23 June 2026· Last updated June 2026
What does a band cost for a Christmas office party in the Netherlands? Indicative prices, band vs DJ vs DJ with saxophonist, booking timing, and the acts Lupa actually sends.
How do you book a band for a Christmas office party?
**Short answer:** A live band for a Christmas office party (kerstborrel) in the Netherlands costs an indicative €1,800 to €3,200 for a four-piece, and €2,500 to €6,000 for a full five to six piece party band. These are indicative market ranges for the Netherlands and Belgium. Lupa quotes every event individually. Lupa's own four-piece party band starts at €3,000 including sound and light, a DJ with live saxophonist runs €1,200 to €2,500, and a jazz trio for a relaxed borrel starts at €1,400. The single most important rule: book by late September, because December is the busiest live-music month of the year and the best acts go first.
By Noam Bargil, founder of Lupa Entertainment and bandleader of Benga Band Amsterdam.
December is the one month where every good band in the country is booked out, often months ahead. We have played company Christmas parties since 2018, for couples and for clients like Heineken, Microsoft, and Booking.com, and the pattern never changes: the offices that lock their music in September get the act they want, and the ones that call in November take whatever is left. This guide covers what a kerstborrel band costs, when band beats DJ, how long they should play, and the acts we actually send.
How much does a band cost for a Christmas party?
A four-piece live band for a kerstborrel costs an indicative €1,800 to €3,200, a five to six piece party band €2,500 to €6,000, and a DJ €600 to €1,500. Lupa's real starting prices sit inside these ranges with sound and light included from the four-piece up.
| Option | Players | Indicative market range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJ | 1 | €600 to €1,500 | A late-night dance floor on a tight budget |
| Jazz trio | 3 to 4 | from €1,400 | A classy, conversation-friendly borrel |
| DJ with live saxophonist | 2 | €1,200 to €2,500 | Club energy with a live focal point |
| Four-piece party band | 4 | from €3,000 (sound and light included) | A real live show for 50 to 150 guests |
| Five to six piece band | 5 to 6 | €2,500 to €6,000 | A full dance floor for a larger company party |
The four-piece band, jazz trio, and DJ figures marked "from" are Lupa's real starting prices. The bracketed ranges are indicative market ranges for the Netherlands and Belgium, because the final number depends on date, location, set length, and travel. December dates sit at the top of every range, simply because demand peaks. For the full corporate cost breakdown, see our live music corporate event cost guide.
Band, DJ, or DJ with saxophonist: what fits a kerstborrel?
It depends on the room and the moment. A jazz trio suits a seated dinner and a relaxed drinks reception, a DJ with a live saxophonist suits a younger crowd that wants club energy, and a full party band suits a company that wants a real show and a packed dance floor by ten.
For most office Christmas parties of 60 to 150 people, the sweet spot is a four-piece party band that also covers the borrel with a stripped-back set, then lifts the room when the dancing starts. Benga Band, our flagship party band, does exactly this: festival-level players who open relaxed and end with the floor full.
| | Jazz trio | DJ with saxophonist | Party band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Relaxed, refined | Club energy, modern | Live show, high energy |
| Best moment | Dinner and drinks | Late night | All evening into the dance floor |
| Indicative cost | from €1,400 | €1,200 to €2,500 | from €3,000 |
| Covers dinner | Yes | No | Yes, with a lighter set |
For the wider comparison, read how to choose music for a company party.
When should you book a band for December?
Book by late September for any date in December, and earlier for the second and third weekends, which sell out first. December is the single busiest month for live music in the Netherlands, and the strongest party bands and DJs are gone weeks ahead of the popular Friday and Saturday slots.
If your date is flexible, a Thursday or a weeknight in early December is far easier to book and often better value than a mid-month Saturday. Once the date and venue are fixed, lock the act before anything else on the entertainment list.
How long should the band play at an office party?
A party band typically plays two or three sets of 45 minutes across the evening, with DJ or playlist music in between to keep the room moving. For a four-hour kerstborrel, two live sets plus DJ fill-in is the standard, reliable format.
A jazz trio for a borrel and dinner usually plays background sets across two to three hours. Confirm the total performance time, the number of sets, and what happens during the breaks at the quote stage, never on the night.
What does the price include?
Lupa's four-piece band price from €3,000 includes the musicians, sound, and light, which is the line most agencies quietly leave out. Each additional musician beyond the four-piece adds €500. Travel within the Netherlands is usually included; a venue far from Amsterdam or a destination event is quoted separately.
Always confirm three things in writing: whether sound and light are included, whether travel and any overnight stay are covered, and the exact performance time. A cheap headline price that excludes production often ends up more expensive than an all-in quote.
Common mistakes when booking kerstborrel music
The Lupa acts we recommend for a Christmas party
Each act suits a different kind of room. For a kerstborrel we send most often:
Hear the full roster with live video on the artists page, and read our festival acts for corporate events guide for the larger-scale options.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a band cost for a Christmas office party?
An indicative €1,800 to €3,200 for a four-piece and €2,500 to €6,000 for a five to six piece party band in the Netherlands and Belgium. Lupa's four-piece starts at €3,000 including sound and light, a DJ with saxophonist runs €1,200 to €2,500, and a jazz trio starts at €1,400.
How do I book a band for a kerstborrel?
Tell an agency your date, venue, guest count, and the vibe you want, then ask for live video and a written all-in quote. Lupa replies within 12 hours with two or three acts that fit. Book by late September for a December date.
When should I book for December?
By late September for any December date, and earlier for the second and third weekends, which sell out first. December is the busiest live-music month of the year, so the best acts go weeks ahead.
Band or DJ for a company Christmas party?
A band for a real live show and a packed dance floor, a DJ for a late-night party on a tighter budget. A DJ with a live saxophonist (€1,200 to €2,500) is the popular middle ground: club energy with a live focal point.
How long does a band play at an office party?
Usually two or three 45-minute sets across the evening, with DJ or playlist music in between. For a four-hour kerstborrel, two live sets plus DJ fill-in is the standard format.
Is sound and light included in the price?
With Lupa, yes, from the four-piece band up. Many agencies quote production separately, so always confirm in writing whether sound, light, and travel are included before comparing prices.
What size band do I need for a large company party?
A four-piece fills a room of 50 to 150 guests. For a 200-plus company party, a five or six piece carries the dance floor better; each musician beyond the four-piece adds €500.
Next step
Tell us your date, venue, guest count, and the vibe you want, and we will send two or three acts that fit, with live video and a transparent all-in quote. We reply within 12 hours.
Request a Christmas party shortlist or browse the full Lupa roster.
Related reading
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