47 Years of Hartman
From pioneers in 1979 to market leaders today. Discover our journey through the history of the Dutch events industry.
1979
The Birth of Hartman
When Jan Hartman enters into discussion with Leon Ramakers about stage hands and backstage work for MOJO concerts, the owner and founder starts his first job for MOJO with the rock band BOSTON at the Rotterdam AHOY sports palace. This collaboration goes so well that many assignments follow and in the years after, work is done with acts such as KISS, QUEEN, LED ZEPPELIN, SUPERTRAMP, BLACK SABBATH and FLEETWOOD MAC.
1983
Founding of DIE HARD
By now Jan has gathered a regular club of employees with some friends from the "BLOKHUT" and decides to establish the company "DIE HARD". Soon more assignments follow than just those from MOJO. The work brings them into contact with various disciplines. Tent construction for DE BOER, NEPTUNUS, AALSTER V/D WERF but also specialization in light & sound, AV and stage construction, such as FOCUS, FLASHLIGHT, STAGECO (B). Even AHOY increasingly relies on the HARTMAN crew. During this period, many mega concerts are organized in the KUIP and DIE HARD provides all local hands and stage crew.
1988
First Office in Rotterdam
Then it's time to open a real office and a building is rented on Herkingenstraat in Rotterdam. This makes the first branch of HARTMAN a fact. The Rotterdam roots have their own home base "in the south". From then on, DIE HARD is officially called "HARTMAN PRODUCTION and EVENTS SERVICE".
1990
Expansion to Arnhem
The explosive growth of activities, realized thanks to offering the various multi-deployable teams of HARTMAN, requires the opening of a second branch. This office is established in Arnhem. A stone's throw away from where later, in March 1998, the GELREDOME (location for many music spectacles) will be opened.
1994
Renovation of the KUIP
A beautiful assignment, and one we are quite proud of, follows when HARTMAN is asked by BAM to cooperate in the major renovation of the KUIP. Here the team will be involved in dismantling and assembling the 51,177 seats and brackets on all stands of this historic football temple.
1995
HARTMAN TEMP AGENCY
The demand for workers continues to rise and HARTMAN sees that it's time to take action. Where the activities expand and move to the port, there is room for a new challenge. HARTMAN TEMP AGENCY is established. From now on, the focus is also on expedition and logistics. The temp agency daily supplies forklift drivers, stevedores, throwers, loaders and unloaders to the various port companies.
2000
National Expansion
The growth also means that HARTMAN is looking for a new location for the Rotterdam office. This is found at Slinge 443 (of course "in the south"), the main shopping street in the region. Since the activities have meanwhile spread across the entire country, the time is ripe to open multiple branches. During this period, HARTMAN establishes offices in Heerlen, Vlissingen, Doetinchem, Groningen, Eindhoven and Barendrecht.
2004
Preferred Supplier MOJO
Partly as a result of years of successful cooperation, a contract is signed with MOJO concerts in 2004 stating that HARTMAN LOCAL CREW is the preferred supplier (main supplier) for the work at MOJO concerts.
2008
The Credit Crisis
In September of this year, a worldwide economic crisis (the credit crisis) announces itself, bringing with it a general financial malaise. This is felt across the breadth of society and has disastrous consequences for many sectors. HARTMAN also cannot escape this and several branches have to close their doors and many employees are reluctantly laid off.
2012
ZIGGO DOME Amsterdam
On June 24, 2012, the ZIGGO DOME opens in Amsterdam. A concert and events complex where over 17,000 visitors can attend concerts and more. This modern and well-equipped location becomes a new home base for HARTMAN LOCAL CREW. After the lean years that followed the financial crisis, prosperity is once again widespread and we get color back in our cheeks. With more and more concerts where our guys can work, the team grows again into a large and trusted "HARTMAN FAMILY" and new forces join us daily.
2020
COVID-19 Pandemic
When the COVID virus begins to spread across the world from the far east in 2019, the tone is set for the moment when the entire world goes into lockdown and it becomes impossible for people in our industry (Live Concerts and Entertainment) to carry out our work. From March, the doors of clubs and venue complexes are permanently closed and once again a period begins in which HARTMAN has a hard time. Only thanks to belief in better times and the family bond that employees within HARTMAN have built with each other, showing that HARTMAN is more than just an employer, we hold on. The setback is large and almost immeasurable but we pull through.
2022
Recovery and New Clients
In March, the doors of concert halls may open for the first time. We deliver to MOJO for UB40 and STROMAE. It's the announcement of a year full of concerts and shows. It feels like liberation and at HARTMAN the entire team is soon back to full strength. As a beautiful and welcome reward, we also get GREENHOUSE TALENT as a client. A large and professional organization that, like MOJO, brings various internationally touring artists to the Netherlands and Belgium.
2025
Future-Oriented and Growing
By consistently delivering quality in the work we do, which we can partly enable thanks to our team of loyal and dedicated employees, work and various beautiful assignments continue to flow in. The result is that at the beginning of 2025 we can conclude a resounding contract with GREENHOUSE TALENT. For this TOP player in the entertainment industry, we may now also call ourselves preferred supplier. HARTMAN LOCAL CREW also becomes the permanent supplier of stage crew and show technical personnel for this client, with which we can establish that HARTMAN LOCAL CREW may call itself the largest supplier of Rock & Roll personnel in the Netherlands. By constantly improving ourselves and moving along with what the market wants and seeks, we maintain optimal connection with the industry. We still welcome new employees daily and more and more clients (especially from abroad) find us.
What Our Partners Say
"With HARTMAN LOCAL CREW for more than 47 years as a loyal and reliable business partner, we can confidently state that we have been very satisfied with the quality of the services provided and the professional collaboration for more than four decades."
"For all our major assignments, we always gladly and with complete satisfaction rely on the teams of HARTMAN LOCAL CREW. Events outdoor and in the large venues, we have only one 'go-to' address and that makes organizing much easier."
"HARTMAN LOCAL CREW delivers excellent service with a very professional and hardworking team. Load-in and load-out always go according to plan, even with complex productions with extra materials and special requirements. Their reliability and expertise ensure that our rehearsals and performances can start at the agreed times. We are very satisfied with the collaboration."
"I always look forward to working with HARTMAN LOCAL CREW and their team. They are simply the best in the business. Their professionalism and reliability make them our preference. A collaboration we can always rely on with complete confidence."
Hartman in Numbers
- Years Experience
- 0+Years Experience
- Shows Supported
- 0+Shows Supported
- Artists Supported
- 0+Artists Supported
- Permanent Employees
- 0+Permanent Employees
Become part of our history
After 47 years we are proud of what we have achieved, but we also look ahead to the future. Our experience, expertise and passion make us your ideal partner for any musical production.