About AnimeCon

AnimeCon is the longest running anime convention of The Netherlands. Volunteers organise AnimeCon.

AnimeCon.nl is the website for Holland's largest annual anime festival. What does that mean you ask? Well, it's a three-day gathering of fans with a focus on Japanse animation. What it basically comes down to is that you can join a group of people of all ages and enjoy a nice atmosphere in which you can enjoy movies, play video games, and learn about Japan and its culture. Our festival focuses on having fun and learning new things.

We try to add the extra impulse to our event by actually portraying parts of the Japanese (popular) culture. Our mission is to let you have a lot of fun and give you a chance to learn something new.
In Japan animation is produced for people of all age groups. Any genre or influence you can think of that appears in a Hollywood production can also be found in anime. This, amongst a bunch of other things, is what makes the Japanese produced animation so interesting. If you have not seen any 'anime' before, be sure to come and visit us to check out this phenomenon. Be there, be amazed, and become a fan!

The history of AnimeCon

Sponsors

Archonia

Archonia is a webshop for your favourite anime, manga and a lot of merchandise. You can also buy comics, pop culture items and board games. Archonia has been our sponsor for many years and is the main sponsor for the Exp Plaza (previously the Event Plaza).

AFK Esports

AFK Esports is one of the main sponsors for the Game Room. AFK Esports organises gaming tournaments all over the Netherlands.

CosplayShop.Be

Cosplayshop.Be is our Cosplay Competitions sponsor for amazing prizes. If you're in need of cosplay materials, then their webshop will have it. Founded in 1990 as a workshop for artistic and traditional upholstery, the cosplayshop has expanded a while ago to selling crafting materials for film, theatre, cosplay, LARP and...

Nationaal Videogame Museum

The National Video Game Museum lends us their arcades. Their museum is the place to be to learn about the history of videogames and to play retro and classics yourselves. Entertainment, education and experience!

Royal Talens

Royal Talens distributes and sells amazing traditional art tools and supplies. Our Dutch Manga Awards wouldn't be the same without them.

Ziva Events

Ziva Events sponsors the Game Room. They host and facilitate gaming events of all kinds, including ours!

PLAION

PLAION group has more than 15 years of experience distributing digital media, and is today placed as the number one distributor in Europe, specializing in videogames and software products.

Vertigo 6

Vertigo 6 is an award winning PR and Marketing agency in the Netherlands for the Benelux and Nordic Region. They provide us with prizes and video games.

Nintendo

Nintendo is a famous Japanese Videogame Company. They sell their consoles and games worldwide. They provide us with prizes for our game competitions.

De Foamtastische Huiskamer

De Foamtastische Huiskamer (of 'Foamtastic Crew’) is een veelzijdige hobby- en handwerkwinkel in Nederland die een enorme verscheidenheid aan knutselmaterialen verkoopt, niet alleen voor cosplay! Juist die verscheidenheid aan producten maakt dat je voor een creatief project bij ons terecht kan voor materialen, tips & trics. We willen cosplay (en...

History of AnimeCon

We started out as a combination of 3 different groups of people. One of which left us after two years. Afterwards, the Dutch Anime Society and Anime Workgroup Holland joined to form the J-POP Foundation.

Our previous events were (in reverse chronological order):

Theaterhotel Almelo, Almelo

We went back to our younger years and visited the Theaterhotel Almelo again! The Theaterhotel Almelo is a combination of a hotel with 196 rooms and a theater with 850 seats in the city of Almelo. Opened originally in 1991, the complex consists of multiple rooms for events/meetings, a swimming pool, terrace, theater and multiple halls for bigger events.

De Broodfabriek, Rijswijk

The Broodfabriek is located in the former bread factory of the Hus bakery. For decades, thousands of loaves and pastries rolled off the assembly line here. The location of more than 17,500 m2 has now been converted into a versatile event location.

Ahoy, Rotterdam

Ahoy is a convention center and multi-purpose indoor arena located in Rotterdam. Opened originally in 1950, the current complex consists of three main venues: a fairs and event hall, a congress and conference center, and the Ahoy Arena. The venue has a capacity of 16.426 visitors as of April 2019.

World Forum, Den Haag

The World Forum is a concert venue and convention center in The Hague. Opened originally in 1969, the complex consists of multiple rooms for events/meetings, two large halls for bigger events and a big concert stage. The venue has a capacity of 5.000 visitors.

Theaterhotel Almelo, Almelo

The Theaterhotel Almelo is a combination of a hotel with 196 rooms and a theater with 850 seats in the city of Almelo. Opened originally in 1991, the complex consists of multiple rooms for events/meetings, an swimming pool, terrace, theater and multiple halls for bigger events. The venue hosts more than 100 events every year, these events consists of musicals, dance events, music events, cabaret, theatre events and conventions. The venue has a capacity of 2.500 visitors.

Hotel Haarlem-Zuid, Haarlem

Located on the edge of Haarlem, Van der Valk Hotel Haarlem has great accessibility. With 20 conference rooms of different sizes, it is an ideal location for events with many workshops. Over 300 rooms made sure festivals can go on until the dark hours of the night. The capacity is now 1300 visitors.

Koningshof, Veldhoven

The Koningshof is a combination of a hotel with 509 rooms and a conference center near the city of Veldhoven. It originates from 1886 as a monastery and serves as a hotel and congress center since 2010. The complex consists of multiple rooms for events/meetings, an swimming pool, terrace, multiple halls for bigger events and is surrounded by nature. The venue has a capacity of 8.500 visitors.

Holiday Inn, Rotterdam

The Holiday Inn in Rotterdam used to be at a very different place than where it is now. Located at the Schiedamsedijk, it had a view at the river Meuse and its, back then brand new, Erasmus bridge. Being the first AnimeCon location, it was the start of a journey lasting for more than 20 years.

Predecessors

Before AnimeCon started with the J-POP Foundation as organizor, there were predecessing events organized by the Dutch Anime Society and Anime Workgroup Holland.

These previous events were:

Made in Japan - Animation film cycle (co organized by AWH)
Location: Maastricht
Date: 1998
Number of visitors: Unknown
Special: Organized in a film theatre

Summer of Anime (AWH and DAS)
Location: Den Bosch
Date: 1998
Number of visitors: 150+
Special: First 2 day event

Second Impact (AWH)
Location: Maastricht
Date: 1998
Number of visitors: Between 100 and 150
Special: Sales people from Pioneer UK and Dynamic Benelux

Famicon III (DAS)
Location: Den Bosch
Date: 1997
Number of visitors: 110

Nacht van de grote Anime (AWH)
Location: Maastricht
Date: 1997
Number of visitors: 40

Famicon II (DAS)
Location: Den Bosch
Date: 1996
Number of visitors: 80

Famicon (festival named after the FaniManga fanzine) (DAS)
Location: Papendrecht, The Netherlands
Date: 1995
Number of visitors: 32 (including an American)