Worldwide, about 200 million people follow the Eurovision Song Contest, of which about four million are Dutch. This musical event was organized for the first time in 1956. The Netherlands has since won the Eurovision Song Contest four times. In 2019 Duncan Laurence won the Eurovision Song Contest for the Netherlands with his song Arcade. And so in 2021, after forty years, the Netherlands became the host country of the Eurovision Song Contest. The location for this greatest spectacle is Ahoy Rotterdam. And we?! We were allowed to take care of the security of the Eurovision Song Contest in Ahoy Rotterdam. A special experience that we look back on with pride.
Eurovision Song Contest 2021 - Gelan Detection Systems
”GELAN HAS SEEN WITH HER EQUIPMENT ABLE TO FACILITATE A WORLD-SIZED EVENT, IN THIS CASE THE EUROVISION SONG FESTIVAL 2021. WE LOOK BACK ON A PLEASANT COLLABORATION AND ABOVE A SAFE EVENT.
Rosanne SpronkManager Project Management Rotterdam Ahoy
International event
Forty countries from all over the world have performed in Ahoy Rotterdam. With the semi-finals on May 18 and 20, 2021 and the final on May 22, 2021. The organization of the Eurovision Song Contest was in the hands of NPO, NOS and AVROTROS, in co-production with the European Broadcasting Union and in close collaboration with host city Rotterdam. With strict measures, health and safety came first this year. 3,500 visitors were allowed to attend each show. With metal detection gates from Garret Security, visitation detectors and baggage scanners from Adani and VMI, we have ensured the safety of this largest event. Visitors were checked for suspicious objects through the metal detection gates. Luggage and pallets with stock were checked by various X-Ray scanners. Both protection methods are accurate and promote a safe, smooth flow of people and objects.
About AHOY Rotterdam
Ahoy Rotterdam has been known to ‘the greats of the earth’ since 1971. They provide a home base for international artists, top athletes, politicians and other prominent figures. The entrepreneurs behind Ahoy Rotterdam are proud residents of a metropolis that is being rediscovered by everyone. A city in which they have been building activity, fun and happiness together for 50 years.
In Rotterdam, a lot of attention is paid to sustainability and circularity. For example, the roof of Ahoy with 5,200 solar panels is a source of sustainable energy. With this energy, Ahoy can supply large-scale events such as De Vrienden van Amstel LIVE, the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament and North Sea Jazz with sustainable energy 195 days a year.
GELAN provides security for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Making plans, checking plans, choosing suitable products, consulting with the organization, building, experiencing and dismantling the security structure. The Gelan Safety Solutions team enjoyed this special experience. Marc Lybaart explains: “We can look back on a very successful and safe edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Providing security for an event of this size was a special experience for our team and we look forward to taking on more of these projects.”
Security of your event
GELAN Safety Solutions is part of GELAN Detectiesystemen B.V. GELAN has specialized since 1978 in advanced detection equipment for the security of locations and events. We are an official importer of Garrett Security, known for the Olympic Games where they can call themselves ‘official supplier’, and of Ebinger detection equipment, known for, among other things, handheld metal detectors for prisons, penitentiaries and airports. Our range includes walkthrough metal detectors, handheld metal detectors, inspection mirrors, letter bomb detectors and stethoscopes. With high-quality products and our knowledge base, we ensure that your location or event is professionally secured.