Festival Spoffin

What Festival Spoffin does

Festival Spoffin is the public brand of Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort, a Dutch cultural non-profit foundation (cultural ANBI status) founded in 1981 with roots dating to 1974. It produces an annual street arts festival in Amersfoort's historic city center featuring professional theatre, dance, circus, and music performances in public spaces. The original Festival Spoffin ran for 14 editions from 2010 to 2024, drawing a record 46,000 visitors in its final edition; a smaller successor, Spoffin Spin-Off, debuted on 30 August 2025 with greater focus on Dutch talent after the organization lost multi-year municipal subsidy for 2025-2028, and the 2026 edition was cancelled due to a subsidy regulation change.

The festival's core product is a single weekend of free, open-air performances distributed across the city center, with a small number of reserved-location shows. Most performances operate on a pay-what-you-decide ("mansen") model, accepting mobile PIN, cash, and QR-code donations post-show. The organization is operated by an unsalaried three-person board (Janneke van Brussel, chair; Johan van der Vegt, treasurer; Wilma Verbeek, secretary) and a small team of approximately nine contracted freelancers covering artistic direction, production, PR, marketing, sales, volunteer coordination, presentation, graphic design, and administration, supplemented by roughly 50 volunteers per edition. The supporting technology stack comprises the CoMedia-powered website, the TimeSquare/TMSQR festival app, Laposta for newsletters, and StatCounter for analytics — there is no proprietary platform.

Revenue is structured across four streams: Gemeente Amersfoort municipal subsidy (historically just over 50% of budget, now discontinued), cultural fund grants from VSBfonds, K.F. Hein Fonds, Mr. August Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds, Sociaal Cultureel Fonds De Amersfoortse, and het Cultuurfonds (collectively ~25%), audience voluntary contributions and limited ticket sales (~12%), and hospitality and business sponsorship (~4%). A recurring revenue diversification effort, the Spoffin CIRCLE membership program, was launched at €25/€50/€100 annual tiers with SEPA auto-renewal and ANBI tax-deductibility. All artists receive agreed honoraria plus travel and accommodation under the Dutch Podia collective labour agreement. No equity funding, acquisitions, or external investors are involved; the entity is purely subsidy- and donation-funded.

Name

Festival Spoffin

Legal name

Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort

Website

https://spoffin.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Festival Spoffin is a Dutch cultural non-profit (Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort) that produces an annual free-admission street arts festival in Amersfoort's historic city center, serving general audiences and professional performing artists, funded by municipal subsidy, cultural foundations, audience donations, and local sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Festival

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAEAH

Community Music & Dance Festivals (Non-Commercial/Local)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Cultural Festivals & Community Events

SECONDARYMPAGABAI

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

Keywords

• Street arts festival
• Performing arts events
• Outdoor theatre programming
• Cultural festival organization
• Public space performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Amersfoort

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal Subsidy: Gemeente Amersfoort provides the largest share of festival funding, covering just over 50% of the total festival budget. This subsidy was discontinued for the 2025-2028 period, necessitating the transition from Spoffin to the smaller-scale Spoffin Spin-Off.
2. Cultural Fund Grants: Cultural foundations (VSBfonds, K.F. Hein Fonds, Mr. August Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds, Sociaal Cultureel Fonds De Amersfoortse, het Cultuurfonds) contribute approximately 25% of the festival budget. These are application-based grants renewed annually.
3. Public Contributions (Mansen): Voluntary audience donations collected after each performance ('mansen') plus any ticket sales for reserved-location performances generate approximately 12% of revenue. Most performances are free to attend with the audience deciding after the show what to contribute.
4. Hospitality and Business Sponsorship: Sponsorship from local hospitality businesses (restaurants, bars, cafes) and other companies generates approximately 4% of the festival budget. Companies can sponsor specific performances or make one-time donations (minimum €250 for businesses).
5. Spoffin CIRCLE Membership: Annual membership program (Spoffin CIRCLE) where individuals pay €25, €50, or €100 per year. Members receive first access to news, exclusive pre-sale for reserved-location tickets, and other perks. SEPA direct debit annually in June, automatically renewed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Festival Spoffin Spin-Off is an annual single-day outdoor street arts festival held on the last Saturday of August in the historic city center of Amersfoort, Netherlands, programming professional theatre, dance, circus, and music performances across public spaces. The festival operates under a pay-what-you-decide (mansen) admission model for most performances and is supported by the Spoffin CIRCLE annual membership program and cultural ANBI tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

Festival Spoffin Spin-Off is an annual street arts festival held in Amersfoort's historic city center. The primary product is the festival itself, featuring performances by professional theater makers in public spaces including streets, squares, parks, and special locations. The 2025 edition took place on August 30, 2025. The festival offers a mix of disciplines including theater, dance, circus, and music, with a pay-what-you-want model for most performances. Additional products include Spoffin CIRCLE (friends/membership program) and one-time donation options for supporting the festival.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spoffin Spin-Off Festival Annual single-day outdoor street arts festival featuring professional theatre, dance, circus, and music performances across public spaces in Amersfoort's historic city center. Most performances are free to attend under a pay-what-you-decide model; the program is curated by the artistic director with both Dutch and international performers.
• Spoffin CIRCLE Membership Annual membership program with three tiers — Friend (€25), Good Friend (€50), and Best Friend (€100) — auto-renewed via SEPA direct debit each June. Provides exclusive pre-sale ticket access for limited-capacity performances, priority news updates, and other supporter perks; eligible for 125% tax deduction (150% for businesses) under Cultural ANBI status.
• Amersfoorts Theater Terras Sister performing arts program of Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort, presenting a series of special performances at surprising locations in Amersfoort during July and August. Forms the foundation's second main activity alongside Spoffin Spin-Off.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46,000 visitors attended the 2024 festival (record attendance)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Theater FlintcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor theatre venue in Amersfoort. Serves as a festival venue location for Spoffin Spin-Off performances (Binnenplaats Flint). Also a cultural partner in the local arts ecosystem.
• Theater De Lieve VrouwcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmersfoort theatre venue that also serves as an accessible toilet facility location during the festival (with lift access). Part of the local theatre network.
• Landgoed ISVWminorOthersLocal estate/hotel partner that supports the festival. Listed among local business partners and sponsors.
• Komt het Zien!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing audio description services for audiences with visual impairments. Organizes blind sign language interpretation for selected performances (e.g., Daniel Simu's Acrobot and Barbara Probst's Bath-Flop at Spoffin 2025). This partnership ensures accessibility for all audience members.
• Circus AmersfoortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal circus organization that hosted artist residencies during Spoffin 2024 (for DansBlok, Accompany ME, Kanta Company, Wonderground, and Art For Rainy Days). A key partner in the local circus ecosystem.
• Buddy to BuddyminorOthersLocal social organization listed as a partner. Collaboration related to community engagement and volunteer networks.
• Theater De Kamers / FamilieFestival VathorstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily theatre in Amersfoort Vathorst district. Partner venue for Spoffin Spin-Off 2025 family programming (FamilieFestival location, #8).
• Bistro 't KannetjeminorOthersLocal restaurant/bistro listed as a hospitality partner.
• De Vier BroersminorOthersLocal business listed as a partner/sponsor.
• Stadscafé AmersfoortminorOthersLocal café listed as a hospitality partner.
• Bacio AmersfoortminorOthersLocal restaurant listed as a hospitality partner.
• MarktzichtminorOthersLocal business/organization listed as a partner.
• Long John's Pub & HotelminorOthersLocal pub and hotel listed as a hospitality partner.
• POT Verhuizingen / LogistiekminorOthersLocal moving and logistics company providing logistics support for the festival.
• ReadSpeakerminorOthersTechnology provider listed as a partner. ReadSpeaker provides text-to-speech/web accessibility solutions.
• Amersfoorts Theater TerrascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-branded initiative under Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort alongside Spoffin Spin-Off. A series of special performances at surprising locations (July and August). Together with Spoffin Spin-Off, it forms the two main activities of the parent foundation.
• Tijd voor AmersfoortminorOthersLocal media/communications partner listed as supporting the festival.
• ReisCheckminorOthersLocal travel/transport organization listed as a partner.
• Code Diversiteit & InclusieminorOthersCode of conduct for diversity and inclusion in the Dutch cultural sector. Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort subscribes to and applies this code in its policy.
• Fair Practice CodeminorOthersDutch sector code for fair practice in culture. Subscribed to and applied by Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort in its policy.
• Governance Code CultuurminorOthersDutch governance code for cultural organizations. Subscribed to and applied by Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort in its policy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Circusstad Festival: Annual circus and street arts festival in Amersfoort focusing on contemporary circus and street performance. Highly comparable geographically (same city) and programmatically (street arts, circus, dance) to Festival Spoffin's mission and audience.
• Cultura Nova: Dutch performing arts festival in Heerlen featuring contemporary theatre, dance, and music in indoor and outdoor venues. Comparable in Dutch cultural-fund/municipal funding model and contemporary performing arts focus.
• Oerol Festival: Major Dutch outdoor performing arts festival held annually on Terschelling, featuring international theatre, dance, and music performances in public and site-specific spaces. Highly comparable to Spoffin in mission, programming (street arts, location theatre), and Dutch cultural-festival model.
• Karavaan Festival: Dutch outdoor performing arts festival in the Noord-Holland region, similar in scale and programming (theatre, dance, circus, music in public spaces) to Spoffin. Comparable mission around accessible outdoor performing arts and Dutch municipal/cultural-fund support structure.
• Amersfoorts Theater Terras: Sister program of Festival Spoffin Spin-Off under Stichting Zomertheater Amersfoort, featuring special theatre performances at surprising locations in July and August. Comparable in mission, geography, and parent organization.
• Theater op de Markt: Dutch outdoor theatre festival in Den Haag featuring street theatre, dance, and music in public urban spaces. Directly comparable to Spoffin's outdoor urban festival model with free/large public access.
• Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival: Annual international festival in Groningen featuring contemporary performing arts (theatre, dance, music) in unconventional locations. Comparable to Spoffin in international programming, public-space staging, and Dutch cultural-fund/municipal funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Festival d'Avignon: Prestigious annual performing arts festival in France featuring international theatre and dance, including significant outdoor and street performance programming. Comparable in international performing arts curation and public-space programming, though at larger scale.
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The world's largest performing arts festival, with significant street arts and free outdoor programming component. Directly comparable in street-arts/free-performances model and international artist curation, though at vastly larger scale.
• Brighton Festival: Major UK international arts festival featuring theatre, dance, music, and outdoor/circus programming including guest director programming and public-space performances. Comparable in multi-disciplinary performing arts and outdoor public programming, though at larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/festivalspoffin
• Instagraminstagram.com/spoffin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/festival-spoffin-stichting-zomertheater-amersfoort

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Festival Spoffin