Tiqets
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tiqets is an online service for booking tickets to museums, heritage sites, and attractions, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Sagrada Família, and Vatican Museums.[1][2] It was established in Amsterdam in late 2013. The platform works in over 60 countries and offers mobile apps for iOS and Android.[3][4]
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel and tourism |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Key people | Laurens Leurink – CEO
Maarten Raaijmakers – CSO Robert Westers – COO Stef Pillen – CFO Santiago Hirschfeld - CTO |
| Products | Online tickets for tourist attractions worldwide |
| Website | tiqets |
Overview
History
Tiqets was founded in 2013 by Luuc Elzinga, Maarten Raaijmakers, and other partners to simplify access to cultural experiences through mobile technology.[3][4] The company is headquartered in Amsterdam and has additional offices in Bangkok, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, London, and Philadelphia.[2] It focuses on using technology to simplify ticket booking for museums and attractions.
Expansion and financial developments
In 2019, Tiqets received a major investment of $60 million in a Series C funding round led by Airbnb. This helped the company expand its services to more countries.[3][4]
In 2020, Laurens Leurink became the new CEO, while founder Luuc Elzinga moved to the role of President. In 2021, Tiqets integrated its booking service with Apple Maps, allowing users to buy tickets directly from the app.[1]
In 2025, the company secured a loan of 25 million euros from ABN AMRO. This was used to refinance existing debt and support its growth in Europe.
Partnerships
Tiqets works with cultural institutions and tourist platforms to connect users with attractions worldwide. They partner with travel companies like Ctrip and Klook.
Awards and recognitions
- 2016 & 2017 – Winner of the Adyen Tech5 Award for fastest-growing startup in the Netherlands.
- 2018 – Named Ticketing Business of the Year at TheTicketingBusiness Forum Awards.
- 2019 – Honored as Top Foreign Travel Scaleup at the Uzakrota Travel Summit.
- 2021 – Won a Travel & Hospitality Award (Asia category) for service resilience during the pandemic.
Awards
Since 2017, Tiqets has organized the Remarkable Venue Awards to celebrate the best museums and attractions worldwide. Categories include Best Museum, Best Landmark, Best Family Experience, and more.[1] Winners are chosen through customer reviews, public votes, and expert judges.
In 2024, Tiqets started regional awards in countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy. Winners from these regions then compete for global titles. For example, Keukenhof and Sagrada Familia were among the 2024 winners. Special awards like Most Innovative Venue and Best Hidden Gem highlight creativity and unique experiences. The awards use millions of reviews and thousands of votes to pick the best attractions every year.