The number of fairground companies has fallen by 7 percent since 2017, according to figures from the Chamber of Commerce. But Atze Lubach, chairman of the National Association of Fairground Holders (BOVAK), does not see that decline continuing for the time being. In 2022, a total of 1500 fairs are planned in the Netherlands.
“There has been a contraction due to corona, pensions and the lack of new recruits,” says Lubach. However, according to him, the fair is going well at the moment. “Everyone wants a party again, preferably in their own city or village.”
He attributes the decrease in the number of fairground companies to the fact that a number of entrepreneurs from the fairground sector started doing something different during the corona pandemic. “Like gardening work or working in construction.” Also, some pensioners became used to their free time, as a result of which they did not return to the fair. “Due to these developments, a number of fairground attractions have been sold and some attractions have stopped completely.”
Lubach expects that the fair will continue to go well for the rest of the summer. ,,The weather has been fine so far, the atmosphere is good and everything is running satisfactorily. Measures for the restart after corona have meant that some changes have lingered. For example, security. Previously, the local police kept an eye on things, now the organization hires security guards and there are fences around a fairground.”
Almost half of the fairground companies are located in the provinces of Gelderland and North Brabant.
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