Utrecht, 20 August 2024 - Royal Jaarbeurs and Stage Entertainment have jointly objected to the open-air pop concerts from 11 to 15 September 2024 during 'Zomerstadion Live!' on the Jaarbeursplein organised by Sportworx International. This music event has been added this year to the already existing sports event 'Zomerstadion 2024'. The parties take the view that the municipality of Utrecht, when granting the event permit to Sportworx, did not take into account the interests of Stage Entertainment and Jaarbeurs and the impact of noise pollution from the pop concerts on its business operations. Jeroen van Hooff, CEO Royal Jaarbeurs: "The Beatrix Building, with the Beatrix Theatre at its beating heart, is a daily meeting place for thousands of visitors to (international) conferences, presentations, meetings and theatre performances. Jaarbeurs leases the Beatrix Theatre to Stage Entertainment for programming theatre performances. Noise research conclusively shows that the pop concerts cause serious noise pollution for the already planned performances with audiences of Moulin Rouge! The Musical in the theatre and meetings and conferences in the Beatrix Building."
Judge accommodates Stage Entertainment and Jaarbeurs
On Friday 16 August 2024, a 'preliminary relief proceedings' took place before the administrative judge of the Utrecht District Court. Monday morning, 19 August 2024, was the verdict. The judge partly met Stage Entertainment and Jaarbeurs half-way and ruled that the event permit issued by the municipality of Utrecht should not apply for the entire period and that the noise standards on three evenings should be adjusted downwards. This is to allow performances of Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Beatrix Theatre. "For us, this ruling confirms that the municipality of Utrecht, partly due to the views we submitted, did not take into account the interests of Stage Entertainment and Jaarbeurs and the impact of noise pollution on its business operations during the decision-making process for granting the permit for Zomerstadion 2024 to Sportworx," Jeroen van Hooff said.
Nuisance is unlawful
On the afternoon of 19 August 2024, a second hearing took place at the Utrecht District Court; a civil court summary proceedings. Despite the ruling of the administrative court, there are still three nights on which the pop concerts cause serious noise nuisance. Stage Entertainment and Jaarbeurs take the position that the nuisance caused by Sportworx with the concerts - despite the permit for those days - is unlawful. Jeroen van Hooff: "On our initiative, we tried to come to a solution with Sportworx until the preliminary relief proceedings, unfortunately we did not succeed. Jaarbeurs even offered to provide an event hall free of charge where the pop concerts could take place. During the summary proceedings, it was agreed that the parties would make one very last attempt to reach a settlement, should this not succeed, the court will rule no later than Monday 26 August 2024."
Supporter of sports and health activities
"I think it is important to emphasise from Jaarbeurs that we support sports and health activities on the Jaarbeursplein and have no objections to them. We do expect organisers and the municipality of Utrecht to take into account already planned activities in the Beatrix Building and the Beatrix Theatre. When the permit for the pop concerts added to the sporting event on the Jaarbeursplein was granted, this was unfortunately by no means the case," Jeroen van Hooff said.
