Association

With an association you pursue a common goal. You enter into cooperation with two or more people, also known as members.

Who are involved?

The ultimate decisions in an association are taken by the general assembly of members, in which each member has in principle one vote. The board is responsible for the everyday running of the association. The board members are usually members of the association. An association can also take people into employment, and/or contractors, volunteers and trainees who work for the association.

Who has the capital at his/her disposal and is liable?

The association is a legal personality with legal entity: members of the board and members of an association with full capacity to hold rights are in principle not liable for the obligations, not even after dissolution and bankruptcy. In the event of improper administration or mismanagement, however, the members of the board can be held personally liable. The profit of the association must go to the common objective.

Examples of the association

We mainly see the association in the arts and culture sector in the form of umbrella organisations, in which colleagues, who work in the same professional group, pool their interests. They are also referred to as professional associations. The members stand up for their own and joint interests, and sometimes make professional journals themselves. Examples include the Dutch Association for Stage Technology (Vereniging voor Podiumtechnologie, VPT) with their professional journal Zichtlijnen. In addition, you will find many associations in the amateur arts circuit, such as the local theatre association.