Successful Intermediate Marina Management Course at VY Nieuwpoort
This year’s Intermediate Marina Management (IMM) course, hosted at VYNieuwpoort in Belgium, proved to be a fantastic opportunity for marina professionals across Northern Europe — thanks in part to the support of the TransEurope Marinas training bursary.
The course, a great example of how TransEurope Marinas invests in its members and their teams, encouraged cross-border collaboration and professional growth in a field where such training opportunities are rare.
Two participants who benefited from this year’s bursary were Dominique Van Broekhoven from VYNieuwpoort and Henk Prinsen, manager of Jachthaven Wetterwille in the Netherlands.
“It was a particularly valuable experience,” says Dominique. “I especially appreciated meeting other marina managers and sharing solutions to common challenges. Some of the topics were familiar to me, but the discussions about safety, legislation, and innovation offered fresh perspectives. The course was a great reminder to stay alert to new developments and technologies in our sector.”
Henk Prinsen shares a similar view: “Coming from a marketing background, the IMM course was a completely new and enriching experience. The sessions on Health & Safety, Environment, and Maritime Law were particularly relevant and practical.”
One of the highlights for him was the field visit to both VYNieuwpoort and Watersportkring Luchtmacht vzw. “That behind-the-scenes visit was unique,” Henk explains. “It was inspiring to see how marinas with different target audiences can successfully coexist.”
According to Mieke Vleugels CMM, managing partner at Jachthaven Wetterwille, Henk returned from the course “with a broader perspective, greater enthusiasm, and a wealth of fresh ideas.”
This training not only advanced the participants’ professional development but also strengthened the bonds within the TransEurope Marinas network, showing how this initiative effectively motivates, prepares, and upskills team members.