Netherlands-based rockers THE GATHERING have issued the following update from Hans Rutten:

"Wow! We had such a great time this weekend with the two Dutch gigs we played in Zoetermeer and Den Bosch! Both gigs were really amazing and the response of the crowd was overwhelming! Thank you and thank you again!

This weekend was a real energy boost! It was very nice to see old friends coming by and make new ones. We are looking forward to playing this weekend in Dordrecht and Haarlem, and of course the European tour.

Btw, we rehearsed a couple of times with Hugo and he is doing a splendid job! It feels very natural to have him back in our rehearsal room, even after 6 years!

Something else: we started a new Facebook account. Click here. and join us!

Cheers! And now back to my hairdresser to do some implantation (see the Twitter. account of Silje for more details about this)."

The Gathering recently recently announced the first dates for their upcoming The West Pole/20th Anniversary European tour.

The following update comes from Hans:

"We are happy to announce the fact that AUTUMN from The Netherlands will be our special guest during the European tour in January/February 2010.

For more details about the band, such as music, video and pictures, go to the Autumn homepage. Autumn released a new album this year, called Altitude.

We think that Autumn is similar to The Gathering in many ways. Both released a new album this year, have a new singer, and have the urge to explore their musical horizons.

The European tour with Autumn will start in Krefeld and ends in Paris. We are looking forward to share the stage and nightliner with them!"

Dates include:

January

22 Krefeld, Germany - Kulturfabrik

23 Erfurt, Germany - venue tba

24 Berlin, Germany - Columbia Club

26 Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage

27 Nurnburg , Germany - Hirsch

28 Prague, Czech REpublic - Abaton

29 Poland - tba

30 Bratislava, Slovakia - Randal

31 Budapest, Hungary - Diesel

February

1 Zagreb, Hungary - Mochvara

2 Milan, Italy - Zoe

4 Barcelona, Spain - Salamandra 1

5 Alicante, Spain - Nave 8

6 Granada, Spain - El Tren

7 Madrid, Spain - Heineken

9 Lyon, France - Ninkasi Kaowed

10 Pratteln, SWitzerland - Z7

11 Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos Saal

13 Lille, France - Le Splendid

14 Paris, France - venue TBA

27 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Block 33 Club
28 - Athens, Greece - Gagarin 205 Club