Ruud Boymans (NL)

Ruud Boymans is a former Dutch professional footballer who played as a striker for clubs such as Fortuna Sittard, VVV-Venlo, AZ, Willem II, and FC Utrecht. After ending his football career, he discovered a new passion in the world of music and events.

In 2018, together with Bora Guney, Omid Kahali, and DJ duo ANOTR, he co-founded No Art — a concept that started as a series of small, intimate parties and has since grown into an internationally recognized lifestyle brand, with events in cities like Amsterdam, London, Miami, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Ibiza, and Barcelona.

Alongside No Art, Ruud, Bora, and Omid also founded SONA (Sound Of New Audience), a broader event organization focused on promoting international concepts and headline shows from top-tier artists. Examples include large-scale festivals like Circoloco at the NDSM-wharf in Amsterdam, Keinemusik at Tuinen van West, and Pawsa at Taets, Hemkade. SONA is known for its innovative approach and strong emphasis on production and experience, always aiming to deliver unique and immersive events.

In 2022 they launched the Synergy Art Festival — a cultural initiative in Amsterdam East that blends art, club culture, and community. By sharing festival infrastructure with No Art, Synergy creates an accessible, inclusive festival day that encourages experimentation, imagination, and connection.

Transitioning from the football field to the events industry was a major challenge for Ruud, requiring him to reininvent himself in a completely new world. Still, he sees strong parallels between elite sports and entrepreneurship: both demand discipline, teamwork, and the ability to perform when it matters most. Two seemingly different worlds — yet surprisingly similar at their core.

Through his work with No Art, SONA, and Synergy, Ruud aims to contribute to the cultural landscape by using his passion for music and art to connect and inspire people across the globe.