The Pre-financing & Guarantee Fund (VGF)

The Pre-financing & Guarantee Fund (VGF) was established in the late 1980s by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions and some 20 parties from the conference industry. The aim of the VGF is to reduce certain financial risks, so that conference organisers are more likely to organise their international conference in the Netherlands.

The Pre-financing & Guarantee Fund (VGF) offers two schemes to reduce the financial risks when organising an international conference:

• The Pre-financing
• The Guarantee

Focused on the cost side of the conference.

• Offers financial support in the start-up phase of the conference to cover the initial costs before registration fees and sponsorship contributions start coming in.
  It is provided in the form of an interest-free loan, without further charges.
• The amount of the loan depends on a number of aspects, such as the size of the conference, the budget, the liquidity forecast and the number of participants.

• Focused on conference revenues.
• Offers financial support by acting as a guarantor in the event of a loss resulting from disappointing participant numbers.
• The amount of this guarantee, which is also provided free of charge, is set in advance.

The amount of the guarantee depends on a number of aspects, such as the size of the conference, the budget and the number of participants.
You can apply for either the Pre-financing Scheme, the Guarantee Scheme or both.

The VGF supports a wide variety of customers. Yet the one thing they all have in common is that they organised an international conference in the Netherlands.

"The VGF comprises of 4 Board Members, 1 Director and a Project Manager.

• Carola van der Hoeff (International Pharmaceutical Federation) - Chair
• Maurits van der Sluis (RAI Amsterdam) - Treasurer
• Eric Bakermans (NBTC) - Board Member
• Sander de Hoop (SdH Event Management) – Board Member
• Joyce Wittelaar - Director
• Paul Gruijthuijsen - Project Manager