DUS | De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid

What DUS | De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid does

DUS | De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid is a single-location creative event venue operating in Utrecht, Netherlands, under the brand positioning "Zakelijke Speelplaats" (Business Playground). Founded in 2018 by Jan van Eck in a sustainably renovated former Demka factory tekenkamer (drawing room) on the Amsterdam Rijnkanaal waterfront, the venue offers more than 25 flexibly configured event spaces, including boardrooms for 12 persons, the 320-person Ruimte 14 theater, Loods A and Loods B warehouses, the Speelkwartier catering and games hub, seasonal outdoor areas (Zinderende Zomerkade summer beach, Winter Wonder Werf winter venue), and a converted tram (Ruimte 25) used as a creative workshop space. The venue serves mid-to-large Dutch corporate clients for meetings, congresses, trainings, workshops, hybrid events, and company parties; the underlying "product" is the physical space combined with in-house creative and sustainable catering and event production services, with no technology platform underpinning the offering.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: per-event venue and room rental, per-person catering (provided exclusively by DUS), and optional event production and entertainment add-ons. Pricing is quote-driven and not publicly disclosed, with a 50-person minimum for standard events and a 75-person minimum for exclusive wing bookings. Catering and venue rental are billed separately, with venue rental non-refundable and catering cancellation fees scaling from 50% (4–2 weeks prior) to 100% (within 2 weeks). Distribution is direct-to-business via a Dutch-language website quote request form and an in-house team of four Sales & Event Producers supported by two Event Managers, a Planner, a Foodmanager, an Operationeel Manager, and a Commercieel Directeur, with no resellers or intermediaries. Accessibility—300+ free parking spaces, 4 EV charging stations, and central Netherlands location—is a structurally meaningful selling point relative to urban competitors.

Marketing relies on content-driven channels—the website's inspiration blogs and case studies, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube (including a staff-introduction series), and an email newsletter—plus an industry partnership with Event Inspiration. Notable enterprise and institutional clients include Rabobank, Buro Indigo (on behalf of Associatie Wijkteams), Nederlandse ArbeidsmarktDag, Otherside at Work, FNO Geestkracht, and LevelUp, spanning banking, healthcare, recruitment, wellbeing, and digital marketing verticals. The company is privately held by founder Jan van Eck with no external institutional investors disclosed.

Name

DUS | De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid

Legal name

De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid B.V.

Website

https://dusutrecht.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DUS | De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid operates a single creative event venue in Utrecht, Netherlands, offering 25+ flexible spaces, exclusive in-house catering, and event production services for corporate clients hosting meetings, conferences, training sessions, hybrid events, and company parties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue & Facility Reservations (Private Rooms, Event Spaces) (HSACALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Event Rentals (Furniture, Staging, Tents) (HSACADAI), Decor Props & Themed Set Rentals (HSACAFAK)

Keywords

• Corporate event venue
• Conference facilities
• Meeting room rental
• Event catering services
• Hybrid event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht, Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venue/Room Rental: DUS earns revenue primarily through renting its 25+ event spaces to corporate clients for meetings, congresses, trainings, workshops, company parties, and hybrid events. Pricing is based on room size, duration, and exclusivity requirements.
2. Catering Services: Creative catering is a core revenue stream, delivered through the Speelkwartier concept. Catering is exclusively provided by DUS and includes creative food concepts inspired by the venue's surroundings. Catering costs are billed separately from venue rental and are subject to cancellation fees based on timing.
3. Event Production & Entertainment: DUS offers event production services including entertainment (DJs, live bands, circus acts, silent disco), team-building activities (Chainreaction, kayaking, beach volleyball), and full event production coordination as part of the event planning service.
4. Exclusive Venue Booking: Exclusive booking of one or both wings (linkervleugel/rechtervleugel) of the venue, requiring a minimum of 75 guests and commanding premium pricing. Includes exclusive access to the Speelkwartier and DEMKA kade.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DUS is a creative event venue in Utrecht that rents out more than 25 flexible event spaces (conferences, meetings, training, workshops, hybrid events, and company parties) exclusively to corporate clients. The offering is bundled with proprietary creative catering served in the Speelkwartier, seasonal outdoor areas (Zinderende Zomerkade and Winter Wonder Werf), a converted tram for creative sessions, and full event production support including entertainment and team-building activities.

Product overview

DUS | De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid is an event venue operating as a single unified location (the 'Zakelijke Speelplaats' or Business Playground) in Utrecht, Netherlands. The venue offers approximately 25 flexible event spaces (Ruimtes) for conferences, meetings, training, workshops, hybrid events, and corporate parties. The portfolio includes distinctive themed areas: the Speelkwartier (central catering and activity hub), Zinderende Zomerkade (summer waterfront), Winter Wonder Werf (winter waterfront), and The Tram (a new converted-tram creative space). Creative and sustainable catering is integrated throughout all offerings, with unique food concepts and entertainment. The venue is accessible with 300+ free parking spaces and central location in the Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Event Spaces (Ruimtes) More than 25 flexible event spaces for groups of 50 to over 320 persons, including conference rooms, meeting rooms, workshops, and break-out rooms, available to corporate clients on a quote basis.
• Speelkwartier The central catering and relaxation area featuring creative food concepts, games, and entertainment space for events at the DUS venue.
• Zinderende Zomerkade Summer waterfront area with sand, beach volleyball, glühwein bar, curling, and outdoor activities for corporate events during warmer months.
• Winter Wonder Werf Winter waterfront area featuring glühwein bars, curling, festive food markets, and cozy winter ambiance for corporate events in colder months.
• The Tram (De Tram) A unique converted tram offering creative workshop and meeting areas including Tram 25 for workshops, Tram Talks for networking, an escape room experience (De Verbinding), and a kiosk with built-in kitchen and bar.
• Catering Services Creative and sustainable catering offered exclusively by DUS, featuring unique presentations such as pokébowl served from toy trains, bitterballenbaan, donut trees, and food trucks, inspired by the venue's surroundings.
• Congressen (Conferences) Conference facilities with flexible room setups, plug-and-play screens, and break-out sessions for corporate congresses.
• Training Locatie Training facilities with flexible spaces for interactive sessions, circle setups, and practical training areas for corporate training events.
• Meeting Services Meeting spaces with plug-and-play screens and flexible configurations for plenary or brainstorming sessions for corporate clients.
• Hybride Events Hybrid event services with Space 14 configured for livestreams, professional technical support, and online event platforms.
• Workshops Creative workshop spaces offering escape rooms, laugh workshops, networking games, and interactive icebreakers for corporate groups.
• Bedrijfsfeesten (Company Parties) Corporate party facilities with options for festivals, drinks receptions, DJs, live bands, silent disco, casino nights, and themed events.
• Congrestival Corporate festival concept combining conference content with festival energy, featuring speakers, creative workshops, teambuilding, food trucks, and live entertainment.
• Out Of Office Summer workspace offering fully equipped work areas at the beach with teambuilding activities and BBQ options, available on Tuesdays and Thursdays during summer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Events organized starting from 50 persons, with exclusive venue booking from 75 persons. Space 14 accommodates up to 320 persons.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Event InspirationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDUS is a partner of Event Inspiration, an event industry network. This partnership is listed in the Inspiratie section of the DUS website, suggesting joint marketing activities and industry visibility within the Dutch event planning community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hotel Theater Figi: Hotel and theater venue complex in Zeist offering conference, meeting, and event facilities. Comparable as a Dutch hospitality-rooted venue targeting corporate meetings, conferences, and celebrations.
• Slot Zeist: Historic castle venue in Zeist offering conference, meeting, and event facilities for corporate clients. Comparable as a heritage Dutch event venue with a unique setting and full-service offerings.
• Pakhuis de Zwijger: Amsterdam cultural and event venue in a converted warehouse, hosting corporate meetings, conferences, and creative events. Directly comparable as a Dutch industrial-heritage venue with a creative positioning.
• Spant!: Cultural and conference center in Bussum, Netherlands, hosting corporate events, congresses, and meetings. Comparable as a Dutch mid-size regional event venue targeting similar B2B and meeting/conference use cases.
• Papendal (Sportcentrum Papendal): Large Dutch conference and event center in Arnhem combining sports facilities with meeting rooms and event halls. Comparable as a Dutch venue operator hosting corporate conferences, trainings, and team-building events.
• De Fabrique: Large industrial-heritage event venue in Utrecht, Netherlands, offering conference, meeting, and party facilities. Directly comparable to DUS in geography, building-style positioning, and corporate event clientele.
• Landgoed De Horst: Dutch estate-style event venue in Driebergen used for corporate meetings, conferences, and team events. Comparable as a non-hotel Dutch venue focused on distinctive setting and corporate event services.
• De Scheg: Cultural and conference venue in Uden, Netherlands, hosting corporate meetings, congresses, and events. Comparable as a Dutch multi-space venue targeting the same corporate meeting and conference segment.

Broad incumbents

• Beurs van Berlage: Iconic Amsterdam event and conference venue housed in a historic exchange building, hosting large corporate events, congresses, and galas. Comparable as a Dutch heritage event venue targeting enterprise clients, though larger and more established.

Regional players

• Theater Amsterdam: Major Amsterdam theater and event venue hosting corporate events, shows, and conferences. Comparable as a large-scale Dutch event venue, but primarily serves the Amsterdam market rather than the central Netherlands catchment DUS targets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dusutrecht
• Instagraminstagram.com/dusutrecht

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 DUS | De Utrechtse Stadsvrijheid