Before your event, during your event (optimizing operations with flexible resources), and in the event of an emergency (such as scaling up operations), you—as a festival organizer—have your work cut out for you. Every event—big or small, indoor or outdoor—inevitably comes with its own set of challenges. Festivak is the place where every organizer can physically see, experience, compare, and test the execution of their event, as well as consult with a large number of experts and specialized partners. Two experts, Rens Noordeman from Flash and Guus Stevering from TRIBE Security, will be attending Festivak soon and share their insights below.
From makeshift to professional
Both TRIBE Security and Flash prefer not to use the term “misconceptions” when referring to event organizers’ views on security. “That’s such a negative word, man. We don’t use that term lightly, because organizers already know exactly what they’re doing. So ‘misconception’ isn’t really appropriate,” both Rens and Guus begin the interview. Flash handles local communications at festivals, primarily (radio) communications and walkie-talkies. Rens: “Back in the day, communications were a bit makeshift. It was cobbled together and remained a bit of a strange afterthought.
People didn’t know anything about walkie-talkies either. These days, we see that organizations are becoming much more professional and actually depend on the quality of their communications. What we’re also seeing is that visitors have increasingly high expectations. Everything has to be better, more attractive, and more luxurious. And the organizations have to meet those expectations. However, visitors don’t see the safety aspect. But it is necessary, because if there’s no safety, the festival can’t open. In recent years, we’ve seen society becoming increasingly hardened, yet people still depend on communication.”
Margins under pressure
Guus, speaking on behalf of TRIBE Security—a specialist in security and surveillance—believes that, in general, many organizers are doing a good job with security. “Ideally, you’ve developed a crowd management plan upfront and identified the risks. What you’re noticing now, though, is that margins are under pressure in many places. But we should never compromise on safety. You also notice that many innovations are sometimes at a tipping point. Are they or aren’t they cost-effective enough for organizers? On top of that, the industry is unfortunately still struggling with a major staffing shortage. And we’re actually trying to solve that with smart technologies. What I’m also seeing is that public events are becoming increasingly unpredictable due to unexpected crowds, which sometimes lead to a lot of trouble or disturbances. So we’re noticing, especially in the public sphere, that these events are harder to manage. We’re implementing many more measures to address that.”
And what’s coming next?
According to Flash, the biggest change lies in technology. “That group communication solutions will also become possible within other technologies. So you’ll be able to use this app on a smart device as well. Look, a walkie-talkie is a device with a single function—group communication—on a local network, so it’s extremely reliable. A smart device or smartphone is a multifunctional device with public coverage. If this app is used really well, you can get a tremendous amount of value out of it. Take, for example, an outdoor area where buses full of partygoers are pulling up or a parking lot further down the road. Those might fall outside the coverage area. With this new technology, you can include them as well, so they can all communicate as one. The better informed everyone is, the better the response from a single central location, and the more control you have over your safety, ”says Rens.
Guus embraces the support of technical and digital tools that can provide important alerts, but emphasizes that human intervention in response to these alerts is still always required. “We’re going to make strides with AI, drones, smarter camera technology, and detection gates. Yes, we’re going to see a lot more of this. It’s just that privacy and legislation are still getting in the way in many areas. For example, we’re actively looking into patrolling robots to detect people very quickly. We’re also looking at systems based on millimeter-wave technology (mmWave) that scan the body or products. So instead of standing in one of those tunnels at Schiphol with your hands up, you’ll have a system you can just walk right through, without having to stop and cause annoying delays. This is going to change the way we work in our industry, even though we don’t have it in Europe yet. It’s only available in the U.S. and China right now. “This is going to be a big deal,” Guus predicts.
From a VW bus packed with technology to X-ray equipment
Consumers are demanding more. The market is in flux. At the same time, there are all kinds of obstacles. What are the experts themselves showcasing at Festivak? “Flash on Tour” demonstrates in its special bus how narrowband traditional walkie-talkie communication, private 5G applications, and data come together in a single solution. “With the push of a button, you can connect different technologies. We’re really showcasing the hybrid concept between traditional and new technology.” Guus: “We’re specifically showcasing a part of our smart camera systems, as well as the latest (AI) cameras on the market. We’re also showcasing our brand-new X-ray machines. But human effort is—and will always be—extremely important: our knowledge and expertise are primarily embodied in our people. So, hey, we’re going to show you those people above all else!”
Tip for every organizer
Both exhibitors are offering a sneak peek behind the scenes and sharing a personal tip with you ahead of Festivak. “Always make communication and connectivity your top priority. Just take some time to really think it through beforehand. Carefully consider who needs to communicate and within which groups, so you don’t run into any surprises. Know that without communication, you can’t stay in control. Without control, your festival’s gates will simply close and the whole thing will come to a halt. So don’t think, ‘Oh yeah, we still need to take care of communication.’ Make sure it’s in place—and that it works reliably and efficiently. That’s the most important thing,” says Rens.
Guus: “I’m thinking mainly about collaboration. Do it together! You need all the partners in the chain. You really have to get to know each other during the ‘cold phase’ so that later, during the ‘hot phase,’ you can work well together—in a multidisciplinary way. Think, for example, of the municipality, the police, special enforcement officers, and emergency services. Building a relationship of trust is crucial here.” And he concludes: “It’ll be great to talk to and meet everyone again soon at Festivak. It’s just wonderful for our industry that we, as the Netherlands: 'the land of events’, are putting ourselves back on the map. And that we are—and will remain—world leaders!”
Be sure to visit TRIBE Security (booth 6-356) and Flash Private Mobile Networks (booth 6-378) during Festivak on November 18 and/or 19, 2026, at the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch.