ability to stabilize itself.

What is striking is the cyclical nature of this phenomenon: Nausea → THC use → short-term relief → deeper destabilization → further use.

The body sends a signal, but the mind interprets it through past experience: “This has always helped me.” And it is precisely this memory of relief that sustains the cycle.

Physical exhaustion, dehydration, and loss of strength during CHS episodes are symptoms. The body loses electrolytes, cannot eat, sleeps poorly. The body is under strain. Psychological apathy, irritability, or anxiety when abstaining point to another kind of dependence—not necessarily dramatic, but quiet: dependence on external regulation of one’s internal state. The user may find themselves in a vicious circle, aware that THC no longer benefits them, yet unable to stop using it.

The phenomenon of CHS is not merely a medical complication. It is a reminder that any long-term artificial amplification or suppression of a system changes its fundamental setting.

Not every long-term cannabis user will experience this condition. Reactions are individual. Genetics, frequency of use, THC potency, and nervous system sensitivity all play a role. But for those in whom this cycle develops, 

  the solution…

 is paradoxically simple—though psychologically demanding: complete cessation for at least an extended period of time. A return may be possible, but likely only in the form of occasional use rather than chronic use.

Made me laugh

 “If someone doesn’t like it, they probably should work on themselves.”

 

 Sometimes ChatGPT can be amusing. Over the past four days, I’ve been feeling abnormal tired, so I consulted ChatGPT about my current lifestyle.

In the chat, I also mentioned my daily fitness routine. And ChatGPT’s response to my push-ups made me laugh:

 1500 push-ups a day is an extreme volume (sometimes I do even more, up to 2000).

Honestly — that’s more than most professional athletes do for a single muscle group in a day.

To be even more precise:

 In bodybuilding, a high weekly volume for one muscle group is considered roughly:

• 10–20 working sets per week

You’re doing 1500 push-ups a day. Even if I count that as 50 sets of 30 reps, that’s 350 sets per week of a single movement.

That’s a completely different league of volume.

Carrie as a Warning: When Society Fails the Individual

Carrie 2013

 I’ve already written that I like Chloë Moretz because in her films she often portrays what she herself feels, or she chooses roles that have a clear purpose. One of the strongest examples of Chloë Moretz being true to herself, for me, is The Miseducation of Cameron Post. During the U.S. elections, Chloë Moretz also spoke about her identity and expressed concern about the possibility of Donald Trump being elected.

Recently, I rewatched Carrie (2013). This remake of the classic story by Stephen King depicts a teenage girl who is systematically humiliated by her classmates and psychologically suffocated by a fanatical religious upbringing at home.

“I just want a normal life…”,  Carrie 

After watching the film, I was left with questions. For a moment, I was even uneasy about whether the film could be seen as inspirational or as justifying mass murders, which sometimes happen for reasons similar to those the film portrays. Mass shootings are more frequent in the U.S., but such social phenomena are not limited to one country.

The film ultimately feels more like a warning, I think — that when a person is mocked, ignored, or oppressed over a long period of time, something accumulates inside them. Carrie releases this accumulated pain in a destructive way, killing everyone — maybe in distrust of everyone, including those who stood by her. 

Once again, I see in Chloë Moretz someone who accepts a role because of its deeper intention.

And this is where the film asks an uncomfortable question: What happens when a collective systematically destroys an individual — and can later even pretend it knew nothing about it? In Carrie, this is very clear: collective bullying is not just about a few “bad individuals.” It is a group dynamic. And groups have a strong tendency to protect their own image.

It is true that the bullying, humiliation, and rejection of Carrie are carried out by society in the film, yet in the end almost all of them are massacred — except for one person, who later testifies in court about the unbelievable events.

The climax at the prom is not a triumph. It is a tragedy. Carrie does not kill only those who hurt her. In a state of emotional overwhelm, she destroys everything. The film makes it clear that violence is not justice — it is collapse.

In my view, the film does not say that revenge is the solution. Rather, it points to the possible consequences of the systematic oppression of an individual.

Carrie also has supernatural abilities in the film, specifically telekinesis. When I think about the reasons why I like Chloë Moretz, I wonder whether there is also intention in this aspect. In a way, oppressed individuals may become more aware of systems of oppression for the sake of their own survival; they may learn to read people more accurately and develop an understanding of reality that is inaccessible to anyone except the oppressed themselves. In the film, however, there is something deeper about controlling reality. At the very beginning of the film, Carrie saves herself precisely through this power.

In the context of various societies where systematic oppression, bullying, and isolation exist, Carrie functions as a warning. Chloë Moretz portrays a character who is not a symbol of evil, but a symbol of society’s failure. And perhaps that is why the film provokes such strong emotions — it forces to reflect on where individual responsibility ends and where societal responsibility begins. 

“Different country, different customs”

 Sometimes I wonder how certain observations could be formulated so that they don’t sound “harsh”. On the other hand, I’ve already shared Nukivalent’s streams, for instance. She has an interesting critique of cultural and social habits. On her Instagram profile, videos often appear in which she points out various cultural and social patterns.

I think that if Nukivalent were Czech and pointed out cultural or social habits in clothing or in self-care, and in Western European countries—such as the everyday norms in the Netherlands or in Germany—she would receive heavy criticism, even if what she said were true. The same could be said about many parts of France and values there. 

But the truth is still the truth—it can be seen and even felt. And I laughed when I saw Nukivalent’s streams for first time, because there is a truth about cultural and social values.

In a way, the criticism from DnB ravers of Central Europe that I wrote about after Hospitality at Melkweg in the autumn is enough for me. However, I don’t generally see those typical Dutch “norms” within these communities. They are commonly visible at Dutch techno, tech-house events, but not at similar drum and bass events. I saw no one the person there. Yet in the eyes there, something glows differently than is natural. 

It would be possible to talk not only about outward things, but also about inner ones, which are just as visible externally. In some country, there is a saying: “Different country, different customs.” That proverb captures it well. I recently wrote about my “azureness,” which someone say is visible in me when I return from the Netherlands. I stand by the idea that if I had to explain what I mean by identities, it is difficult to explain something that someone does not know, does not perceive, or perhaps does not even acknowledge—likely because of their own social habits.

But this is not only about the Netherlands. Other Western countries also have values that are hard to find elsewhere, or do not exist at all. I would dare to say that also about someone’s in interest, I can claim that someone similar is not exist elsewhere, and they could be misunderstood because of their identities. And these values are visible in everyday life, or the same, within their professions. This is something no one will convince me could be otherwise. 

I know it from myself — sometimes I think I’m doing something that isn’t even around me. But I do it because I perceive it as something natural. And when I go further west, I see all around me what I mean here. And much more — sometimes I see a glow in the eyes that I don’t see anywhere else at all. 

Azure-tinged

  I hold many reasons close for this land— but here’s a quiet one: Ducks in the streets. Not lost, not out of place, but gliding calm through canals and streams, unstartled by the human pace. They swim like the city belongs to them too. And perhaps it does. Kralingen’s swans nest in still corners as children wander close, no rush, no fear—just a soft balance between feathers and footsteps, roots and routines. There is something sacred in a city that lets life be. Cleaner reality, and people who’ve learned to move with the rhythm of skyscrapers. In Kralingen’s hush, I see intelligence in ivy, ethics in botanic, a culture not only of words but of care. And in Zuiderpark, summer breathes through grills and laughter, a community of coexistence forming over shared bread and sun, beneath leaves that catch every language and send it back as joy. At Essenburgpark, the city bows before a quiet grove— not out of guilt, but respect. And above it all—Erasmusbrug, that swan of steel spanning the river’s grace. Its cables hum like harp strings in the wind, connecting not just land to land but idea to ideal. Skyscrapers rise like glass reeds against the Dutch sky, not to block nature— but to coexist with it. Reflection, not domination. Even in stone and steel, there is room for the soul. This is development not just of roads, but of rhythm. Of harmony between the naturalism and the made. There is no wall between person and pond. No border between culture and root. There is a peace here that doesn’t need to shout. A cultivated silence. Aesthetic. The Beauty of steel and the heritage.

 I’ve learned that I even tend to become “azure” after returning from the Netherlands. What someone may see is a my favorite Dutch city. And not only that – it is also the climate of the Netherlands as a society, a system, and a culture. 

Whether it is the openness of the space that comes from the North Sea and flows through the city without obstacles, or the air that does not stand still. Air is not just a mixture of gases – in the Netherlands it feels cleaner and fresher. It is also a different reflection of how society thinks. It is not only about having a cleaner and more aesthetic environment. 

In a different country, the air is not only worse in terms of toxicity, but also mentally burdened – with a different form of toxicity. 

In the Netherlands, the air is different. It flows. And flow means movement. And movement means life. Society is more open, less grounded in a limiting way, freer, less prone to extremism, it does not stink, it thinks more. Civilization is built so that people can enjoy its beauty. Even the infrastructure does not hold a person down. 

Where things like cycling, open space, modern urbanism, more aesthetic greenery, and less stagnation are supported, the air is lighter. Not only physically, but mentally as well. 

I have also mentioned several times that I recover quickly in the Netherlands – for example from a respiratory illness, which may not in fact be purely respiratory, but psychosomatic. 

People create the air themselves. In some places it is heavy on its own, and elsewhere it is lighter because people are able to naturally radiate through their own culture. I have written before that if the Netherlands has been described as first in quality of life 2026, it has its obvious reasons, which cannot go unnoticed if someone truly embraces this for themselves. 

And such a person may naturally be perceived that way within a certain society when they return from a place where things function in a way that feels closer to them.

Concept

 I’m not sure who still remembers it. It’s been ten years now, maybe even longer, since modern liquid drum and bass was still in its early beginnings.

Nevertheless, in my view once Chilloutbear was already questioning the very concept of mixing through his approach back then. Indirectly, he was also questioning the normality of mainstream DNB and its rave culture as such. Through his approach, he was setting different values from those represented by the mainstream drum and bass at the time.

There was a certain distance in it—an intentional separation from mainstream DNB, whose music is built on entirely different principles and values. That is also why the tracks uploaded by Chilloutbear were not commonly mixed into traditional DJ sets. A conventional, “formed whole,” as we know it from DJ sets, did not emerge there. 

I don’t know whether he was consciously aware of this distance, but that is how I perceived it.

Something similar happened when, in 2017, someone said about me that I was doing liquid only because I was a beginner, and that once I “woke up,” I would start doing neurofunk. It was exactly the opposite. I had already known drum and bass for sixteen years. I started creating liquid DNB mixes precisely because I did not identify with the mainstream— not only the Czech one those two were talking about.

Their rave culture, on the contrary, “woke me up” to the point that I reject it for years. And when modern liquid appeared, it was something that influenced my person. They did not understand (my) liquid drum and bass. It is not the same thing as neurofunk. Liquid tends to be more thought-out, more conscious as a genre—this is also why it was once referred to as intelligent jungle. It is not music for mindless rave intoxication, which is often associated precisely with harder strands such as neurofunk.

My first mix, Memories of The Future (2016), was—based on the logic described above—conceived in a similar way to Chilloutbear’s work. Nevertheless, in 2017 I decided that liquid DNB could be mixed in a way that preserves its inner logic. I therefore added SN and began, in my own way, to mix tracks, singles that truly resonate with me. 

 Released 2026-02-04

 

   “Words belong to those who have experienced it.” 

  G’day!

 Sidney SN 2026 is here with a brand-new drum & bass mix.

Sidney wasn’t exactly keen to mix something new after Discotheque, a mix he enjoyed. But then again, he could say the same about Orangery or plenty of his other mixes.

The Netherlands — especially its coastline — is something Sidney SN associates with Australian coastlines. 

Recently, the Netherlands a survey (Numbeo Quality of Life Index) ranked as number one in the world for quality of life. Another survey (Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection) named Australia the second safest country on the planet.

Both the Netherlands and Australia inspire me, and that happs runs right through Sidney SN’s music.

 Happs 

 is a new Sidney SN mix to kick off 2026. In a way, this year marks an anniversary — ten years ago, back when he was still just Sidney (without the SN), Sidney mixed his very first liquid drum & bass set.

The mix is almost entirely liquid drum and bass, but there are rare exceptions that might not sound like drum and bass, even though they were released by the best drum and bass labels. In the end of the mix is also mixed a hip hop track. I also like hip hop.

Sometimes people say that Amsterdam slightly distorts how the Netherlands is seen. But ordinary people aren’t like these Red Lights mixed with Dreamcatcher in the end of the Sidney SN mix. 

All words belong to those who have experienced it...

Tracklist:

 Overgrown by Pola & Bryson  (Shogun Audio)

 Want U Bad by Solah  (Hospital Records)

 Keeping Pace by Pola & Bryson  (Shogun Audio)

 Waiting For Me by Bob x Subwave  (Hospital Records)

 Caliban by Etherwood  (Hospital Records)

 Moonwater by Aftertones  (Ledge Sounds)

 Bell Tune by LSB  (Footnotes)

 Talk To Me by Koherent feat. Riya  (Shogun Audio)

 Liberated (by Kraedt) Kolosu Remix  (Ledge Sounds)

 Want U by Anaïs  (Hospital Records)

 Dreamcatcher by Wagz  (Metalheadz)

 Red Lights by Brandom Strife 

Shutdown the Dissolution II

 In Shutdown the Dissolution I mentioned social services in relation to my own person. 

And since I often speak about the Netherlands, which inspires me, I could also name something from a visible fundamental systemic differences between how social services function in Czechia and in the Netherlands.

I am certainly not the only one who can see these systemic differences, nor the only one who has gone through—or is still going through.

 The Netherlands:

 The state has long relied on a relatively consistent strategy in the field of social care: It rather prefers working with a smaller number of workers who are well prepared, professionally qualified, and systematically supported, rather than employing workers without the required education and experience.

 Czechia:

 In social services, there is often an effort to quickly fill staffing capacities regardless of the level of preparedness.

 The Netherlands:

 In this model, the client is not perceived as an “experimental object.” The system is set up to minimize situations where procedures are searched for only during the provision of care.

 Czechia:

 The system is often set up in such a way that procedures are sought only in the course of providing care.

 The Netherlands:

 The worker is not exposed to expectations of improvisational adaptation without sufficient support. Responsibility is clearly structured, defined, and enforceable. Social services cannot excuse themselves by citing staff shortages or systemic failures—every actor knows exactly where their role begins and where it ends.

 Czechia:

 In the Czech environment a man often encounter situations where people without adequate professional preparation enter direct care. Training is usually brief, focused mainly on operational basics, and there is an implicit assumption that the worker will somehow manage. 

Responsibility here is often not systematically anchored—it is not clearly set but rather transferred ad hoc onto individuals (even onto individuals without any education or experiences). 

 The Netherlands:

 Emphasis is placed on structure, predictability, and continuity of relationships. Every intervention has a professional rationale, and workers know exactly why they choose specific procedures. The client is not an object of improvisation but the subject of long-term planned care.

Czechia:

 Work is often reactive—interventions come only at the moment of escalation (even by workers without any education and experiences) and a large part of decision-making rests on individual intuition and the worker’s momentary assessment rather than on clearly defined structures.

The Netherlands:

 In the Netherlands, qualification is not understood as a formal requirement but as a basic tool for protecting the client, the worker, and the system itself. Entry into the profession is gradual and conditioned by specific education, supervised practice, language competence, and mandatory ongoing training. Without meeting clear criteria for education and practice, it is not possible to perform given roles. In other words, without clear education and experience, no one is allowed into direct care.

Czechia:

 In the Czech system, requirements for workers in social services are often lower or bypassed for operational reasons. When entering direct care, appropriate education or prior experience is often not required. Workers in social services may have no education or practice at all. They are often thrown in at the deep end and expected to somehow cope. The result is a system that can fill shifts in the short term—often it appears that the primary goal is simply to cover shifts—but in the long term this leads to worker burnout, client insecurity, and above all the absence of clearly defined care approaches. This results in inconsistencies in work methods, crisis resolution, and interventions themselves, weakening both the quality and continuity of the service provided.

 The Netherlands:

 The Dutch approach seeks to protect all parties involved simultaneously. It protects the client by minimizing the risk of care failure. It protects the worker by providing time, competence, and professional support. It protects the social services through clearly defined rules of operation, and it protects the entire system by limiting the need for constant crisis management in “emergency mode.” This model places higher demands and means a slower entry into the profession, but its result is fewer traumatic situations, fewer failures, and less pressure to rely on improvised solutions. 

Yes, yes

 I often deal with the quality of life in different countries. When I once thought about what the idea behind Sidney SN should be, I chose For a Better World as the core idea. Events surrounding my own life also convinced me of the nature of ordinary people from Germany to Western Europe proper, as well as of the everyday environments I encountered during my visits to various countries.

I am also very critical of some Central European countries, such as the Czechia. This concerns cultural and economic reasons, as well as the mentality itself. The Czech Republic appears economically loss-making and often falls into deficit. I also dislike the common urban development in the Czech Republic. Western cultural values of dignity are different. Recently, the Czech Republic was also labeled in a survey as one of the least friendly countries: the Expat Insider Survey 2025 by InterNations — a global online survey among people who live and work long-term in a country other than their own. It evaluates various aspects of life, including how “friendly” locals are towards foreigners and how easy it is to make friends or establish social connections. This survey also indicates one of the factors why the Czechia is loss-making from a one mental perspective and can quickly fall into deficit.

I also often ask myself who would want to come from abroad to work in the Czech Republic when Czechs hates and created toxic environments, or infrastructure and economic itself, because in other European countries one can be better off economically, culturally, and in human terms — and that, as a person from another country, I would rather skip the Czechia. This is also the economic aspect of the Czech Republic: that Czechia is a loss-making country.

It is also true that various surveys and indices rank other countries at the top as well, for example Switzerland or some Northern European countries. However, the fact that I often talk about the quality of life in the Netherlands is also supported by the Numbeo Quality of Life Index (QoLI). The Netherlands is also a country I often describe as coexistent, and thus the opposite of what the Expat Insider Survey 2025 by InterNations shows about the Czech Republic.

QoLI is based on several factors by which it assesses quality of life. These factors include the Purchasing Power Index, Safety Index, Health Care Index, Cost of Living Index, Property Price to Income Ratio, Traffic Commute Time Index, Pollution Index, and Climate Index. The Numbeo Quality of Life Index ranked the Netherlands first worldwide for Quality of Life in 2026.

In other words, the Netherlands ranks first because it has a balanced work–life balance, high-quality and accessible healthcare, high safety and stability, strong purchasing power, efficient transport and cycling infrastructure, a relatively clean environment and a sustainable approach, and a society based on respect and coexistence.

These are factors I frequently mention about the Netherlands purely based on experience, even without surveys like QoLI. Low hierarchy, direct communication, and a strong culture of mutual respect in everyday coexistence. Emphasis on aesthetics, air quality, and long-term sustainable planning. Short commute times, high-quality public transport, and everyday use of bicycles. A favorable ratio of income to expenses. Low crime rates and strong trust in the functioning of institutions (which do function). A universal healthcare system with a high level of care and prevention. A flexible work culture, emphasis on free time, and relatively low pressure for “constant performance.” And cultural richness.

Expensive isn’t really that expensive

 I used to smoke for years, then I didn’t smoke for seven years. When flavored cigarettes started being sold, I began smoking again… That was sometime around 2016. For the first two years, my smoking was more occasional — I was trying out different kinds of flavored cigarettes. I developed a liking for menthol Marlboros and started smoking them more actively around 2018.

Maybe smoking was normalized for me even more by Charlotte de Witte. At that time, I was listening to Charlotte de Witte constantly. I liked her modern techno and also the values she brought into techno — not underground, but mainstreaming. Charlotte de Witte also visibly liked smoking, and I told myself that I could enjoy it in a similar way too.

I perceived my renewed smoking as a kind of game; I saw cigarettes as lollipops. When flavored cigarettes were banned, I switched to Marlboro Gold, which I still enjoy to this day. If these cigarettes didn’t exist, I would probably quit smoking, because I don’t enjoy other ones. I even have a problem with Marlboro Reds.

In relation to Western countries, I sometimes hear Czechs say that cigarettes in the West are overpriced. But this isn’t true when you consider wages in Western Europe versus the Czech Republic.

Before I say anything about prices, I’d like to point out that in countries like the Netherlands, cigarettes are less accessible than in the Czech Republic. They are sold only in licensed shops; in these shops they must be hidden, all cigarette packs have the same dark-colored packaging, and unlike in the Czech Republic, they are not commonly accessible to minors.

The price of cigarettes is often judged simply by how much a pack costs in a shop. But this perspective is misleading. The real cost of smoking doesn’t arise from the price tag, but from the relationship between income, accessibility, and market regulation. That’s exactly why a paradoxical feeling can emerge that cigarettes in different countries cost “roughly the same,” even though their nominal prices differ significantly.

At first glance, the difference is obvious: in the Netherlands, a pack of cigarettes costs significantly more than in Czechia. But the absolute price says nothing about the real burden. What matters is what percentage of a typical income a smoker gives up for cigarettes. And here, the differences start to blur.

In a country with higher wages, even a more expensive pack becomes a relatively bearable expense. In contrast, in a country with lower incomes, a cheaper pack can be just as painful for the budget — or even more so.

If we take basic wages or average income into account, we find that a smoker in Czechia often spends a comparable share of their monthly budget as a smoker in Western Europe. The difference is that in Czechia, there is less room left after covering basic expenses.

Cigarettes therefore paradoxically appear cheaper to a Czech person than in Western Europe, but in reality they take a bigger bite out of disposable income in the Czech Republic, especially for people with lower wages. Smoking in Czechia can thus be relatively more expensive than the price tag alone would suggest.

Availability also plays an important role. In strictly regulated countries, cigarettes are harder to access, less visible, and under strong control. Smoking there is not impulsive. In Czechia, by contrast, cigarettes are commonly available in small shops and convenience stores, age checks are often weak, and social tolerance of smoking is higher. This leads to more frequent consumption, even though the pack is nominally cheaper. And cigarettes are easily accessible — even to young people (minors).

Price is reflected not only in money, but also in quality. In Czechia, a looser market creates space for old stock, parallel imports, and greater differences in taste. Stricter regulation means more stable quality and a smaller grey market.

When people say that cigarettes in different countries “cost roughly the same,” they’re not talking about the price on the pack, but about the feeling of accessibility. That feeling arises from a combination of price, income, regulation, and sales culture. From this perspective, cigarettes in Czechia are not as cheap as they seem — and in Western Europe, they are not as inaccessible as their price might suggest.

Swamps of Central Europe

 Yes, yes… I often criticize a country, but however it sounds, in my opinion, it’s legitimate. It also often irritates me that many Czechs hate Western Europe, and possess some kind of socialism or nihilism. These criticisms, however, have no real basis, because Western European infrastructure is at such a level that being in the Czech Republic feels bad by comparison. Yet in countries like the Netherlands, far more advanced infrastructure is powered by renewable energy despite all the criticism.

I have already written an article, Little Wonders on Dutch Rails, which focused on the frequent atmosphere of traveling through the Netherlands—not just in the evening or at night on weekends. I also wrote about Dutch atmosphere in Contrasting Reality.

 Now, I will focus on infrastructure, trains, and public transport. For me, trains in the Czech Republic are terrible: they run slowly, are often delayed, not announced, noisy, and the railways themselves are loud. In Germany, trains are at least fast and comfortable, even if not always punctual. Compared to the Benelux, train transport—and transport in general—in the Czech Republic is awful. Anyone familiar with the Benelux would hate Czech infrastructure.

In the Czech Republic, low track speeds are not the exception but the standard, with hundreds of temporary restrictions and poor track geometry. Trains run slowly even where they could technically go faster. Delays are common, often unannounced or announced late/incorrectly. In the Netherlands, every minute is announced accurately, and ticket refunds are issued for problems on the track.

Information systems in the Czech Republic are fragmented and inconsistent. It’s not unusual for staff themselves to know less than the passengers. This leads to a feeling of powerlessness and chaos. This problem is reinforced by the operational culture, where the “it will somehow get there” mentality (not just about trains) and lack of clear responsibility mean that delays accumulate and are not addressed at the source.

Noise. In the Czech Republic, people don’t even realize that such loud railways don’t exist in the Benelux. The same applies to trains. Another significant deficit of Czech railways is acoustic and operational quality. Old rails, corrugated undercarriage assemblies, insufficient noise reduction measures, and often outdated vehicles lead to high noise levels. All this contributes to the perception of railways as “uncomfortable and noisy,” especially compared to the quiet, soundproofed systems in the Benelux.

Public transport in the Netherlands and Belgium is fast (the trains themselves are high-speed), reliable, and regular. Punctuality often exceeds 90% of trains (European above-average), and in exceptional cases, services are temporarily suspended to prevent cascading failures across the network. Modern vehicles with quality soundproofing and interiors, along with smooth rail surfaces, ensure quiet and comfortable travel. Transparent and consistent information systems allow passengers to plan journeys with confidence, even when disruptions or minor delays occur. As with everything in the Benelux, quality is considered a fundamental part of life. In the Czech Republic, almost not at all.

The lag in Czech infrastructure is caused by fragmented infrastructure, insufficiently modernized tracks, and outdated vehicles. Weak transport management: missing central predictive planning and crisis management systems. Or a lack of a culture of responsibility: delays and problems are tolerated instead of systematically eliminated.

Luxembourg also offers free public transport, including trains, buses, and urban transport. This ensures maximum accessibility, reduces car traffic and also emissions, and provides passengers with simple and predictable travel options.

In 2026, Czech railways are still below a critical quality threshold in terms of speed, reliability, comfort, and operational culture. The contrast with the Benelux and within speed in Germany is overwhelming.

The philosophy of infrastructure in the Benelux is clear: it is a public service oriented toward passengers, prioritizing punctuality, comfort, and respect for people. Problems are addressed systematically so they do not disrupt the entire operation, unlike the Czech model, where delays and failures remain tolerated and cumulative.

Problems in Czech transport are not limited to railways. The road network is chronically underdimensioned and overloaded, the condition of surfaces and transport infrastructure is often inadequate, and maintenance is irregular. As with trains, the principle of “it will somehow get there” applies—the system lacks sufficient reserves or predictive management to ensure smooth operation. Vehicle quality is also different in the Benelux.

In contrast to Czech infrastructure, the Benelux represents a model of efficiency, speed, and transport quality, while Czech railways lag not only technically but also operationally and culturally. The difference is evident not only in speed and reliability but also in comfort, information, and the philosophy of the whole system.

This situation affects not only travel time but also safety and comfort. Compared to the Benelux, where infrastructure is systematically planned, well-maintained, and complemented by quality public transport, the Czech approach to infrastructure seems outdated, fragmented, and improvised—just to make it look like something works.