The Quality Mark for Remarkable Event Venues
If you’re looking for an event venue that stands out for its authenticity and professionalism, you’ll book a location affiliated with the Dutch Venue Association. This trade association, with its recognized quality mark, offers event and meeting organizers the ‘7 Guarantees.’ A reassuring choice! It ensures you’ll end up at one of the best event venues in the Netherlands to make your event a grand success.
From 'Sjors & Sjimmie Club' to Recognized Quality Mark
About 25 years ago, the foundation was laid for the trade association now known as the Dutch Venue Association (DVA). A group of directors and owners of major event venues was having a beer at the ‘Event’ trade show, then held at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht. The idea arose to sit together and discuss the event industry.
“This group jokingly called themselves the ‘Sjors & Sjimmie Club,’” says Anne-Mieke van den Hoeven, chairperson of the Dutch Venue Association. “The club consisted of young entrepreneurs, all of whom were hands-on owners of remarkable event venues. They met a few times a year to share experiences.” Over time, the group took on a more professional structure, eventually adopting the new name Locatieplatform (Venue Platform). As the market evolved and more large event venues joined, the question arose: ‘What should venues meet as a minimum standard?’ In 2017, Locatieplatform became an officially certified trade association, adopting the name Dutch Venue Association, along with its recognized quality mark.
The '7 Guarantees' of the Dutch Venue Association
As a trade association, the Dutch Venue Association awards a quality mark to outstanding event venues. Anne-Mieke explains, “This quality mark gives meeting and event organizers the confidence that they’re booking a venue where everything is perfectly arranged down to the last detail. Locations don’t just receive the certification. When a venue wishes to join the Dutch Venue Association, it is thoroughly assessed based on the ‘7 Guarantees.’ These include legislation, staffing & organization, social responsibility, and financial health. These critical themes provide event organizers with the certainty they need.”
The requirements that DVA locations must meet may sound almost self-evident. Anne-Mieke responds: “Having legislation and regulations in order, sustainable operations, and adhering to safety rules may indeed sound obvious, but it certainly isn’t. Large events involve completely different occupational health and safety regulations compared to, for example, meetings. They’re often massive, with many people, complex situations, and increasing levels of technology and spectacle. It’s not just about setting up 100 chairs and a projector. Everything is bigger and more complex, and sharp regulations are part of that. The affiliated event venues have all of this in order, which is why they receive our quality mark: ‘Certified by DVA.’”
Affiliated Event Organizations
The venues affiliated with the Dutch Venue Association are not just any names. They are large, striking, and all unique in their own way. Think of DeFabrique, Claus Events, Kasteel De Hooge Vuursche, Oceandiva, and Mariënhof Amersfoort—founding members of the association. These are just a few examples of the over 60 affiliated venues.
“We have traditionally been an internally-focused trade association. A valuable network of venues where colleagues collaborate to maintain or improve the professional standards of event venues. By sharing knowledge and expertise, members can continuously optimize their business presentation. Meanwhile, we’ve become a vital asset to the industry, strengthening the affiliated venues. It’s wonderful to see how our venues collaborate. When one doesn’t have availability, clients are referred to another affiliated venue that offers the same seven guarantees. In this way, the Dutch Venue Association’s quality mark sets a clear standard in the event venue market,” Anne-Mieke explains. “And we’re proud of that!”