Dutch and Belgian quality requirements will also apply across the border

Dutch martial arts gyms that want to take part in competitions in Belgium must hold the Keurmerk Vechtsportautoriteit (the quality mark of the Dutch Martial Arts Authority) from 2023 onwards. Belgian martial arts gyms that want to take part in events in the Netherlands must be members of the BKBMO. With these measures, the organisations in both countries support each other in safeguarding quality.

For years, the VA has maintained good contacts with both the BKBMO (the Belgian kickboxing, thai boxing and MMA federation) and the Risico Vechtsport Platform (Belgian platform for high-risk martial arts). Knowledge and information are exchanged and there is consultation on measures intended to strengthen martial arts.

The BKBMO has followed the introduction of the Keurmerk Vechtsportautoriteit with interest. The organisation wants to prevent Dutch gyms that do not meet the quality requirements from moving their activities to Belgium. For that reason, holding the quality mark becomes mandatory for Dutch gyms that want to compete in Belgium.

Belgium does not have a comparable quality mark, but safeguards quality through the BKBMO. Gyms in Belgium that want to take part in competitions must be members of this federation. The VA has decided that, from 2023, Belgian gyms will also be required to be members of the BKBMO in order to compete in the Netherlands.

This reciprocal measure prevents both countries from being saddled with gyms that do not meet the quality requirements in their own country.