Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 25, 2026

Tiqets

Tiqets is an online service for booking tickets to museums, heritage sites, and attractions, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Sagrada Família, and Vatican Museums. It was established in Amsterdam in late 2013. The platform works in over 60 countries and offers mobile apps for iOS and Android. In 2016 TNW named Tiqets the fastest-growing startup in the Netherlands.

Last revised
Jul 25, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
627 w
Citations
17
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Tiqets
TypePrivate
IndustryTravel and tourism
Founded2013
HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
Key people
Laurens Leurink – CEO

Maarten Raaijmakers – CSO Robert Westers – COO Stef Pillen – CFO

Santiago Hirschfeld - CTO
ProductsOnline tickets for tourist attractions worldwide
ParentExpedia Group
Websitetiqets.com

Tiqets is an online service for booking tickets to museums, heritage sites, and attractions, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Sagrada Família, and Vatican Museums.12 It was established in Amsterdam in late 2013. The platform works in over 60 countries and offers mobile apps for iOS and Android.34 In 2016 TNW named Tiqets the fastest-growing startup in the Netherlands.5

Overview

History

Tiqets was founded in 2013 by Luuc Elzinga, Maarten Raaijmakers, and other partners to simplify access to cultural experiences through mobile technology.34 The company is headquartered in Amsterdam and has additional offices in Bangkok, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, London, and Philadelphia.2 It focuses on using technology to simplify ticket booking for museums and attractions.

Expansion and financial developments

In 2019, Tiqets received a major investment of $60 million in a Series C funding round led by Airbnb. This helped the company expand its services to more countries.34

In 2020, Laurens Leurink became the new CEO, while founder Luuc Elzinga moved to the role of President. In 2021, Tiqets integrated its booking service with Apple Maps, allowing users to buy tickets directly from the app.1

In 2022 the company announced partnerships with Hong Kong-based online travel company Klook and global travel service provider Trip.com Group.67

In 2025, the company secured a loan of 25 million euros from ABN AMRO. This was used to refinance existing debt and support its growth in Europe.

In December 2025, the company was acquired8 by Expedia Group.

Partnerships

Tiqets works with cultural institutions and tourist platforms to connect users with attractions worldwide. They partner with travel companies like Ctrip and Klook.

Awards and recognitions

  • 2016 & 2017 – Winner of the Adyen Tech5 Award for fastest-growing startup in the Netherlands.
  • 2018 – Named Ticketing Business of the Year at TheTicketingBusiness Forum Awards.
  • 2019 – Honored as Top Foreign Travel Scaleup at the Uzakrota Travel Summit.
  • 2021 – Won a Travel & Hospitality Award (Asia category) for service resilience during the pandemic.

Awards

Since 2017, Tiqets has organized the Remarkable Venue Awards to celebrate the best museums and attractions worldwide. Categories include Best Museum, Best Landmark, Best Family Experience, and more.1 Winners are chosen through customer reviews, public votes, and expert judges.

In 2024, Tiqets started regional awards in countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy. Winners from these regions then compete for global titles. For example, Keukenhof and Sagrada Familia were among the 2024 winners.910 Special awards like Most Innovative Venue and Best Hidden Gem highlight creativity and unique experiences. The awards use millions of reviews and thousands of votes to pick the best attractions every year.

References

References

  1. Coates, Charlotte. "Tiqets integrates with Apple Maps mobile application | blooloop". blooloop.com. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  2. "Business Insider - Latest News in Tech, Markets, Economy & Innovation". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  3. Lunden, Ingrid (2019-10-29). "Tiqets, a platform for booking museums and other attractions, raises $60M led by Airbnb". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  4. Loritz, Mary (2019-10-29). "Amsterdam-based Tiqets raises a €54 million funding round led by Airbnb". EU-Startups. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  5. Gool, Lorenz van (2016-04-01). "How Tiqets became the fastest-growing Dutch startup". TNW. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  6. "Tiqets, Klook announce strategic global partnership". TravelMole. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  7. "Trip.com Group Announces Strategic Partnership Deal with Tiqets to Expand Culture & Leisure Experiences Offering". www.newswire.ca. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  8. "Expedia Group Announces Agreement to Acquire Tiqets to Expand Global Activities and Experiences". ir.expediagroup.com. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  9. Marqués, Maria (11 November 2024). "Meet the Winners of the 2024 Remarkable Venue Awards – tiqets.com". Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  10. "Tiqets awards recognize Barcelona's Sagrada Familia as the best monument in the world". La Vanguardia. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2026-06-28.