It is especially important for beginning musicians to be able to perform live. In general, Dutch musicians earn more money performing than they get from selling their music. The venues which are specifically organized for pop music are known collectively as the club circuit. In the past few years many of these venues have been very professionalized. Nearly all of them are affiliated with the VNPF (association of Dutch pop venues en festivals). This association promotes the interests of pop venues and festivals. 

Big venues
The really big pop venues (‘kernpodia') have a room seating at least 750 people and organize pop concerts on a commercial basis.

Core venues
About 38 venues in The Netherlands are regarded as core venues by the  Fonds Podiumkunsten. They have to fulfil a number of requirements in the areas of management, facilities, organization, administration and publicity. In addition to these basic requirements, capacity also plays a role. Core venues get subsidized to programm Dutch bands. This money eventually goes to the bands because they get a place to play and usually get paid for playing there.

Core venues are divided into A, B, and C venues.

• A venues have a minimum seating capacity of 450 and they organize at least 100 (pop music) activities per year.
• B venues have a capacity of 350 visitors and organise at least 20 eligible concerts each year.
• C venues have a capacity of 200-350 visitors and organise at least 10 eligible concerts each year.

D venues are not included among the core venues. They are locations which program live pop music but which cannot offer the organizational/administrative professionalism, seating capacity and facilities that the core venues can.For more information check the website of the Performing Arts Fund.

see also: