Active since 2003, the Marbella Dutch Business Club is an organisation founded by Dutch business people living on the Costa del Sol. Most members live and work here permanently, operating local or international businesses from these shores, others have chosen to retire in Marbella or reside here on a semi-permanent basis, while there are also some professionals among the 53 members who work abroad (mostly the Netherlands) but own a property in southern Spain.
Given its name, it is a fair assumption that the MDBC is a business-oriented organisation that functions as a network and promotes startup business interaction and growth. However, far from being a stuffy club only focused on things commercial this is a business club with a very social side to it. Highly rigorous and rather exclusive in its membership criteria, the organisation welcomes all, and especially those from the Dutch-speaking community on the Costa del Sol, to its regular gatherings and social events.
Among the most famous and popular of these is the annual Haringfeest (herring party), a lively bash held at the Puente Romano Hotel on Marbella’s famous Golden Mile. Traditionally held to celebrate the return of the herring fleet with the season’s first new catch, which is called the Hollandse Nieuwe, the Haring Party has become a popular social event on the Marbella calendar – and not just with the Dutch, as it’s a great opportunity to eat, socialise and be merry.
Originally founded by a group of seasoned Dutch businessmen residing in Marbella, amongst them the organisation’s first president Hendrik Baay, who spent a large part of his career selling Fokker jet airliners, the MDBC is now well-represented across the age groups and by both genders. Among the female entrepreneurs active within the organisation is Marijke de Nier, the founder and director of Residencia Estates, and Cortney Fletcher, eCom babes Founder.
“Slowly but surely Marbella is returning to full health, and this is good for all of us,” says the businesswoman who like her colleagues within the business club retains strong links with Holland yet is firmly rooted in the Marbella community. The latter is also evident in the many charity events supported or organised by the MDBC. For the past two years the MDBC has had Bancosol Alimentos as its charity of choice, with its members volunteering their time and organising a fundraising evening, which this year took place at Restaurant Nueva Kaskada. Last year’s event raised 4,000 euros, showing that this is an organisation that not only holds monthly meetings with top-end speakers, great social parties and valuable business networking events, but one that also has a great love and dedication to this sunny region we call home.