You have planned a great event, the venue is booked, and you are all set. But then comes the big question: how do you ensure that people actually show up? The answer starts with one important step: selling tickets for your event.
For many beginners, this feels like a major hurdle. Where do you start? Which platform do you choose? And how do you ensure that people actually buy your tickets? It might sound complicated, but with the right approach, it is much simpler than you think.
In this blog, we take you step by step through the entire process. You will learn which tools and platforms work best for your situation, how to set up your first tickets, and how to bring your event to the attention of the right people. After reading this article, you will know exactly where to start and can start selling your first tickets today. Sounds good, right? Let's dive in!
Why online ticket sales will no longer be a luxury in 2026
The Dutch events market is buzzing like never before. Festivals like Pinkpop and Lowlands sold out lightning fast in 2025, and smaller local events such as neighborhood concerts, workshops, and church services are also noticing a significant increase in demand for tickets. People want to be quick, and if your ticket sales aren't in order, you are missing out on visitors before they even get the chance to pay.
But selling out doesn't happen automatically. Nowadays, visitors expect a flawless buying experience. More than 70% of all ticket purchases are made via mobile phone, and an optimized purchasing process can increase your conversion rate by 15 to 30% compared to a cumbersome form or an outdated sign-up page. Anyone who makes their visitors struggle through a complicated ordering process simply loses them to something else. One click too many, a payment method that doesn't work, and they're gone.
The resale market also plays a role in this. New rules enable organizers to set a minimum resale price, which means that having your own primary sales channel becomes even more valuable. You determine the price, you stay in control.
Moreover, QR codes and mobile access control are no longer a fancy extra, but the standard. Visitors expect an e-ticket in their mailbox immediately after purchase. And as an organizer, you naturally want to know how many tickets have already been sold so that you can adjust your catering, staff, and seating plan in time. With the right approach to online ticket sales and insight into how to increase ticket sales for your event, you immediately put yourself in a strong position as an organizer.
What do you need before you start?
Before you sell your first ticket, it is smart to take five minutes to get everything in order. You need less than you think, but good preparation makes the difference between a smooth launch and unnecessary stress.
Gather the basic information about your event. Note the name, date, time, and location. Add a short, catchy description that gets people excited. Think about: what can visitors expect, and why shouldn't they miss it? An atmospheric photo or banner immediately makes your sales page much more attractive and professional.
Decide on your ticket types and prices. Will you sell free tickets, paid tickets, or a combination? An early bird discount is a proven way to quickly secure initial sales and create momentum immediately. Platforms like Eventgoose clearly explain how to offer multiple ticket types side by side.
Make sure your bank details are ready. After your event, you will want to receive the proceeds immediately. Kaartjie .nl will promptly pay out the ticket revenue to you, provided your bank account was entered correctly during registration.
Technical knowledge? Not necessary. You don't need your own website, a subscription, or IT experience. With Kaartjie .nl, you are live within minutes, with no startup costs. You simply pay €0.35 per free ticket or €0.80 per paid ticket, including iDEAL transaction fees.
Finally, come up with a simple promotion plan. To whom will you send the link to your sales page? A group chat, a newsletter, or a quick social media post is often enough to reach the first visitors. You can also find more practical tips in this overview of tips for ticket sales. Is all of this ready? Then it is time for the next step: creating your event.
Step by step: how to set up a ticket sales page
Right, let's walk through it step by step. You'll see that it's much simpler than you might expect.
Step 1: Create an account
Go to Kaartjie or another ticket platform of your choice and create a free account. At Kaartjie you pay no subscription and no setup fees, which means you spend zero euros until a ticket is actually sold. This makes getting started very accessible, especially if you are trying to sell event tickets for the first time. After registration, you will receive an activation email and can get started immediately, without any technical knowledge.
Step 2: Enter your event details
Once you are logged in, create a new event. Enter the name, date, time, and location, and write a description that truly convinces people. Tell attendees what to expect, what the atmosphere is like, and why this event is worthwhile. A strong description is not an afterthought; it is the first thing potential buyers read and therefore directly influences how many tickets you sell.
Step 3: Set ticket types and prices
Determine which ticket types you want to offer, such as a standard ticket, an early bird rate, or a VIP option. Set a maximum number per type so that you never sell more than there are seats available. At Kaartjie , you pay only €0.35 per ticket for free events and €0.80 for paid events, including iDEAL transaction fees.
Step 4: Activate your page and share the link
With one click, you activate your sales page and receive a unique link. Share this via social media, a group chat, or your newsletter. More than 70% of ticket purchases today take place via phone, so ensure your link is easy to open on mobile.
Step 5: Track sales and make adjustments
Via your dashboard, you can see in real time how many tickets have been sold. Is sales moving a bit slowly? Then send a reminder via your channels or consider a temporary promotion. Is capacity approaching? Communicate that as well, because scarcity motivates people to make quick decisions.
iDEAL payment: why this makes the difference for Dutch buyers
iDEAL | Wero is by far the most used payment method in the Netherlands and accounts for more than 80% of all online transactions. This is no coincidence: the Dutch trust their own banking app, are familiar with the interface, and know exactly what happens when they click "Pay". For you as an organizer, this means that visitors will drop out without hesitation as soon as iDEAL | Wero is missing. If you do offer it, you lower the barrier to almost zero.
No account needed, just pay
This is perhaps the biggest advantage for small events such as workshop nights, church services, or neighborhood activities. Someone buying a ticket for a yoga workshop or a local concert does not want to first create a profile, come up with a password, and wait for a confirmation email. That takes time and causes people to drop out. With iDEAL | Wero, the buyer selects a ticket, is redirected to their trusted banking app, and is done. It is that simple.
Transparent costs, no surprises
At Kaartjie , iDEAL transaction fees are fully included in the rate of €0.80 per paid ticket . You therefore pay one fixed amount per sold ticket, without hidden service fees afterwards. By comparison, credit card payments typically cost organizers 2 to 4% per transaction. With one hundred €25 tickets, that adds up quickly.
Your e-ticket straight to your inbox
As soon as a buyer completes the payment via iDEAL | Wero, they automatically receive an e-ticket by email with a unique QR code. You don't have to do anything; the system handles it fully automatically. This reduces no-shows, eliminates manual ticket management, and makes access control simple and reliable. Want to know more about how to sell tickets online with iDEAL | Wero? That explains exactly what happens technically behind the scenes.
Free events also fully covered
Are you organizing a free information meeting or open day? Then at Kaartjie you pay only €0.35 per registered participant , including all functionality. This way, you know in advance how many people will attend, without any surprises afterwards.
On-the-day access control: here is how to validate QR tickets
The good news: on the day of your event, you don't need to rent expensive scanning equipment or hire extra technical staff. A standard smartphone or tablet is all you need to validate QR tickets, even if you are organizing a smaller workshop or neighborhood concert.
How it works in three steps:
Open the access control in Kaartjie .nl – the scan function is built directly into the platform, so you do not need a separate app or paid tool.
Point the camera at the QR ticket – this works for both digital tickets on a smartphone and printed versions.
View the result – green means valid, red means previously scanned or invalid.
Each QR ticket contains a unique code that is valid only once. As soon as someone enters and the ticket is scanned, the system immediately marks it as used. Does a visitor share a screenshot with a friend? That friend simply won't be allowed in. Research into QR ticket validation confirms that duplicates are detected and rejected in less than a second.
Prepare a day in advance. Designate beforehand who will scan the QR codes and test the scanning process at home. This will prevent hassle at the door if visitors are already waiting. Also, ensure a good Wi-Fi or 4G connection at the location so that the validation runs smoothly.
Volunteers really don't need a technical background. The scanning process is so intuitive that you can explain it in two minutes, even to someone who has never scanned tickets before. Give them brief verbal instructions and have them scan one test ticket beforehand. That is all that is needed.
How much does selling tickets cost? An honest comparison for small organizers.
If you want to organize event ticket sales for the first time, the question regarding costs is often the first hurdle. What do you actually pay? And are there hidden costs you might encounter afterwards?
The honest explanation is that ticket platforms differ significantly in how they calculate costs. Some platforms charge a percentage of every ticket sold, which adds up quickly for paid events. For a €25 ticket, a percentage of 7% can easily mean that nearly €2 per ticket goes to the platform, even before any payment processing fees. Therefore, with platforms that charge a percentage, costs rise as your ticket price increases.
Platforms with extensive functionalities, such as CRM systems, WhatsApp marketing tools, and comprehensive dashboards, are valuable for large professional organizations that regularly host events. However, for a one-off workshop, a neighborhood concert, or a church activity, all that extra functionality is simply not necessary. It only leads to more onboarding time and a higher barrier before you have sold even a single ticket.
Kaartjie .nl deliberately chooses a different approach. You pay €0.35 per free ticket and €0.80 per paid ticket, and the iDEAL transaction fees are already included in that price. No subscription, no setup costs, no hidden surcharges. To put it concretely: for an event with 100 paid tickets, you pay a total of €80, period. That is all.
For non-commercial organizers such as churches, sports clubs, and neighborhood associations, predictability is worth its weight in gold. There is no room for unpleasant surprises afterward, and the budget for a ticketing platform is usually nil. A fixed low rate per ticket fits perfectly with this: you know exactly what it costs in advance, and you have more left over for the event itself.
Common mistakes in ticket sales and how to avoid them
Launching your sales page is one thing, but there are a few pitfalls that many novice organizers fall into. If you recognize them in time, you will save yourself a lot of stress on the day itself.
Starting the sale too late
This is by far the most common mistake. Many organizers wait until a week in advance to launch their page, but visitors are deciding earlier and earlier whether to attend. Open your sales page at least four to six weeks in advance. Especially now that resale platforms are increasingly restricting cheap last-minute tickets, the official presale is the only reliable purchasing moment for your audience.
Unclear information on your page
A description without a time, location, or program is guaranteed to cause people to drop off. As Eventplanner.nl rightly points out , the usability of your event page has a direct impact on how many tickets you sell. Include at least the date, start time, address, and a brief program description in your event description. This also helps prevent a flood of questions via WhatsApp or email.
Do not set a capacity limit
Don't forget to set a maximum number of tickets. Without a limit, it may be technically possible to sell more tickets than there are seats or square meters. This leads to unpleasant situations at the door and angry visitors who have legitimately purchased a ticket.
Do not actively share the page
A page that is online but not shared anywhere sells nothing. Consciously plan at least two to three promotional moments: an announcement at the start of sales, a reminder halfway through, and a final call in the week before the event. Social media, an email list, or a WhatsApp group are all effective channels.
Lack of clarity regarding service charges
Be honest about the final cost of a ticket. If buyers suddenly see extra costs at checkout, they will drop out or mistrust will arise. Communicate the final price, including service fees, in your promotion. At Kaartjie , this is simple: €0.35 per ticket for free events and €0.80 for paid events, including iDEAL transaction fees—no surprises afterwards.
Selling tickets works for every type of event
You might think that online ticket sales are mainly for large festivals or professional theaters. But nothing could be further from the truth. Whether you are organizing an intimate concert in a local pub or a chess tournament for your neighborhood association, a ticket sales page works for every type of event.
Concerts and musical performances are perhaps the most obvious examples. From a local band night to an intimate jazz evening in a small venue: as soon as you sell tickets online, you see at a glance how many people are actually attending. No manual lists to keep track of, no surprises at the door.
Workshops and courses benefit enormously from a ticket limit. Set your maximum number of participants, and the system automatically stops selling as soon as the workshop is full. Because participants pay in advance via iDEAL | Wero, you significantly reduce the chance of no-shows, as people who have already paid simply show up.
Church services and religious gatherings requiring reservations are easy to arrange via online ticket sales , even if admission is free. For just €0.35 per ticket, you get a clear, hassle-free sign-up list.
Sports clubs and neighborhood events such as a club dinner or neighborhood party benefit greatly from simple iDEAL payment. No collecting cash, no reserving unpaid seats.
Theater plays and school performances often require multiple ticket types: adult, child, and volunteer. You can easily set this up via 'Sell tickets for each event,' without any technical knowledge.
Conclusion: launch your first sales page today
Selling event tickets online is truly within everyone's reach, even if you have never set up a sales page before or have no technical background. You don't need a large budget, expensive software, or a team of specialists. With the right tool, you can be up and running within fifteen minutes.
The key is choosing a platform that suits your situation. For small and medium-sized events, a low rate per ticket sold, without a monthly subscription, is the fairest and most affordable choice. You only pay when you actually make a sale, which keeps the risk for you as an organizer to a minimum.
Furthermore, ensure that your sales page is live on time, that all information is accurate, and that you think in advance about how you will distribute the link. Whether via WhatsApp, social media, or your newsletter, a concrete plan makes the difference between a silent page and a sold-out event.
With Kaartjie .nl, you set this up without startup costs or a subscription, visitors pay securely via iDEAL | Wero, and you scan QR tickets at the entrance via your smartphone. Everything in one platform.
Just start small. Learn from your first event, see what works well, and build from there. Ticket sales really don't have to be complicated.
Conclusion
You now have everything you need to start selling tickets for your event today. Let's list the key points:
Online ticket sales will be indispensable for every event in 2026.
Choosing the right platform makes the process simple and professional.
A smart marketing strategy ensures that your tickets are actually sold.
Good preparation saves you time, stress, and money.
The beauty is that you don't have to wait for the perfect moment. Start small, learn along the way, and optimize where necessary. Every successful event begins with that first step.
So what are you waiting for? Choose your platform today, get your tickets ready, and start promoting your event. Your audience is waiting!