Arriving in Tilburg on September 17th, the excitement around Poppodium 013 venue was impossible to miss. The queue wrapped itself around nearby buildings, as fans were buzzing with anticipation to finally see the South Korean singer Wonho return to the Netherlands after five years.
The venue was divided into sections with barricades for the different tiers people could buy tickets in. Some fans were getting an upgrade as the balcony of the venue was closed off.
The lights dimmed and Wonho started the first set, Awakening, with the song ‘Better Than Me’ which was released in June of this year. He told the crowd that the song was about self confidence and self love. He stated “No one can love me as well as I can” and added “There’s no one that treats WENEEs better than I do, right?” using the nickname for his fans.
The songs ‘With You’, ‘Eye on You’, ‘Blue’, ‘Best Shot’ and ‘Devil’ followed, each number building the energy higher. Between songs he greeted the audience warmly: “This is my first time coming back to the Netherlands in five years. Did you miss me a lot?” When the cheers weren’t loud enough for his liking, he teased, “It doesn’t sound like it. I’ll ask it one more time,” which sent the venue into a roar.
During a quick drink break, Wonho shared stories of his stay: running through Tilburg’s gorgeous rain-soaked streets, enjoying pizza, and even discovering he liked the thicker french fries with a special Dutch sauce. He laughed when the crowd shouted a collective “NO” to his question about liking running.
A video ushered in set two: Between Dreams. Seated on a barstool, Wonho began with ‘Stranger’, with the crowd waving phone flashlights and the few available light sticks in the air. The dreamy vibe continued through ‘Losing You’ and ‘Close’, before dancers returned for ‘Ain’t About You’. The audience jumped and shouted through ‘24/7’, matching his energy. “Stay Awake expresses how much I missed you guys,” he explained of the tour title, recalling the period when he couldn’t perform but always thought about returning to the stage.
Another short video led into the final set, All For You, and Wonho switched into a new outfit consisting of leather pants and no jacket for ‘MALA’, a song he performed for the first time on this tour. ‘Down’ and ‘What Would You Do’, released in November 2024, followed, each drawing loud cheers. He asked the crowd whether they preferred “sexy onstage Wonho or offstage cutie Wonho,” breaking into a playful pose when “cutie” won. ‘Lose’ and the fan favorite ‘Open Mind’ closed the set in a shower of confetti.
Before the encore, a pre-recorded video appeared on the big screen showing Wonho relaxing backstage and catching his breath. When he returned to the stage, he launched into ‘Somebody’, with his dancers splashing the crowd with water during the chorus. Next came ‘Down’, after which he asked fans to shout out their favorite songs. Grinning, he teased a few lines of ‘Soda Pop’ and ‘Golden’ before laughing, “It’s a bit awkward for me to do someone else’s songs at my concert. Should I play ‘MALA’ again?” The crowd roared as he delivered ‘MALA’ once more. Afterward he posed for photos with the audience, and a dancer dabbed the sweat from his abs, sending everyone into cheers, before he closed the night with a powerful performance of ‘Flash’.
Throughout the show, Wonho’s connection to the audience never wavered. “I’ve really missed the energy in the Netherlands, but you exceeded my expectations,” he said, thanking fans who traveled from all over the country. After photos and a final bow with his dancers, he waved goodbye with a heartfelt Dutch: “Ik hou van jullie” and “Tot ziens,” a perfect end to a night Tilburg won’t forget.
