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Dutch music venues expand off-site programming
May27
Music venues in the Netherlands are increasingly programming concerts and events outside their own buildings, according to new data published by VNPF, the Dutch trade association representing pop venues and festivals.
The study analyzed activity data from 58 of the association’s 72 affiliated music venues across 2023, 2024 and 2025, showing that venues collectively organized 21,285 audience-facing activities in 2025.
According to the report, the total number of activities increased by 2% compared to 2023 and by 4% year-on-year versus 2024. While concerts held within venues’ own premises rose by 4% over the three-year period and club nights declined by 3%, the most significant growth came from music activities staged outside venues’ own buildings, which increased by 31%.
In 2025, music programming accounted for nearly two-thirds of all activities organized by the venues surveyed. Concerts in venues’ own buildings represented 39% of all activities, while club nights accounted for 14%. More than 10% of all activities took place at external locations, primarily concerts.
VNPF said the increase in off-site programming was partly linked to three venues temporarily operating from alternative locations during renovation or construction projects. However, the majority of venues also reported higher levels of external programming compared with two years earlier.
The association noted that venues are increasingly organizing events in schools, churches, museums, community centers and public spaces such as parks and city squares. According to the report, venues see these activities as contributing not only to cultural programming, but also to broader municipal and social objectives including talent development, youth engagement, social cohesion, city marketing, accessibility and regional livability.
The report also highlighted the continuing diversification of venue operations beyond live music activity. Non-music public programming, including cinema, theatre and debate events, accounted for 19% of activities in 2025, while private activities such as educational use and corporate rentals represented 17% of the total.
Across the 2023–2025 period, non-music public activities increased by 1%, while private activities rose by 2%, according to the study.
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