World Forum

What World Forum does

World Forum is a physical event venue located at Churchillplein 10 in The Hague, Netherlands, operating for over 50 years (founded circa 1970). The venue spans 17,500 m² and offers 37 break-out rooms, 12,000 m² of exhibition space, a multifunctional auditorium with capacity for up to 5,000 visitors, and a separate 2,161-seat theater (King Willem-Alexander Theater). It serves three primary customer segments: international congress and summit organizers (including government bodies, diplomatic events, and corporate conference producers), theater producers and performing arts companies, and corporate/private event clients requiring F&B catering. Revenue is generated through quote-based venue rental (pricing not publicly disclosed), in-house Food & Beverage services, and consumer theater ticket sales distributed through the venue's own agenda and third-party platforms (NTK, Eventim) at €43-65 per ticket.

The business operates on a sales-led, consultative go-to-market motion, with prospective event organizers submitting requests through a dedicated online quote form and receiving tailored proposals. A secondary event-driven motion leverages high-profile hosted events — most notably the NATO Summit 2025 (the first Netherlands-hosted NATO summit in the alliance's history, attended by 45 heads of state, 6,000 delegation members, and 2,000 journalists) — as proof-of-concept for future bookings. The venue holds a portfolio of certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 20121, Green Key Gold, Welkom Toegankelijke Evenementen, and YOIN Excellent Meeting Places, alongside more than 10 years of dedicated Safety & Security specialization validated by coordinating with NCTV, police (27,000 officers), Royal Marechaussee (9,000 services), and Defence (5,000 military personnel) for NATO 2025.

World Forum is wholly owned by GL events, a publicly listed French multinational conglomerate operating more than 60 event venues globally, and operates under the legal name GL events World Forum Convention Center B.V. It maintains a 70-person dedicated team (with the F&B function comprising approximately 55-60 colleagues) led by General Manager Michiel Middendorf. The company's strategic positioning leverages The Hague's status as the International City of Peace and Justice, its 50+ years of accumulated brand equity, and GL events' global distribution network to win large-scale, high-security international events and recurring cultural programming.

Name

World Forum

Legal name

GL events World Forum Convention Center B.V.

Website

https://worldforum.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention & Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Venue Food, Beverage & Hospitality Operations (Concessions, Catering, Premium Seating) (MPAGALAN)

Keywords

• Event venue rental
• Convention center hosting
• Conference facilities
• Theater performances
• Exhibition space

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Haag

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental: World Forum earns revenue by renting its spaces — multifunctional auditorium, break-out rooms, expo halls, and the theater — to organizers of congresses, summits, corporate events, and cultural productions. Revenue is negotiated per event with no standard public pricing, and includes options for exclusive building use and full branding customization.
2. Catering & Food & Beverage: An in-house Food & Beverage team provides catering for events, including coffee breaks, lunches, cocktails, and dinners, tailored to each event's program and atmosphere. Theater pause arrangements are also offered, creating additional F&B revenue streams.
3. Theater Ticket Sales: The World Forum Theater sells tickets for musicals, concerts, cabaret, and dance performances. Tickets are sold through third-party platforms (NTK, Eventim) and directly via the venue's agenda. Pricing ranges from approximately €43 to €65 per ticket depending on the production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

World Forum The Hague rents out physical event space in Den Haag for international congresses, summits, corporate events, and theatrical performances. Its 17,500 m² venue includes a multifunctional auditorium, 37 break-out rooms, 12,000 m² of exhibition space, and the 2,161-seat King Willem-Alexander Theater, supported by in-house food & beverage catering and dedicated safety/security teams.

Product overview

World Forum The Hague operates as a unified venue offering two core products: (1) Congress/Conference Venue services for international congresses, summits, and business events, and (2) World Forum Theater for cultural performances including musicals, concerts, cabaret, and dance. Supporting services include Food & Beverage catering, Safety & Security management, and Sustainability practices. The venue spans 17,500 m² with a multifunctional auditorium (5,000 capacity), 37 break-out rooms, 12,000 m² expo space, and the 2,161-seat King Willem-Alexander Theater.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Congress Venue Hosting Full-service congress venue hosting international conferences, summits, and business meetings for up to 5,000 visitors, featuring a multifunctional auditorium, 37 break-out rooms, and 12,000 m² of expo space. Targeted at organizers of large-scale international congresses, association conferences, and government summits.
• World Forum Theater The 2,161-seat King Willem-Alexander Theater in The Hague hosts musicals, concerts, cabaret, and dance performances. Tickets are sold directly via the venue agenda and through third-party platforms NTK and Eventim, with prices ranging from approximately €43 to €65 per ticket.
• Event Venue Rental (Exclusive Use) Rental of the full 17,500 m² World Forum building for exclusive use by a single event, including full branding customization and configurable layouts for congresses, corporate events, and productions.
• Food & Beverage Catering Services In-house catering services providing coffee breaks, working lunches, cocktail receptions, gala dinners, and theater interval arrangements, tailored to each event's program and audience. Available to event organizers booking the venue and to theater audiences during intermissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosting capacity of 5,000 visitors and 12,000 m² expo space for large-scale events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2025The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands appointed World Forum as the primary host venue for the NAVO-top 2025. The ministry led the overall event organization and coordination, while World Forum was responsible for all venue-related logistics including temporary buildings, plenary setup, media workspaces, catering, security infrastructure, and branding.
• GL eventscoreOthersWorld Forum The Hague is a part of GL events, a listed and globally operating organization with more than 60 unique event venues worldwide. The partnership provides World Forum with international reach, shared knowledge, best practices, and access to a global network of event professionals and clients. World Forum leverages GL events' brand, resources, and operational expertise while maintaining its local identity as a venue in The Hague.
• AIPC (International Association of Convention Centers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Forum holds membership in AIPC, the International Association of Convention Centers, which connects venue operators globally and sets quality standards for the congress and convention industry.
• ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Forum is a member of ICCA, which connects the global meeting industry and facilitates international association congresses. ICCA membership provides access to a network of destinations and venues for international event planners.
• Convention Bureau The HagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a Convention Bureau The Hague partner, World Forum collaborates with the local convention bureau to promote The Hague as an international meeting destination and attract congresses and events to the region.
• CLC-VectaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Forum holds membership in CLC-Vecta, the Dutch chapter of the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services, connecting venue operators with exhibition and event service providers in the industry.
• Dutch Venue AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Forum is a member of the Dutch Venue Association, representing leading event venues in the Netherlands and collaborating on industry advocacy, standards, and promotion of the Dutch meetings industry.
• NBTC (Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Forum collaborates with NBTC to promote the Netherlands and The Hague as international conference and congress destinations, leveraging NBTC's marketing resources and international networks.
• The Hague VenuesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld Forum is featured on The Hague Venues platform, a consolidated venue discovery and booking platform for The Hague region, helping drive venue enquiries from event planners.
• Genootschap voor EventmanagersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Forum collaborated with the Genootschap voor Eventmanagers to host the 'NATO Inside' event after the NAVO-top 2025, providing over 300 members with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the summit's organization.
• MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Netherlands ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Forum holds membership in MPI's Netherlands chapter, connecting with meeting and event professionals through educational events, networking, and industry resources.
• Gemeente Den Haag (Municipality of The Hague)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of The Hague collaborated closely with World Forum and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparing for the NAVO-top 2025. The city also organized a community engagement program (Road to Summit) with lectures, exhibitions, films, and creative competitions, involving local organizations, schools, and cultural institutions.
• NCTV (Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NCTV coordinated and aligned all security measures with all involved services for the NAVO-top 2025. World Forum worked closely with NCTV on its security infrastructure setup, including risk analyses and scenario exercises for cyber threats, espionage, sabotage, and social unrest.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Brussels Expo / Brussels Meeting Centre: Brussels Expo and the associated Brussels Meeting Centre host large-scale European congresses, exhibitions, and summits in Belgium. It is comparable to World Forum as a Benelux venue targeting EU institutional and international association clients, but serves a different national market.
• ExCeL London: ExCeL London is one of Europe's largest convention and exhibition venues, hosting international congresses, trade shows, and corporate events. It is comparable to World Forum in congress and exhibition hosting model, though significantly larger and serving the UK market.
• International Convention Centre (ICC) Birmingham: ICC Birmingham is a major UK convention center hosting international congresses, association meetings, and corporate events. It is comparable to World Forum in scale and association congress focus, though operating in the UK market and without a comparable dedicated theater anchor.
• CCH Congress Center Hamburg: CCH Hamburg is a large German congress venue hosting international conferences, corporate events, and association meetings. It is comparable to World Forum in targeting European association congresses of similar size, though operating in the larger Hamburg market.

Direct peers

• Ahoy Rotterdam: Ahoy Rotterdam operates a multi-purpose arena and convention complex in Rotterdam hosting concerts, exhibitions, corporate events, and conferences. It is one of World Forum's closest Dutch competitors with overlapping congress and live entertainment capabilities and a similar mixed congress-plus-theater model.
• RAI Amsterdam: RAI Amsterdam is the largest Dutch convention and exhibition complex, hosting international congresses, trade shows, and corporate events. It directly competes with World Forum for the same Dutch and Benelux congress market, with comparable enterprise client base and a broader floor footprint.
• MECC Maastricht: MECC Maastricht is a Dutch convention and exhibition venue serving congresses, trade shows, and corporate events in the southern Netherlands. It is comparable to World Forum as a regional Dutch MICE venue, though smaller in scale and without a comparable theater anchor.
• Jaarbeurs Utrecht: Jaarbeurs is a major Dutch exhibition and convention venue in Utrecht hosting trade fairs, congresses, and consumer events. It directly competes with World Forum for Dutch association congresses and corporate meetings, with comparable scale and a long operating history.

Broad incumbents

• Estrel Berlin: Estrel Berlin is Europe's largest convention hotel, combining hotel accommodation with congress, exhibition, and event facilities. It competes with World Forum for mid-to-large European congresses, particularly those requiring bundled accommodation, but operates a different integrated-hotel model.
• Messe Frankfurt: Messe Frankfurt is one of the world's largest exhibition and congress operators with a global venue portfolio hosting major trade fairs and events. It overlaps with World Forum's congress and exhibition business but operates at materially larger scale and a wider international footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/worldforum
• Xx.com/worldforum_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-forum

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about World Forum