From its inception, from 1984 to the present, the Patronaat has only grown on all fronts. At the time, the South Kennemerland Pop Music Foundation occupied the gymnasium of the old Catholic boys' school at Zijlsingel 2. This turned out to be excellently suited for use as a concert hall. In the first year, approximately 60 concerts were organized, which attracted a total of 10,000 visitors. The organization started with about 20 volunteers, but the staff has now grown to almost 200 people, of which 90 are voluntary employees and 110 professionals. As a result, Het Patronaat has grown from a small volunteer organization into a professional music venue.
With a strong programming and its own character, the Patronaat has been one of the core stages of the Netherlands for years. The opening of the new building in September 2005 only strengthened this position. The range of programs has been expanded even more and, as a result, more broadening of the target groups.
The current Patronaat consists of: Hall 1 with a capacity of 1000, Hall 2 with a capacity of 350, the atmospheric Hall 3 (where up to 120 people can experience small-scale performances) and even a Hall 4, where fun parties in the private atmosphere can be held (which is of course also possible in the other rooms). Thanks to all these halls, Patronaat can have a clear breeding ground for the local Haarlem and nationally emerging musical talent, and can follow their careers 'under one roof', as it were.
