Dating Agencies: The Professional Matchmakers of The Netherlands

Relationship mediation comes in many shapes and sizes. Traditionally, it was done mainly via-via: a friend or girlfriend took on the role of mediator and the spark would hopefully fly between the two introducees during a blind date . However, nowadays there are also professional relationship mediators, namely in the form of official dating agencies.

That in itself is not surprising: many people don’t know where to start if they want to find a new partner. And with the help of a relationship agency, we work in a very targeted manner. Meeting people isn’t that difficult, but if you ‘re really looking for a relationship , you don’t want to waste time and shoot straight.

Relationship agencies were created to match single men and women. Unlike many dating sites, most relationship agencies only have a long-term goal. A relationship agency offers a solution, especially for people who are tired of swiping and have had enough of short-term encounters. We will therefore tell you more about relationship agencies and the Trade Association Singles Quality Mark.

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What is a relationship agency?

Relationship mediation has always existed: mediating in relationships was one of the many tasks of the village priest, just like that of Jewish rabbis and Hindu astrologers. Today we can seek the professional help of a relationship agency.

The mediator at that agency is called a consultant or matchmaker. These consultants offer services to bring single men and women in contact with other singles who have the goal of finding a partner. Unlike many dating sites and websites that focus on sexual contacts, we are really talking about mediation in serious relationships .

In the most ideal case, this will lead to a marriage and so it is not surprising that the relationship agencies in question charge money for their services. We are talking about entire companies that are personally involved in matching people. These are the best-known relationship agencies:

• People & Relationships
• Partnerselect relationship mediation
• B-Loved
• Just2Match
• Date & Match
• Matchmaking Bureau DTNG Exclusive
• Foundation Date
• Date For 2
• Future of Relationship Mediation
• Dating East

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What does a relationship agency do?

Relationship agencies therefore work with consultants who try to provide the most personal service possible. This means that personal contact is an important part of relationship mediation. For this reason, a consultant really wants to know who he or she is dealing with. Only when the consultant knows who you are, what concerns you, and what you are looking for, he or she can start looking for a suitable partner. Most agencies often follow the following steps:

1. Intake interview

Relationship mediation is a very personal service and personal contact therefore plays a fundamental role. The consultant wants to get to know you well and usually takes plenty of time to do so. During an intake interview at a location to be agreed upon, everything will be discussed: your personal interests, your work, previous relationships, your wishes; you name it. After all, the consultant not only wants to know what you are looking for, but also wants to have a better picture of you.

2. The selection

Based on the intake interview and the membership file, a suitable match is sought. Not only external preferences are considered, but also personal interests and other criteria that you and the other candidate consider important. Only when the consultant is convinced that someone has been found for you, he or she will be introduced to you. After all, love must come from both sides.

3. The meeting

Already during the selection process, work is being done towards a possible personal meeting. After all, that is the goal: you want to meet someone with whom you can build something in the long term. Both you and the other candidate will see each other’s profile and photos with the hope that you are both enthusiastic. Is that the case? Then a meeting follows.

4. The click

Did both sides like the meeting and do you both feel a click ? Then that could be the start of something very beautiful. Yet we do not live in a perfect world and it is not inconceivable that one or both of you do not feel a connection during the meeting. In that case, go back to the second step: the selection.

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Online dating agency

Thanks to modern possibilities, dating agencies have moved part of their service to the internet. Both the registration, the contact between the agency and the candidate, and the first contacts between the candidates themselves, often take place online via the online platform of the mediation agency. This not only makes the dating process a lot faster, but also a lot cheaper.

However, the mistake should not be made that an online dating agency is the same as a dating site. After all, there is no mediation on a standard dating site or app. In addition, the objectives are also different: many dating sites are about light-hearted, short-term, and sometimes exclusive sexual contact , while a dating agency is more about a permanent relationship. There is quite a difference between them.

Of course, there are dating sites that focus on serious relationships. However, the mediation is not done personally by the dating site, but by an algorithm that matches members to each other: a significant difference.

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For who is it?

Using a dating agency is meant for anyone looking for a steady relationship, although many dating agencies do have a minimum age of somewhere in the 20s. Teenagers and people in their early twenties are often too fickle to want a long-term relationship and we can’t really blame them.

Relationship agencies are mainly intended for people with little time. These are often people who are stopped from going out into the nightlife for a reason. For example, think of people who are insecure, have had a difficult relationship , or are simply too busy with their job and other activities.

Relationship agencies are there for all those people who want to, but cannot. The great thing, however, is that every candidate has their own story. They are not hopeless figures, but people who have something to offer. And what’s more, it says a lot about how serious someone is when they use a relationship agency to find a match.

Trade association Singles Quality Mark

The usefulness of dating agencies seems clear to us, but that does not immediately mean that you should just go with the first relationship mediator you come across. As a member, you pay for the service and we are talking about personal advice that can have a big impact on the rest of your life.

You would therefore be wise to first check whether a dating agency delivers good results and, for example, has the  Trade Association Singles Quality Mark (BVSK) . This is a quality mark for both dating agencies and websites that focus on relationship mediation. The aim of this association is to guarantee safe dating to the people who register for it.

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What must a relationship agency adhere to?

A relationship agency with such a quality mark must therefore adhere to various rules. For example, the general terms and conditions must be clearly communicated and the personal data of the candidates must be stored securely. This data may also not be shared or sold to third parties. The profiles on the website are also constantly checked to prevent fake members as much as possible.

1. At least 2 years active in relationship mediation.
2. Office owner has sufficient life experience.
3. The agency has sufficient knowledge in the social field.
4. The agency guarantees the quality of relationship mediation.
5. Mediation by the agency assumes a sustainable relationship (m/f, m/m, f/f).

When you meet someone through a dating agency, you usually don’t have to worry about whether this person really exists: every registration is checked manually. That’s different on online dating sites. In short, it comes down to the fact that in dating mediation it’s about the quality of the members, not the quantity.

Our advice? If you go for relationship mediation, choose an agency that has this quality mark. We wish you much success in your search for a new partner. But make sure you are in good hands!

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