1.1 Membership

• Anyone who shows an interest in one of the events organized by Reffurence, will apply for membership when registering for one of those events.
• Every member of Reffurence agrees to abide by the Code of Conduct as a condition of participating in the event(s) as an attendee or volunteer and receiving a badge.
• This code of conduct applies to members of Reffurence at all event premises or outside of those premises, regardless of whether the event has officially begun or ended.
• Events and private locations are for the exclusive enjoyment of our members.
• Reffurence classifies as a private event and thus we reserve the right to refuse, cancel, or revoke memberships and/or registrations with or without a reason. This is deemed valid before, during and after events organized by Reffurence.

1.2 Enforcement and/or Revocation

• Failure to abide by this code of conduct may result in any of the following:
• A written (or digital) warning.
• Revocation of membership and confiscation of the eventbadge.
• Referral to venue stewards.
• Referral to law enforcement agencies.

1.3 Revocation authority

• Any member who has violated the code of conduct, evinced and decreed by the chairman of Reffurence (or the mandated boardmember) may have their membership revoked, and ejected from the event.
• Individuals refused or ejected from the premises of any venue by the staff of the venue will automatically have their Reffurence membership revoked.
• Any individual whose membership has been revoked is automatically prohibited from registering for any subsequent events organized by Reffurence. Until such time as their attendance is approved by the board of Reffurence.
• Revocation of membership may only be appealed in writing to the board in advance of the events at: board@reffurence.com

Reffurence is portrait as a professional event of social, respectful and open-minded members of the furry community and those who are interested in our event. To limit the number of misunderstandings about what kind of behaviour is generally acceptable and required during our event, you are expected to follow these rules.

Also keep in mind that these rules are applicable during the entire period in time of the event, including early arrival and late departure and moments outside of the venue, but still during the event period. These rules and conditions apply to all attendees, dealers, volunteers, staff-members and/or guests.

3.1 Registration and Badges

• Attendees must be at least 18 years old at the first day of attending the event.
• Attendees are required to present their legal photo ID or passport at check-in time. Your ID details must match the information in our electronic records.
• Reffurence classifies as a private event and thus we reserve the right to refuse, cancel, or revoke registrations with or without a reason.
• You are required to wear your event badge visibly at all times, also during fursuiting, so that you can be identified as an attendee of the event.
• Attending without a valid event badge or impersonating another attendee by using their event badge is not permitted.
• You may not impersonate official event roles, communications, or announcements.
• Changing or covering up identifying information on your badge is not allowed. Including digital information like, NFC-tags, magnetic strips, barcodes, etc.
• Staying overnight in event hotels without a valid hotel booking is not allowed. So-called 'ghosting'. This will result in a permanent refusal from the event.
• It is not permitted to facilitate for someone else to stay overnight without a valid hotel booking or to attend without a valid badge.
• If you have lost your room key, please contact the hotel front desk and our security team immediately. Reffurence does not accept any liability resulting from lost room keys.
• If you are not compliant with any of these rules, could result in you (and/or others) being removed from the event for the rest of the session.

3.2 General behavior and decency

We have a clear policy of “YES means YES”: do not pursue other people sexually or otherwise unless you have Unambiguous Consent (i.e. you're in a relationship together) from them. This also includes the clear policy of “NO means NO”. If someone asks you to stop, then stop and do what is asked from you. If you are asked to leave them alone, then leave.

• Appropriate behavior is expected at all times. This includes the expected behavior to treat others respectfully.
• If you are feeling unsafe or need assistance. Please contact the hotel front desk or the Reffurence safety team immediately. The emergency phone number is printed on the badge.
• It should go without saying that some people reserve any kind of physical contact to their close friends and family only. If you are not sure somebody wants to be hugged, tackled, pounced, or otherwise assaulted, please ask the person first.
• You are liable for any damage you may cause to the property of another attendee or to property of the hotels or event spaces.
• Personal audio systems (e.g., Bluetooth speakers) must be kept at a courteous volume at all times. If anyone complains about noise levels from your device, you must either lower the volume, switch it off, or move to a place where no one is bothered.
• If you are not compliant with any of these rules, could result in you (and/or others) being removed from the event for the rest of the session. Severe occurrences could even force Reffurence to get the authorities involved, and always result in you being removed from the event and banned from future events.

3.3 Hate speech, discrimination and racism

• Any speech that expresses, encourages, or supports discrimination, violence, or harassment based on race, sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, nationality, or disability is strictly forbidden.
• Symbols of movements or organisations that support or encourage hateful behaviour are not allowed to be worn at the event in any form.

3.4 Fursuiting

There is nothing more important than your health. If there is a medical emergency or risk thereof, please remove your fursuit as soon as possible, no matter when or where you are, please contact the hotel front desk or the Reffurence safety team immediately. The emergency phone number is printed on the badge.

• It is preferred that all the fursuiters keep their fursuit head and costume on in public area's and the corridors. Headless zones and other areas (i.e. the fursuit lounge) exempt from this advice will be marked.
• If you need to take off your head and parts temporarily to adjust your fursuit or with any other reason, please do so in a headless area, or find a secluded location to do so. This to prevent that pictures and video's being taken from your 'normal' face instead of your fursuit head.
• For non-fursuit attendees and fursuit attendees, you are expected to treat fursuiters carefully, in order not to damage the costume or the person inside of it.

3.5 Clothing and decency

Use common sense in public areas. Any item of clothing, apparel, or similar items which are likely to bring the event and/or fandom into disrepute must not be worn in public. If you have to ask or think twice about doing something in public, take it to your room.

• It is expected that all the attendees are expected to not cause any offense amongst other attendees and people present that could be sharing the public (event) spaces. During office hours a dress code applies, whilst outside of the office hours (after dark, 21:00hr / 09:00PM) we are more likely to be more permissive.
• When in public areas of the hotels and event areas, attendees may not wear clothing or accessories which are overly revealing, inappropriate to the atmosphere of the event, the event and hotel image, or likely to draw reasonable complaints or offense.
• Wearing costumes, accessories, or displaying items made out of real fur or parts of humans, animals or other living or deceased creatures is not allowed.
• The display of any kind of offensive symbols is prohibited.
• Walking barefoot is not allowed in hotels and event spaces.
• Nudity (including string underwear, a thong, or similar) is not allowed in public.
• Anatomically correct costumes, furry or otherwise, must be decently clothed as stated in this paragraph.
• Sexual behavior that goes beyond a mere display of affection is not allowed in public.
• Display of adult-themed materials is not permitted in public areas of the hotel. This includes (but is not limited to): room signs, flyers, business cards, posters, and drawings on public message boards.
• Exposure of fetish gear – that is, outfits of a sexual nature – is not permitted in public, even if it is part of a costume. This can include, for example, bondage gear, pup hoods, harnesses, or muzzles; or materials such as rubber, latex, spandex, or lycra. Non-sexual accessories, for example dog harnesses on fursuits, are allowed.
• Leashes are not permitted on persons (including fursuiters) for safety reasons.
• Body paint is not allowed to be used.
• Event staff reserves the right to determine whether any clothing and/or accessories contravene these rules.

3.6 Alcohol and drugs

• You are expected to drink responsibly. You will be held liable for what you say and do, even if intoxicated. Reffurence and the venue always has the right to stop serving you alcoholic beverages.
• Persons who are intoxicated to the point of impairment may be escorted to their rooms. If this happens on more than one occasion, other sanctions may be imposed.
• It is not permitted to consume alcohol purchased outside of the hotel anywhere on premises, except in private hotel rooms.
• Smoking and vaping (e.g., electronic cigarettes) are not permitted anywhere within the hotel building, including the hotel rooms and balconies. A considerable cleaning fee will be charged for smoking or vaping.
• The possession, consumption, or sale of illegal substances (including, but not limited to: THC, LSD, MDMA, amphetamines, khat, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, etc.) will not be tolerated. The same applies to the abuse of any other substances (such as nitrous oxide, alkyl nitrites, glue, etc.) as a drug.
• Violations and incidents that include the attendee in a state of being so overly intoxicated that medical assistance is required, or the use or possession of a controlled (and thus illegal) substance, will result in a notice to get the authorities involved, and always result in you being removed from the event and banned from future events.

3.7 Hotel (room) rules, event rooms and privacy

• The consumption of food or drinks purchased from outside of the event hotels is not permitted, except in private hotel rooms.
• For the safety and enjoyment of all hotel guests, reckless or disruptive behaviour is not permitted.
• Attendees may not enter the service areas of the hotels or restricted event areas. This includes all backstage areas, service elevators, the rooftops, emergency exits, and all areas marked as “Staff Only”.
• Tampering with any fire-protection devices – including abusive triggering of fire doors or alarms – is prohibited and will have serious consequences. This includes disabling any smoke and/or heat detectors.
• Physical advertising (posters, flyers, business cards, etc.) not from Reffurence must be confined to designated, clearly marked locations and may only be placed there with the written permission, given by the staff. Door signs are allowed but must be taken down before checking out, it is not allowed to stick door signs on the hotel doors with a substance that will cause the door to be damaged when removing the signs.
• Do not deliberately crack open glow sticks or similar items, i.e., anything containing dyeing, sticky, or corrosive materials.
• You are expected to treat hotel rooms and hotel property reasonably and with care. You will be held personally liable for any damage you cause.
• If you have your “do not disturb” sign on your door, housekeeping might not clean and service your room. The hotel staff will check your room after the event has ended.
• You are required to ask your roommates for permission before running a room party or inviting guests, however, there is a maximum to the total amount of people that are allowed in one room. The maximum is set to the total number of beds summed up together with the total amount of seats in the room.
• You may not disturb people in any other hotel rooms. Please keep the noise down during the quiet hours and adhere to the hotel rules.
• Reffurence reserves the right to use camera monitoring of event spaces (including fursuit and headless lounges) and areas rented by the event to maintain safety and prevent theft, property damage, or illegal conduct.

3.8 Weapons and dangerous items

• Please be aware of the strict European weapon laws, even look-alike weapons could be problematic.
• All weapons, including look-alikes, replicas, tools, and toys must be approved by event stewards, not only by sending an email to registration@reffurence.com, but also immediately following your physical registration at the event.
• Any item or substance that could present a risk to persons or property might be refused from the event premises by the stewards and must stay inside of the rooms or is even removed from the event premises and kept in a secure location by the stewards team.
• Nerf guns, and similar items 'soft ammunition type weapons' are prohibited inside the buildings, except at designated locations and times for specific events, pre-approved in writing by our events department. Contact the events team well in advance if you wish to arrange an event involving these items. Such events are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Even outside, care should be taken to avoid hitting any bystanders and/or damaging anyone's property.
• Mock fights, nerf battles, fire breathing, or any other activities that may adversely affect bystanders or property are not allowed.
• The stewards team may require your weapon/item to be peace-bound. Tampering with the peace-bonding is not allowed.
• Water pistols, silly string, or any thrown or projectile-type toy may not be used inside the venue.

3.9 Commercial activities during the event

• Commercial activity during the event (such as, Dealers’ Den, Artists’ Alley, Art Show) are under the responsibility of the respective heads of those sections. All other commercial activity at the event is subject to the approval of the convention board.

More information, specific to the commercial activities, is mentioned under the "Rules for Commerce" on this page.

3.10 Media, photography and videography

• By doing photography and videography at the event you grant us the rights to use your work in connection with our event. Footage from private rooms is exempt. Reffurence has to credit your work at all times, unless it was specifically agreed to do otherwise.
• Reffurence grants you the right to use videos and photos you have taken at the convention for private and/or non-commercial purposes only.
• Reffurence is a private event. Do not photograph or record anyone in situations where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, including interventions by convention medics or stewards. The same goes for distributing such content.
• Livestreaming from the event might violate attendees' privacy and therefore it is forbidden unless you have received written permission from the event staff.
• Publication in for-profit media (such as press, television, or other commercial mass media) requires written permission from the board.
• During the event, media teams (hired by Reffurence) may record video and take photos in the public areas of the convention and during events to be used in various publications. By attending the convention, you agree that videos and pictures taken of you may be used in such publications without release or compensation. A release will only be required for material acquired in situations where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists.
• Restrictions or other rules may apply for certain events and areas. Those will be announced on location.

3.11 Service dogs, pets and other animals

• Not all hotels accept animals. Please get in touch with us at registration@reffurence.com during your registration process so that we can do our best to accommodate your wishes. Service animals are not pets and are therefore exempted from the pets policy. However, anybody bringing a service animal is still required to contact registration, so that we can properly accommodate their needs.

3.12 Miscellaneous

• By attending the event, you agree to comply with national law, and to follow instructions from the organizers, stewards, and hotel staff.
• The policies and rules will not be debated during the event. The board will, however, be available for you in case you feel you have been incorrectly or wrongly accused of violating any of the rules. Decisions by the board are final. If a board member is/was involved with the incident, they will be not included/involved during the appeal.
• The board, the registration team and the stewards team reserves the right to impose any and all sanctions against violators of these rules or those persons involved in any other unacceptable behavior. The definition of unacceptable behavior remains at the sole discretion of the board, the registration team and the stewards team.
• Sanctions for violating the rules may range from a friendly reminder to a permanent ban from the event.
• If you have any problems with other attendees or staff/volunteers, please contact the board.
• When in doubt, please ask – preferably before the convention starts. We will gladly answer all your questions.
• If you are feeling unsafe or need assistance. Please contact the hotel front desk or the Reffurence safety team immediately. The emergency phone number is printed on the badge.

• Commercial activity in the Dealers’ Den, Artists’ Alley, “commercial flagged” events and Art Show are under the responsibility of the commerce team. All other commercial activities at the convention are subject to the approval of the convention board.
• Every dealer in the Dealers’ Den and/or table holder in the “commercial flagged” events must be an attendee (i.e., have registered for the full main convention period or has purchased a day ticket for that day and paid the full amount prior to the convention).
• Transactions are the sole responsibility of the seller and the buyer. It is the responsibility of the seller to comply with applicable fiscal and sales legislation.
• Items sold should be relevant for the convention by either applying to the furry subculture or relevant to the theme.
• The commerce team permits the sale of adult goods exclusively in the Dealers' Den, provided that the items are listed on the pre-approved list. However, they should be clearly marked and (in the Dealers’ Den) covered up from plain sight.
• It is not permitted to sell illegal or immoral items. The definition of an illegal item is determined by the existing national law, which outlines what constitutes such an item. The definition of an immoral item rests solely with the commerce team, as outlined in the first point of these rules. Dealers must comply with their directions.
• Examples of items that are prohibited from sale for being classed as an illegal item, according to Dutch law.

1. Weapons (Wet wapens en munitie BWBR0008804),
2. Alcohol (Alcoholwet BWBR0002458),
3. Drugs (Opiumwet BWBR0001941, Geneesmiddelenwet BWBR0021505, Warenwet BWBR0001969),
4. Fireworks (Vuurwerkbesluit BWBR0013360),
5. Regulated chemicals (Wet voorkoming misbruik chemicaliën BWBR0007286),
6. Radioactive materials (Kernenergiewet BWBR0002402),
7. Stolen goods (Wetboek van Strafrecht BWBR0001854).

• The sale of animal-derived products requires prior approval from the commerce team.
• The sale of fully AI-image generated content is not allowed, however AI-tooling used to enhance the, by the artists (self-)created, products are allowed if the product is marked as “AI-enhanced”.
• Any special requests should be sent to the commerce team and may be either approved or denied.
• Sellers which the commerce team considers being breaking or attempting to break the rules may be removed and / or banned from commercial activity in that area and/or other areas for any amount of time by the commerce team.
• Engaging in commercial activity is a privilege and can be withdrawn by the commerce team, who have the final say on any commercial matters pertaining to their area of responsibility.
• Exceptions from these rules might be granted by the convention board on a case-by-case basis.

7.1 Organization

Reffurence follows the following statement:

Organizing events focused in particular on the artistic and community side of the subculture focused on anthropomorphism and all subcultures associated with it (directly and indirectly) with the aim of using the proceeds to support organizations that are committed to animal welfare through making monetary donations.

7.2 Board members

• Refferic, Board president Reffurence.
• Khatir, Board president Fuzzbutts.
• Appelmoose, Treasurer.
• Bruni, Secretary.
• Felikx, Secretary.
• Spike, Secretary.
• RavePaw, Secretary.
• Fudge, Secretary.

7.3 Financial year statements

The financial year statement will be released after 2024 has been closed.

7.4 Fundraising

As a non-profit organisation, Reffurence is fully depended on the revenue of the ticket-sales, merchandise, sponsorships and donations. The means of fundraising for Reffurence are;

• Ticket-sales for the event.
• Sale of overnight stays that Reffurence arranges during the event.
• The sales of sponsorpackages.
• The sales of merchandise during the event.

9.1 Purpose

This policy sets out the broad principles for voluntary involvement in Reffurence. It is of relevance to all within Reffurence, including volunteers, staff, members, and those elected or appointed to positions of responsibility.

All staff members and volunteers are required to sign a volunteers-agreement, on which all the information is specified, when signing up when their professional relationship with Reffurence starts.

9.2 Volunteers

Reffurence acknowledges that volunteers contribute in many ways, that their contribution is unique and that volunteering can benefit users of services, staff, the event and the volunteers themselves.

Reffurence values the contribution made by volunteers and is committed to involving volunteers in appropriate positions and in ways which are encouraging, supportive and which develop volunteering. Reffurence recognizes its responsibility to arrange its volunteering efficiently and sensitively so that the valuable gift of the volunteer's time is best used to the mutual advantage of all concerned.

Volunteers are people who are, unpaid (or reimbursed for their expenses) and of their own free will, contribute their time, energy and skills to benefit the community.

Volunteering is a legitimate and crucial activity that is supported and encouraged by Reffurence and is not intended to be a substitute for paid employment. The volunteer role is a gift relationship, binding only in honour, trust and mutual understanding. No enforceable obligation, contractual or otherwise, can be imposed on volunteers to attend, give or be set a minimum amount of time to carry out the tasks involved in their voluntary activity. Likewise Reffurence cannot be compelled to provide either regular tasks, payment or other benefit for any activity undertaken by the volunteer.

Although volunteers offer time freely and willingly without binding obligation, there is a presumption of mutual support and reliability. Reciprocal expectations are acknowledged – both of what Reffurence expects of volunteers and what volunteers expect of Reffurence.

All volunteers will have a nominated member of staff or volunteer to offer guidance and advice to help the volunteer carry out tasks effectively. Volunteers will be informed of who to contact to receive support and supervision.

9.3 Recruitment

Volunteering opportunities will be widely promoted in ways that makes them accessible to all members of the community.

New volunteers will be properly inducted into the Reffurence team.

Volunteers will be properly briefed about the activities to be undertaken and given all the necessary information to enable them to perform with confidence.

9.4 Payment and expenses

Reffurence recognizes that the reimbursement of expenses incurred in traveling to and from the place of volunteering or in the course of volunteering is important from an equal opportunities point of view. This is necessary to ensure that all individuals have access to voluntary opportunities.

9.5 Insurance

Reffurence's liability insurance policies include the activities of volunteers and liability towards them. Reffurence does not insure the volunteer's personal possessions against loss or damage.

9.6 Confidentiality

Reffurence will advise the volunteer on its confidentiality policy and procedures, where relevant. This would include those relating to personal information held by Reffurence relating to the volunteer.