Organise a
congress

Expertise for your congress

A congress is one of the most powerful tools your organization can use to share knowledge, deliver your message, and open new doors. It requires time, budget, and attention, and naturally, you want your congress to be a success. That’s where we come in. With over 100 years of experience in hosting and organizing trade shows and congresses, we know what works, and what doesn’t. Together, we’ll explore the best possibilities tailored to your goals and audience.

Why organise a congress at Jaarbeurs?

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Central location

Jaarbeurs is located right next to Utrecht Central Station. From Schiphol Airport, it’s just a 30-minute train ride. Guests can also arrive by car, with over 3,000 parking spaces available.

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Award-winning venue

Our reputation speaks for itself. We could tell you how good we are, but it’s more powerful when others do. For two consecutive years, Jaarbeurs has been voted the Best Conference Venue in the Netherlands by the public.

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Committed to sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We lead with sustainable initiatives, minimize waste streams, and approach catering with a green mindset.

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Experience and expertise

With over a century of experience, we know how to make a congress successful. We can also connect you with trusted partners in the industry to ensure your event runs smoothly.

Discover the stories behind our events

Discover what Jaarbeurs can do for you

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Kelly van der Velden

Account manager

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Kelly

5 tips for organising a successful congress

For centuries, people have come together to share knowledge, gain new insights, and build connections. Congresses are a great example of this. They bring ideas to life and drive change. But how do you organize a successful congress? With these tips, your congress is set up for success:

It sounds logical, yet it is often still forgotten: a clear goal. Incredibly important, because this is the basis of a successful congress. What do you want to achieve with the congress? Share knowledge, network, inspire? Moreover, know for whom you are holding the congress. To do so, map out the target group and ask yourself what their needs are.

A remote conference venue may sound good for a 'heath day', but it is often less ideal if you want to arrive by public transport. Are you organising a conference with people from all over the country? Then an accessible event location is essential. Jaarbeurs, for example, is next to the railway station and we have 3000 parking spaces. There are also many hotels nearby, so it is also perfect for international conferences.

Congresses quickly acquire the status of 'boring'. Or long-winded. Especially when knowledge sharing is a goal. But fortunately, there are easy tricks you can apply. By adding interaction, for example. Or workshop. A surprising buffet, an impressive speaker or a performance by a well-known dance group. Do not forget to take sufficient breaks and take your time. This way your participants can catch their breath, stretch their legs or make phone calls.

Love goes through the stomach, doesn't it? So good catering is essential. Food contributes much more to the experience than you think. You can do more with it than you think. For instance, you can continue the theme in the dishes, tell why you choose something (think sustainable choices) or amaze people with what is on the plate.

Nothing more annoying than a missing presentation or a microphone that doesn't work. Or when you're in a packed room but can't see the speaker. All things you as an organisation should have known in advance. At Jaarbeurs, you know you're in the right place. Our conference rooms are plug & play - all you have to do is plug in and everything works. Moreover, we can advise you on the right set-up for different sessions.