20 years of Evenementenhal Gorinchem: 4 million visitors and 3,000 events later
Twenty years ago, businessman Hennie van der Most transformed the former distribution center of computer manufacturer Compaq in Gorinchem into an event hall. Since then, an impressive 4 million people have visited Evenementenhal Gorinchem, and 3,000 events have been organized there. Since 2016, the venue has been owned by Easyfairs, which ranks among the top 20 exhibition and event organizers worldwide.
“A lot has happened over the past 20 years,” says Maurice Schlepers on behalf of Evenementenhal Gorinchem. Schlepers is the operational head of Easyfairs’ event locations in the Netherlands, including Evenementenhal Hardenberg in Overijssel. “We host an average of half a million visitors annually, spread over about 200 events. This includes events we organize ourselves, such as major trade fairs like Empack, Rundvee & Mechanisatie Vakdagen, and Maritime Industry. Additionally, we facilitate events on behalf of external organizations, such as the Nationale Sportvakbeurs, Van Aerle Snuffelmarkt, and Keep Them Rolling.”
Schlepers has been involved with Evenementenhal Gorinchem since its inception in 2004. “Both Van der Most and Easyfairs have invested enormously. The largest renovation was in 2018 and 2019, when we built Next Level, our upper floor. This expansion added 6,400 square meters of extra exhibition and conference space, bringing the total area of Evenementenhal Gorinchem to 22,000 square meters. The venue now includes 2 exhibition halls, 3 conference rooms, 2 halls, 2,200 parking spaces, and an indoor garden. With Next Level, we have become a multifunctional event location, suitable not only for trade fairs but also for conferences, gala shows, parties, award shows, networking events, and more.”
Investing in sustainability
Sustainability plays a crucial role in every renovation, says Schlepers. In 2023, the entire roof of Evenementenhal Gorinchem was fitted with 4,800 solar panels, and the sanitary facilities in Next Level feature waterless urinals, saving thousands of liters of precious drinking water each year. The most recent renovation was last year when the entrance was completely revamped.
“We have been ahead of the curve in the event industry for years. Since 2004, we have used modular stand construction and reused our carpeting, while other venues often opt for single-use or are only now making this switch. Our location also features multiple charging stations connected to our solar panel system. We aim to expand our charging capacity to a station with dozens of charging points. Additionally, we now use LED lighting and digital signage, making traditional banners and posters almost unnecessary.”
Growth in events in Gorinchem
2023 was a record year for Evenementenhal Gorinchem, with more than 300,000 visitors and 225 events. “Compared to 10 years ago, this is a significant increase. With the addition of Next Level, we can host multiple events simultaneously. We often run large trade fairs in the ground floor exhibition hall while hosting smaller events in Next Level.”
As a result, the number of events has surged. Several new events are scheduled for Evenementenhal Gorinchem in the coming period, such as the Chemiebeurs in September, the Nationale Franchisebeurs in October, Texodata in June 2025, and the pet trade fair Dibevo returning after a 10-year absence in September 2025. Additionally, the Dental Expo will move from RAI Amsterdam to Gorinchem in 2026.
Since 2016, Evenementenhal Gorinchem has been owned by Easyfairs, a global event organizer and owner of event locations in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. The vision of this rapidly growing organization is to be accessible to everyone: not just the market leaders but also small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should be able to organize or participate in a trade fair.
A total of 820 people work at Easyfairs internationally, including 140 in Gorinchem. “And during fairs, we can add another 100, 200, or even 300 temporary workers. We are not done growing yet. We currently have several open vacancies and expect further growth in the number of events and visitors in the coming years. The future holds much promise; here’s to the next 20 years,” concludes Schlepers proudly.
