At 1:00 p.m., the first visitors entered the Hembrug grounds at Taets Art and Event Park in Zaandam. Ten hours later, at 11:00 p.m., the grounds were still packed with some 12,500 visitors who hadn’t stood still for a moment. Among the events was “10hrs with Chris Stussy,” SONA’s marathon production in which a single DJ kept the crowd entertained all day long. ISG Security provided security throughout these ten hours, from the initial entry checks to the final minutes of the set.
An outdoor production without interruption
SONA is known for productions in which a single DJ keeps the audience engaged for hours on end, without lineup changes or interruptions. This requires a different approach than a typical festival with multiple stages and time slots. Whereas a typical festival has natural breaks between acts, a production like this builds steadily, from a quiet start in the early afternoon to a venue that reaches its peak in terms of crowd size and energy by evening.
The Hembrug site at Taets Art and Event Park, located on Hemkade in Zaandam, is a well-known outdoor venue within the Dutch dance scene and can accommodate large-scale productions such as this one. For SONA and the attendees, safety was the top priority throughout the entire ten hours, without compromising the atmosphere for which the event is known.
Approach and Implementation
The ISG Security team was on site at Taets from the moment it opened to manage entry and guide the first wave of visitors. Visitors arrived in various ways—by car, taxi, or Uber; shuttle bus; bicycle; or on foot from Zaandam Station—which meant that early in the day, the focus was on ensuring a smooth flow of traffic around the entrances.
In addition to the entrance, the team also closely monitored the VIP area of the venue—which requires a different, more discreet approach to access and crowd flow—as well as the evacuation routes and emergency exits around the venue. For an event with a capacity of up to 12,500 visitors, those routes must remain clear and accessible at all times of the day, even during peak hours.
In the early afternoon, the situation was still manageable, but as the hours passed and the venue filled up toward maximum capacity, the focus shifted to monitoring the crowds at specific locations and making timely adjustments where necessary, in close coordination with law enforcement and traffic controllers on and around the venue. The departure at the end of the evening, when a large portion of the visitors head home at roughly the same time, also required extra attention and close coordination among all parties involved.
Result
The event ran smoothly for the full ten hours without any incidents. Visitors were able to focus on the music and the atmosphere all day long, while the ISG Security team on site maintained control of the entire area, from the entrance to the VIP section. Both SONA and the team at Taets Art and Event Park expressed their satisfaction after the event with the collaboration and how the day went.
Closing
Events like “10hrs with Chris Stussy” demonstrate just how important an experienced security partner is for long-duration, large-scale outdoor events. From the first visitor to the last song, a day like this requires a team that can read the situation and respond accordingly. Curious about what this could mean for your event? Check out our page on Hire Event Security for more information about our approach.