Our mission
CREATING
BIG BANGS
FOR YOU
For 75 years, our mission has been the same: to make each of our clients shine. With a brilliant event or an awareness campaign that makes people see the light.
The Friends is a team of 40 skilled professionals. People who go the extra mile for you - essentially, friends in every sense. Who always come up with something new, original and unforgettable. Who create big bangs, whatever the size. Just for you.
Our values
Excellence
We go for unparalleled perfection, down to the smallest details.
Team spirit
We prioritise a team spirit and collaboration amongst our different departments.
Bravery
No challenge is too big. We cultivate audacity and creative innovation.
Fun
We do what we love, which positively influences our work, colleagues and clients.
About
Our history
2023
An important milestone for our company, as 2023 marks our 75 years in business and we moved to Wauthier-Braine, where we have 1,500 square metres of space to expand our activities.
Verhulst & Friends is known as The Friends by Verhulst from now on. This new name anchors the restructuring of the company into 4 separate entities:
Events
VIP & Hospitality
Sponsoring
Communication
2022
Integration of Ghent-based agency 'Panache Events', bringing us (even greater) national reach.
2021
New management.
The team grows from 15 to 30 people working on events and communication campaigns.
Creation of a department entirely dedicated to Esports under the name Verhulst Mediasport. There is also a new department in charge of digital services.
2019
Launch of a communications department specialising in campaigns for government institutions.
This called for a new name for the agency: it is called Verhulst and Friends from now on.
2015
Co-organisation of the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and management of the VIP package.
2000
Development of the Packages and Hospitality divisions for Euro 2000.
The agency changes its name and is now called Verhulst events & partner. It becomes an established player in the Belgian events sector and is also very active in sports sponsorship.
1990s
Diversification of activities: from events management to selling 'public relations' packages. Just think of the creation of the Diabolix Business Club, the Red Devils VIP Village and the Van Damme Memorial Village.
1948
Creation of Pub Verhulst, named after its founder.
His expertise: managing billboards at Belgian and later European championship matches.
These people will make you shine!
Our team
Management
![Dimitri Verschueren - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_019.jpg)
Dimitri
Verschueren
Managing Partner & Head of Design
![Jonathan Jossart - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_001.jpg)
Jonathan
Jossart
Co-CEO
Managing Partner
![Anthony Delhauter - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_025.jpg)
Anthony
Delhauteur
Co-CEO
Managing Partner
Event
![Marie Lebbe - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_029.jpg)
Marie
Lebbe
Event Manager
![Savina de Wasseige - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_013.jpg)
Savina
de Wasseige
Event Manager
![Julie Van Goethem - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_009.jpg)
Julie
Van Goethem
Event Manager
![Charlotte Jonckheere - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_014.jpg)
Charlotte
Jonckheere
Team & Happiness Coordinator
![Magali Stas - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_011.jpg)
Magali
Stas de Richelle
Senior Event Manager
![France Dekeyser - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_024.jpg)
France
Dekeyser
Senior Event Manager
![Justine Deman - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_027.jpg)
Justine
Deman
Senior Event Manager
![Michael Veys - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_010.jpg)
Michael
Veys
Strategic project manager
![Jean-Paul Servais - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_021.jpg)
Jean-Paul
Servais
Creative Director
![Gautier Leclercq - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_023.jpg)
Gautier
Leclercq
Managing Partner & Head of Event
![Caroline Duchesne - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_012.jpg)
Caroline
Duchesne
Account & Senior Event Manager
![](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/12/caroline-thefriends-2.jpg)
Caroline
Maelcamp d’Opstaele
Junior Creative account
Sponsoring VIP & Hospitality
![Gonzague Lefere - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_017.jpg)
Gonzague
Lefere
Account & Senior Event Manager
![Cédric Deschutter - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_020.jpg)
Cédric
Deschutter
Account Manager
![Cédric Boulanger - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_015.jpg)
Cédric
Boulanger
Account Manager
![Thierry Verhulst - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_007.jpg)
Thierry
Verhulst
Account Director
![Alexandre de Chaffoy - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/alex-friends.jpg)
Alexandre
de Chaffoy
Account Manager
Communication
![](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/09/IMG_5098-2.jpg)
Martin
Manderveld
Front-end developer
![Manon Albers - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_032.jpg)
Manon
Albers
Account Executive
![Jérôme Jaumotte - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_030.jpg)
Jérôme
Jaumotte
Digital Expert
![Thierry de Swaef - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_033.jpg)
Thierry
de Swaef
Creative
![Alain Dressou - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_022.jpg)
Alain
Dressou
Creative Director
![Michel Huvenne - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_028.jpg)
Michel
Huvenne
Concept Leader
![Vanessa Warnant - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_006.jpg)
Vanessa
Warnant
Senior Graphic Designer
![Martin Depaire](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/martin-depaire.jpg)
Martin
Depaire
Back end developer
![Fabrice Gyre - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_016.jpg)
Fabrice
Gyre
Back end developer
![Gianluca Tiengo - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_004.jpg)
Gianluca
Tiengo
Front end developer
![Guillian Van Hoecke - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_002-2.jpg)
Guillian
Van Hoecke
Full stack developer
![Michael Robert - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_003-2.jpg)
Michael
Robert
Head of digital
![Mathilde Pinto - The Friends](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/VF_2023_Serie_2_026.jpg)
Mathilde
Pinto
Marketing & Communication
![](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/12/catherine.jpg)
Catherine
Pleeck
Strategy & Copy
Office
![](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/09/thais.jpg)
Thaïs
Smeekens
Office manager
![](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/06/martine.jpg)
Martine
Romignon
Accountant
![](https://www.thefriends.be/layout/uploads/2023/05/WhatsApp-Image-2023-12-19-at-14.01.10.jpeg)
An
De Kempeneer
Office Manager