Organization
The VA newsletter now appears quarterly rather than monthly, and this is what you will find in the Summer 2026 edition: Congress on combat sports and municipalities, ‘Look each other in the eye’; the VA helps Almere; Queen Máxima visits a kickboxing class; social safety, combat sport on the right track but one thing could be better; the VA advises extending the NVB’s candidate status; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up on the homepage of this site and receive our newsletter every quarter from now on.
This time in the monthly newsletter: come to our congress; fighting abroad; help us record the history of combat sport; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every quarter from now on.
This time in the monthly newsletter: annual report 2025; meet the Medical and Health Committee; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
(pdf). Read all about what the VA did in 2025 in the annual report.
This time in the monthly newsletter: a new chair of the supervisory board; a senior civil servant looks behind the scenes; cooperation with the police as the theme of the audit team meeting; keep the Youth Sport & Culture Fund in mind; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
This time in the monthly newsletter: fifty years of kickboxing in the Netherlands. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
This time in the monthly newsletter: the VA at the Utrecht safety region; personal contact of confidence, what does that mean in practice; research into mental health complaints among competitive fighters; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
This time in the monthly newsletter: congress on combat sport and municipalities; the secretary of state brought up to date; the VA shares its interim assessment of the NVB with NOC*NSF; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
This time in the monthly newsletter: 50 years of Mejiro Gym; the Sports Council on brain damage in sport; kickboxing as psychomotor therapy; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
This time in the monthly newsletter: ‘It made me the richest trainer in the world’; unregulated fights; combat sports entrepreneur, make yourself heard; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
This time in the monthly newsletter: the VA and the NVB, this is who does what; visitor conditions help promoters; becoming a ringside doctor; a new advisory committee for the VA; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
Combat sports events should be pleasant and safe for everyone. The visitor conditions for combat sports events were drawn up to ensure this. Concise versions are available in Dutch and in English .
In this edition: the Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark transferred to the NVB on 1 July; exchange visit by a Flemish delegation, the aim is to strengthen each other. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
In this edition: municipalities, promoters, Bibob and the VA; Girls Only, hype or necessity; quality mark withdrawn; VAT increase scrapped; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
This month: internship vacancy for higher education students; Jorina Baars challenged; Samen Sterk meeting on inclusion in sport; VA workshops at Saxion University of Applied Sciences; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
The VA organises disciplinary law for kickboxing, Thai boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) in the Netherlands.
Read all about what the Netherlands Combat Sports Authority did in 2024 in the annual report.
This month: in memoriam Marcel Scholtes; annual report 2024; new faces at the office; inclusion as an opportunity; NVB vacancy; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
In this first edition of the new year: the VA returns to its core in 2025; 50 years of kickboxing in the Netherlands; fasting and sport; the audit team wants to professionalise further; Dutch-Flemish consultation; The Hague combat sports day, a fine young tradition; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
Municipalities play an important role in safeguarding the quality of events. They too have a responsibility for the safety and health of participants and visitors. What they can do, and how they can call on the VA in doing so, is set out in the guide to municipal policy on regulating combat sports events.
In this final edition of the year: safety audits of events; a framework for bouts with head contact from the age of 16; inclusion in the gym; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
A matchmaker who wishes to put together bouts in the Netherlands under the auspices of a combat sports federation must apply for a matchmaker licence with a convention partner of the VA.
Matchmakers who wish to be active in the Netherlands must hold a matchmaker licence.
A promoter or organiser who wishes to organise combat sports events in the Netherlands under the auspices of a combat sports federation must apply for a promoter licence with one of the convention partners of the VA.
Promoters who wish to organise combat sports events in the Netherlands must hold a promoter licence.
To make youth tournaments run more smoothly, the VA and the Technical Committee tightened the requirements as of 1 May 2023.
At the request of the combat sports sector and municipalities, safety experts drew up a ‘safety plan template’ under the direction of the VA. Among other things, it should reduce the risk of events being disrupted by visitors who misbehave. Promoters are expected to use the template and the accompanying guide when preparing combat sports events.
This time: the NVB takes over the Fightpassport system from the VA; our combat sports gym is for everyone; meet Jelle Pieper; MMA rule changes; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
In this edition: awkward contact with your municipality, perhaps the VA can help; cooperation between municipalities and the combat sports sector can achieve a great deal; 25,000 Fightpassport registrations; registration of bouts abroad; and much more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
In this edition: a delegation from the ministry, local government and sports organisations visits a kickboxing gala; visiting the Paralympic Games was inspiring, for combat sport too; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
This time among other things: the VA sees room for head contact for top talents from 2025; how the disciplinary committee works in practice; the quality mark helps the sector maintain its level. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
In this edition: ringside doctor in combat sport, is that something for you; internship vacancy at the VA office; how to slow down the ageing process as a combat athlete; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month.
In this edition: the VA is looking for auditors; behind the scenes at the NVB; action against the VAT increase on sport; staying fit in summer; intern wanted; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
This time: the Netherlands Combat Sports Federation joins NOC*NSF; concerns in the sports sector about government plans; internship vacancy at the VA office; gym quality mark withdrawn after misconduct around a bout; Glory suspends Ben Saddik after commotion in the ring; Martial Arts exhibition at the Wereldmuseum Amsterdam; and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
In this edition of our newsletter: ministry leadership digs deeper into combat sport; further training for ringside doctors; vacancies on the audit team and at the VA office; food supplements, necessity or nonsense; would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
In this edition of our newsletter: introduction of the competition licence; VA annual report; openness needed about eating disorders in elite sport; NVB website live; and much more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
(pdf) All the VA’s activities are described in the 2023 annual report.
This time among other things: the NVB’s ambitions require a strong organisation; the VA number becomes the NVB competition licence; the VA evaluates ‘no head contact until 18’; the Centre for Safe Sport is there for officials too. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
In this edition among other things: youth matchmaking rules tightened; the Youth Fund and Warrior Code remove barriers; recovery as an opportunity; dashboard 2023. Read this and more in our newsletter and sign up straight away, and the month’s news will land free on your digital doormat.
The VA works towards a healthy, safe and well-organised combat sport. You notice that when you attend events or visit a gym. But most of the work takes place out of sight. The VA dashboard gives you the most important key figures about the VA at a glance.
From 1 January 2024 the Netherlands has a single combat sports federation , but promoters and quality mark holders will continue to work in the familiar way for the time being. The VA said goodbye to Peter Kwint and Jan Loorbach. You can read this and more in the last newsletter of 2023.
Read all about the founding of the Netherlands Combat Sports Federation, including reactions from prominent figures such as Rico Verhoeven and Thom Harinck.
In the run-up to the parliamentary elections, sporting Netherlands is making a joint appeal to the political parties: pay more attention to sport. Rico Verhoeven represents combat sport in this campaign. The VA was a guest at an events consultation of the police regional unit The Hague. Nutrition expert Samefko Ludidi gives athletes who want to reach the top an important tip: learn to cook. You can read this and more in the October newsletter. Subscribe straight away so that you receive the latest news every month.
Board members are being sought for the new combat sports federation now being set up. Bonjasky and Holzken support a single federation. Research is being carried out into elite sport culture, including in combat sport. Read this and more in our newsletter and sign up straight away, and the month’s news will land free on your digital doormat.
A single federation: what does it mean for you? Meet Dr Samefko Ludidi. Better insured together thanks to a single federation. Read this and more in our newsletter and sign up straight away, and the month’s news will land free on your digital doormat.
The VA has a vacancy, one of the convention partners has terminated the 2023 convention with immediate consequences for promoters and matchmakers, a presentation was given at the Haaglanden safety region, a medical examination for some competitive fighters is being prepared with sports physicians, and we have more to report. Read our newsletter and sign up straight away, and the month’s news will land free on your digital doormat
There is a great deal of attention for safety at events: what does that look like in practice? The VA welcomes a new member to the supervisory board. Farid Gamei explains on Fight Inside what the new combat sports federation will do. You can read this and much more in our June newsletter.
Kickboxers and former kickboxers from classes A and B are being called on by colleagues to take part in a new study by Amsterdam UMC. We look back on the first two years of the Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark. Weight cutting: what are the risks of extreme weight-loss methods, and is there another way? You can read this and more in the latest edition of the VA newsletter.
What will that single federation mean for the athlete? Youth tournament rules tightened. Abusive behaviour: there is a listening ear. You can read this and more in the latest edition of the VA newsletter.
Alderman Mbarki sees another side of kickboxing; doping poisons combat sport; safety at events is everyone’s responsibility; CBD oil, CBN oil and sport, how does that work; gym owner, promoter, make yourself heard; free online courses, recognising sexual harassment and other abusive behaviour
Programme director Jan Willem Landré explains his task; Dr Pijnenburg wants more attention for weight cutting; the 2022 annual report has been published; meet Lina-Elise Berger. You will find this and more in the latest edition of the VA newsletter.
(pdf) All the VA’s activities are described in the 2022 annual report.
(pdf) The most important figures about the VA’s work, about the organisation and about combat sport in the Netherlands.
Read all about the latest developments towards a single strong combat sports organisation.
Minister Helder gets to know the combat sports sector; combat sports centre Wout Kist receives the 400th Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark; more attention for safety at events in 2023. You can read this and more in our monthly newsletter.
Knowledge day for ringside doctors an important step in professionalisation; double congratulations at Ringer Sportplaza in Dordrecht; programme director wanted for the combat sports sector. You can read this and more in our monthly newsletter.
The vast majority of gyms that take part in competitions hold the Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark or will receive it shortly. Sports umbrella body NOC*NSF is looking for a programme director for the combat sports sector. Dutch gyms that want to take part in bouts in Belgium must hold the Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark from 2023. You can read this and more in our monthly newsletter.
Marc Merx has joined the supervisory board of the Combat Sports Authority . The members of the new disciplinary committee have been appointed. The VA is organising a meeting for ringside doctors. This and much more is in our monthly newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
The supervisory board of the Combat Sports Authority has a new chair: Jan Rijpstra. Support for the agreements in the combat sports sector appears to be broad, research shows. Peter Kwint is stepping down as a board member of the VA, but is not leaving. We have a vacancy, we are pleased to introduce Stefan Berkenpas, and there is much more in our monthly newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Sexual harassment, abuse and other abusive behaviour unfortunately also occur in the world of sport, including combat sport. The VA wants to do everything it can to combat this problem and to guide those involved towards the right support. We wrote a handbook on tackling abusive behaviour, in which athletes, parents, trainers, gym owners, officials and others will find information on preventing and dealing with unacceptable behaviour.
Combat sport is taking on unhealthy weight cuts. A disciplinary committee for combat sport has been set up. And rules have been laid down for youth MMA bouts. Read all this and much more in the latest edition of our newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Ahead of the new combat sports season, the VA board draws attention to a number of important matters.
From 1 September 2022, young people from the age of 12 may compete in mixed martial arts bouts. The Netherlands Combat Sports Authority developed a youth regulation for this together with experts.
Master’s thesis in Sports Policy and Sports Management by Julian Huijsse, Utrecht University. He examined the legitimacy of the current organisational form of full-contact combat sport, and the possible organisational forms in the next phase. An explanation can be found here .
‘A single federation is above all in the interest of the athletes,’ says VA chair Herbert Dekkers. The doping controls are in full swing. Ellen Bruins explains why the matchmaker licence is needed. Members are being sought for the VA disciplinary committee and audit team. Read all this and much more in the latest edition of our newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
A kickboxer as the new ambassador of Be Proud; the conversation about the future of combat sport is alive in the sector; vacancy at the VA office; and more. Read it all in the latest edition of our newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
An interview with VA chair Herbert Dekkers on the theme of safety; the 150th quality mark has been presented; match fixing, would you recognise it; a vacancy at the VA office; and more. Read it all in the latest edition of our newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Annual report 2021, the year of the long haul; survey for combat sports entrepreneurs, make yourself heard; statement following the disturbances around Glory in Hasselt; and more. Read it all in the latest edition of our newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
What did the VA do in 2021? Read it in the annual report.
An alderman screws the quality mark to the wall himself, a national combat sports centre is on its way, the first group of experienced kickboxing instructors completes the accelerated course, the OMVON is open to everyone, and more. Read it all in the latest edition of our newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Fighting doping: why does it matter? There is a vacancy on the VA board. A Covid update with good news arrived this month. Read all about this and more in the latest edition of our newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Intern Sam Soede carried out market research among gym owners on behalf of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and the VA office, following the recently launched Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark and the consequences of the COVID-19 situation.
Saskia van Rijswijk has joined the VA board. We have made new agreements with the convention partners for 2022. There is a new recognised training course for officials in combat sport. Read all about this and more in the last edition of our newsletter this year. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Incidents around bouts can be reported using this form. It must be sent by email to info@vechtsportautoriteit.nl within a week of the incident.
The City of The Hague embraces the Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark. The VA has concluded an agreement with the Institute for Sports Justice (ISR). More than 250 certificates have already been issued in combat sport by the Anti-Doping Authority. You can read this and much more in our November newsletter. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
With a report on the major congress of 20 October, the fight for a clean sport, a vacancy at the VA and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About the major congress in October, information on doping control, the Nextround project and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
The VA sometimes takes visible measures for a healthy, safe and well-organised combat sport, but most of the work takes place behind the scenes. To give a little more insight into what we do and how combat sport is developing, we produce a dashboard every year.
The major congress in October, the hundredth quality mark, the ten-thousandth Fightpassport, and an introduction to new people at the VA. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
This edition looks at the information sessions on doping and doping controls, new research into brain damage among former elite athletes, and we invite potential interns to apply. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, a study among 135 gyms, a visit by Amsterdam alderman Kukenheim to Mejiro Gym, the scrapping of most coronavirus measures and a new task for the audit team. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, our quality mark, the reopening of combat sport, and free courses on fighting doping and on recognising criminal interference in sports organisations. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, action towards politicians, the consequences of illegal fights, a call for our athletes’ council and much more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the launch of the Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark and the call on politicians to reopen the gyms. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the coronavirus measures, cooperation with municipalities and courses from the Anti-Doping Authority. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
What did the VA do and achieve in 2020? You can read it in our annual report.
About, among other things, fighting doping, the Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark and two new staff members for the VA. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the introduction of doping control in combat sport, the consequences of the lockdown, the postponed launch of the quality mark and more. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Promoters must meet at least the requirements of the draft budget for combat sports events in order to ensure the financial transparency of the event.
As of 1 January 2021, the rules for MMA bouts in the Netherlands have been made uniform: from now on all federations work with the same rules.
As of 1 January 2021, the rules for MMA bouts in the Netherlands have been made uniform: from now on all federations work with the same rules. This document is a simplified version of that rule set, without definitions and explanatory notes.
About, among other things, the VA’s meeting with minister Van Ark, media attention for the theme ‘no head contact until 18’, the coronavirus measures and an internship vacancy at the VA. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the tightened coronavirus measures, an internship vacancy at the VA and the campaign ‘What can help me?’ for victims of sexual abuse. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the latest measures against coronavirus, an animated clip about the Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark, a ‘dashboard’ on our activities and the campaign ‘Do you stay silent or do you speak up?’ from the Centre for Safe Sport. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
The dashboard gives an impression of how the organisation has developed over three years, and of what is being done.
About, among other things, a report drawn up at the VA’s request: full-contact combat sports and the effects on the brains of children and young people. And: meet the members of our committees. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Punches and kicks to the head have been banned in youth bouts in combat sport since the arrival of the Netherlands Combat Sports Authority. The VA asked researchers to gather the available knowledge on the effects of impact on the head in a scientific report. The full report can be found here and a concise summary can be found here .
About, among other things, the resumption of full contact training and events, training ‘techniques to the head’ with young people, and ‘hood fights’. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the resumption of indoor training and bouts. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the VA’s efforts towards an earlier reopening of the gyms, the coalitions we formed and the first result. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
What did the VA do and achieve in 2019? Read it here.
About, among other things, the cautious resumption of activity in the combat sports sector, one-to-one training, the quality mark for gyms and one year of Fightpassport. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for the combat sports sector, and about the support measures announced by the government. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, tackling misconduct towards officials, and an update on our Combat Sports Authority Quality Mark for gyms. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the work of our audit team, the introduction of personal contacts of confidence and tackling abusive behaviour in combat sport. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the national meeting of all kickboxing, Thai boxing and MMA federations, and about the new agreements in the 2020 convention. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
About, among other things, the improvement of the Fightpassport system, and the expansion of the VA office. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
In 2019 the Combat Sports Authority found on several occasions that combat sports events were taking place, mainly for young people, without a federation present to supervise them. This letter was sent to all gym owners in response.
About, among other things, the recognition of the training courses of the Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts Foundation (SKMO) and the duty to report when abusive behaviour is observed. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Read here what the VA achieved and set in motion in the first eighteen months of its existence.
About, among other things, the toolbox for ringside doctors, the meeting for municipalities, and the new measures in the 2020 convention. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
The toolbox for ringside doctors supports medical supervision at combat sports events.
About, among other things, the promoter licence and the age limit in MMA. Would you like to keep up with the VA’s activities? Sign up and receive our newsletter every month!
Recommended sanctions for federations for offences that do not fall under the regulations of the Institute for Sports Justice (ISR) concerning doping, sexual harassment and match fixing, and where the procedure would lead to a penalty out of proportion to the offence.
Every athlete who has applied for a digital Fightpassport agrees to the content of the general rules of conduct for full contact combat sports.
As of 1 January 2019, MMA bouts for young people from the age of 16 are permitted provided a set of additional safety measures is met.
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