Dance music and its festivals are a global force with which to be reckoned. While we in the U.S. have some heavy-hitters such as Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas or Miami's Ultra Music Festival, those can't hold a candle to Tomorrowland in Belgium.

What sets Tomorrowland, which took place this past weekend, apart from the rest is its storybook setting and immersive nature. Described as trippy Technicolor fantasies, stages undergo seamless transformations with a well-executed attention to detail. The extravaganza’s location in De Schorre National Park’s rolling, country landscape allows for any number of whimsical themes to unfold, such as this year's "The Story of Planaxis" which is explained in detail in the festival's trailer.

At Tomorrowland, there is an entire world to explore and two consecutive weekends to do it in, but one can’t expect to see it all. There are 20-plus stages, which resemble dragons, castles, and magic mushrooms. While world-renowned DJs are what draw the crowds, underground music heroes often steal the show. Just walking the grounds is an adventure, especially at night when lights, lasers, and fire animate the grounds. But Tomorrowland isn’t just a sight for the eyes, it’s a feast for the ears: A world-class sound system delivers heart-stopping bass to refined highs.

One of Tomorrowland's crowning achievements is the sheer diversity of its attendees. While residents of Belgium get first dibs on tickets, the rest of the crowd is an international set from over 85 countries. Promoters claim that Tomorrowland is one of the most multinational gatherings of all time with more countries represented than at the London Olympics.

Scroll on to see gorgeous images from the fest's first weekend below.