Royal Jaarbeurs: the inspired, sustainable and innovative host for the whole of the Netherlands. A place where you meet, inspire, learn and grow. We'd love to tell you what's going on at Royal Jaarbeurs and the way we do things. How? By getting to know our most valuable asset: our people. Arno van der Linden (57) has been working in the security department at Jaarbeurs for 28 years. What is it actually like to work within this department at Jaarbeurs? We step into Arno's world and take a look behind the scenes at the trade fair and event security department.
At Jaarbeurs, I experience great events every day. "I can speak of a dynamic workplace. One of the biggest advantages of my work at Jaarbeurs is the variety. No two days are the same and no two visitors are the same. One day I am responsible for the security of a major international trade fair, the next day for a major sports event in our exhibition halls or a conference in our Beatrix Building." The dynamics of the many fairs and events keeps Arno's work exciting and challenging. "Every time, I know I play an important role in creating a safe and enjoyable place for all visitors."
From window cleaning to security at Jaarbeurs
Almost 30 years ago, Arno worked as a window cleaner and was attached to the fire brigade in Culemborg. During this period, Arno started working as a fire guard at Jaarbeurs in addition to his job as a window cleaner. "After memorising a big thick book, I had the security certificate in my pocket. At that point, I entered security at Jaarbeurs."
"I felt like a DJ behind the scenes in the control room"
Arno used to occasionally sit in the control room, then the control room. "In a control room there are lots of screens and buttons that I could control. Especially during trade fairs, I was regularly called to ask whether a door or room could be opened. I could control all this remotely. I could also see where a fire alarm went off, for example. I knew exactly where emergency troops needed to intervene at that moment."
From effort 0 to 100 in one second
Arno has to think long and hard when asked what is the most remarkable thing he has experienced in the past 28 years. "With 2.3 million visitors annually, sometimes things happen. But I don't find anything crazy easily and never panic. My strength is that I always stay calm and can properly inform any emergency services. I often have to go from effort 0 to 100 in one second." What Arno has immensely fond memories of is Omroep Max's music festival 'Make the dream come true', which took place annually in Jaarbeurs. Over 10,000 mentally disabled people (from young to old) came here to enjoy a whole afternoon of performances. They were wheeled in with beds and all. Hugely laborious to manage this, but then I'm really enjoying myself."
Biggest challenge: thinking in doomsday scenarios
If something happens, Arno must always be able to make it true that every visitor feels safe. "My biggest challenge is to think in doomsday scenarios, which I always hope will never happen. It's better to have everything perfectly thought out in advance, so that you can be sure you take everything into account. I write down all these scenarios in my clapboard that I walk around with under my arm every day." Arno always works out these scenarios with his colleague Vincent van Veen, whom he still knows from the fire brigade in Culemborg. "We have been friends for 40 years and are totally in tune with each other. If there is a big fair or event at the weekend, we try to arrange it so that one of us is present. If something happens, we need to be on the spot in no time. It can also be something small, such as a broken lock. But these are the things we also have to solve immediately."
"I am a walking Jaarbeurs encyclopaedia"
Arno can now dream of the Jaarbeurs buildings after 28 years and is still hugely in place. "I am the big enquirer for the organisation, everyone knows where to find me. With my knowledge from the past, I am a kind of walking Jaarbeurs encyclopaedia."
