Guidelines for municipal policy updated

The Vechtsportautoriteit (VA, the Dutch Combat Sports Authority) has updated its Guidelines for municipal policy on combat sports events (Handreiking gemeentelijk beleid vechtsportevenementen). The document gives both municipalities and promoters a clear framework for organising combat sports events. Dozens of municipalities have by now included the conditions proposed by the VA in their local policy.

The VA drew up the Guidelines for municipal policy on combat sports events in 2017. They set out the criteria an event must meet in order to run safely and successfully. The document was written in consultation with promoters, combat sports organisations and experienced municipal officials responsible for sport and public order.

Almost ten years later, virtually every municipality that deals with combat sports events refers to these guidelines in its local policy. As a result, officials who have to assess permit applications know under which conditions a good event can take place. Promoters who organise the events know what municipalities expect of them. This clarity helps both the sports sector and the municipalities. Each year, some 200 events are organised within this policy framework. The VA maintains structural contact with the municipalities where events take place regularly and acts as a point of contact for public authorities with questions about combat sports.

A lot has happened in the combat sports sector in recent years. The Nederlandse Vechtsportbond (NVB, the Dutch combat sports federation) was founded, for example, and this organisation has been given a central role in combat sports. This meant that agreements had to be made about a new division of tasks between the VA and the NVB. Because the sport, as well as society and government, does not stand still, it was time to update the guidelines. The new version of the document is now available online (in Dutch).

Questions about the guidelines or our policy? Feel free to send them to info@vechtsportautoriteit.nl