Municipality of The Hague embraces the Keurmerk Vechtsportautoriteit

The municipality of The Hague has decided to pay for the VA quality mark for 20 martial arts gyms in 2021. This underlines how important the city considers it that gyms are assessed for quality.

The Hague is a city with a rich martial arts tradition. At the same time, there were problems between competing gyms, and some events were of questionable quality. As a result, gyms and galas were viewed with a certain amount of distrust.

Because those who do things properly should not suffer for those who do not, the VA (Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit, the Dutch martial arts regulator) has worked to improve the relationship. Together with promoters and gym owners, we need to regain the municipality's confidence. This is now moving in the right direction. The city sees the added value that kickboxing, thai boxing and MMA have for many people. The VA has supported the municipality in developing new policy for martial arts events, as a result of which The Hague is once again open to events in the city. Our Guide to municipal policy on the regulation of martial arts events (Handreiking gemeentelijk beleid regulering vechtsportevenementen) plays an important role in this.

Because all residents of The Hague must be able to train safely, the city has now also decided to cover the costs involved in applying for the Keurmerk Vechtsportautoriteit (VA quality mark) for twenty gyms. This allows the martial arts gyms to demonstrate that they meet the requirements regarding facilities and equipment, health, sports technical staff, house rules and standards of conduct, and the approach to inappropriate behaviour. It also gives the city a clear picture of which gyms are performing well and which are falling short.

During the application process, the municipality of The Hague is supported by the Nederlands Instituut voor Vechtsport en Maatschappij (NIVM, Dutch Institute for Martial Arts and Society). This support programme will also continue in 2022.