During Intents Festival 2025, the brand new festival tent by Van Ham Tenten & Podia was presented for the first time. And that did not go unnoticed: this giant is 50 meters wide, 130 meters long and no less than 25 meters high. With a rigging capacity of 120 tons, it is one of the most heavily equipped tent constructions of the moment.

Intents Festival, with tens of thousands of visitors, ten stages and more than 400 artists, turned out to be the perfect place for the introduction. The tent functioned as the central eye-catcher of one of the areas. The choice for Intents was logical, Van Ham Tenten & Podia has been closely involved with the event for years and provides almost all stages and layher constructions annually, including the impressive Mainstage.

A festival tent without compromises

“With the BLUE HORIZON we want to build for the future,” says owner Martijn van de Broek. “A tent that is not only strong and robust, but also suitable for the complexity of modern shows. Think of even larger and heavier LED installations, advanced sound and a large decor. All of that in a sleek design, in the recognizable blue and yellow house style of our company.''

The tent is fully modular, can be expanded to 130 metres in 20-metre increments, and has a clear span of 20 metres and a minimum clearance of 17.5 m. This offers plenty of space and flexibility for technicians and set builders. It is also sturdy enough to withstand wind force ten.

Two growth partners in the festival world

The collaboration between Van Ham and Intents goes back to the early days. In 2003, the festival started with a tent of 20 by 40 meters and 850 visitors. In the meantime, both names have become an indispensable part of the festival landscape. ''It feels like a nice coincidence that Intents Festival was the first to want to use our newest showpiece.'' According to Martijn van de Broek

In addition to the BLUE HORIZON, Van Ham Tenten & Podia again provided several stages and areas on the site this year, a confirmation of the mutual trust that has been built up over twenty years.

Quirky, powerful and ready for what comes next

The BLUE HORIZON is not a standard tent, but a construction of our own design and production. With this introduction, Van Ham Tenten & Podia underlines that there is still room for technical innovation and courage in the events industry in the Netherlands.

Robust, visually powerful and built for the highest demands: the BLUE HORIZON marks a new chapter for the Bladel-based company.

Curious about the BLUE HORIZON? More information can be found at: https://www.vanhamtenten.com/tenten/festival-eventtent-blue-horizon-50-m

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Easyfairs, organiser of trade fairs and events and operator of 4 event halls in Belgium, including the Nekkerhal in Mechelen, is surprised to learn from the press that the Nekkerhal site would be given a different purpose from 2032. No longer as an event location, but as a residential area. Easyfairs regrets not having been informed of this, not least for its loyal organisers and other stakeholders who help build the success of the Nekkerhal.

Feedback on motives for repurposing

Easyfairs is also surprised about the reasons given for this repurposing. According to mayor Bart Somers, the events hall is said in the press to be “empty for most of the time”. Easyfairs regrets this statement because Nekkerhal Mechelen can be considered one of the busiest multi-format events halls in Flanders since it was managed by Easyfairs. Alain D'Haese, COO and Head of Venues of Easyfairs Belgium testifies: “Since we entered, the number of events has more than tripled, the number of visitors has grown strongly and the site has clearly become more professional. Today, the Nekkerhal is a well-functioning infrastructure with a high occupancy rate, strong customer loyalty and demonstrable economic added value for the city and the region.”

It is also stated that the Nekkerhal is “worn out”. The concrete rot in question is planned to be addressed next summer anyway and has never posed a safety problem. After this renovation, the building will be ready for decades of use again. Easyfairs also pays a considerable annual rent to the City of Mechelen and in this way makes an important contribution to the city budget. These statements are therefore not only factually incorrect, but also damage the reputation of Easyfairs and its customers.

Investments and local impact

In recent years, many millions have been invested in the hall: including a professional event black box, HVAC installations, LED lighting, digital signage, charging and parking infrastructure, etc.

All these efforts have a positive economic and social impact on the City. A city like Mechelen, with its ambitions in terms of culture, events and congresses, has everything to gain from a high-performance event location. The Nekkerhal stimulates this cultural dynamic, economic activity and social cohesion.

This is also bad news for the mainly local and loyal organisers of events in the Nekkerhal. This also applies to a prestigious event such as Jumping Mechelen. Gunter Van Lent, organiser of Jumping Mechelen, agrees: "It is difficult to understand that a city like Mechelen indirectly questions the future of an international top event such as Jumping Mechelen by opting for a redevelopment of the Nekkerhal site. Jumping Mechelen has been an established value for more than 40 years with an enormous appeal, not only in equestrian sports but also in terms of city marketing, tourism and economic impact for the region. It is a pity that Mechelen will become one of the few cities where a large event hall will be missing. Other cities at home and abroad have such facilities and would/will welcome our event with open arms. Of course we would like to continue organising in Mechelen. It would be a missed opportunity if Mechelen were to simply let this go."

Easyfairs remains committed to the future

Easyfairs acknowledges that the possibility of ending the collaboration in 2032 was never ruled out. With this policy note, the City of Mechelen now formally indicates that it wants to investigate this option. It goes without saying that Easyfairs would have preferred to hear this information earlier than through the press.

Easyfairs will of course monitor the process closely and check whether the adjustment of the RUP receives sufficient support from opposition parties, local residents and other stakeholders. 2032 is still a long way off and anything can still happen. What is certain is that Easyfairs will continue to work on its current momentum and continue to organise many great events in the Nekkerhal and to attract them to the Nekkerhal with a positive impact for the City. Alain D'Haese concludes: “We will continue to surprise our customers and visitors with our service and professionalism”.

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A city game with your team is always a great idea for team building, but what if the sun is shining mercilessly? No worries! With these tips you can make it a fun and safe day:

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate 💧

Make sure everyone has a refillable water bottle. Provide plenty of stops along the way to refuel, literally and figuratively.

Sun protection is key 🧴🕶️

Apply sunscreen at least every 2 hours (minimum factor 30) and wear a cap or sunglasses. Burning is disastrous for the atmosphere.

Light clothing = play smart 👕

Go for airy, light clothing that allows perspiration. Avoid dark fabrics – they only absorb more heat.

Plan smart stops 🏙️☂️

Choose shady spots and moments of rest every now and then. An ice cream along the way does wonders!

Adjust the pace 🐢

On a hot day it's okay to slow down a bit. It's about fun and teamwork, not who overheats first.

Enjoy, stay cool and let that team spirit bloom, even under the sun! 🌞💪

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