If you're going to have a Goth festival, what better place to host it than Utrecht, with it's fabulous Gothic (half-destroyed) cathedral. The city is host each year to the Summer Darkness festival, which sees visitors from all over Europe and elsewhere converging to enjoy music, art, fashion and more, all with a distinctly dark underground vibe.

Music covers a wide range of bases, including: New-wave, ambient, electro, medieval, neo-folk, EBM, darkwave, synthpop, futurepop, neo-classical, industrial, noise and now also dubstep and witchhouse. There are live performances by a huge number of artists, including Nitzer Ebb, Killing Joke, Freakangel, The Neon Judgement, and VNV Nation.

Opening night will feature a Bal Du Masque, while the rest of the weekend will include a market in the Domplein, full of clothing, hair accessories, makeup, records, and other ephemera. The Domplein is also the site of numerous fashion shows, and generally a great place to see and be seen. Photographers can find a number of willing models, with the cathedral gardens serving as an ideal backdrop.

Summer Darkness runs July 29-31. Tickets, including full-day passes, and prices are available on the official website (in English), along with the full schedule of events, as well as tips on accommodation and access.