Vision Magazine interview with Lorenzo Ledel about Society Service
On February 11th, 2026, Vision Magazine published a two-part feature on Society Service to mark its 20 year anniversary. In this culinary lifestyle magazine, journalist Lorenzo Ledel spoke extensively with founder Marike van der Velden about her business, her view on the industry and the role of experience within high-end escorting.
The publication consists of two parts. In the recurring section “À table met entrepreneurs”, the interview takes center stage, while the second part, “Dinner Date Extravaganza”, offers a more visual interpretation of the concept. Restaurant Black Smoke in Rotterdam serves as the setting, connecting gastronomy with the idea of a carefully curated, personal experience. The original article was published in Dutch; the text below is a translation.
A table met entrepreneurs: “Consent is something you achieve together”
Marike van der Velden celebrates the twentieth anniversary of her high class escort agency Society Service this year. Integrity is central to everything she does. We joined her at restaurant Black Smoke in Rotterdam, where the photos on the following pages were also taken.
Marike van der Velden (1983) naturally draws attention whenever she talks about her company. People are curious and want to know more, and she is open to sharing her story. Even in Hilversum and across many newspaper and magazine editorial offices, her name often comes up when context is needed about this field. The world of high-end escorting has long since moved out of the shadows, yet a certain sense of mystery still surrounds it. Van der Velden is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of her company Society Service this year, which she founded during her student years. Her degree in Business Administration, combined with her understanding of people and strong marketing instincts, forms the foundation of the company’s success.
“Just like what Vision is about, Society Service is also about enjoyment and about experience. The same applies to top restaurants. It is not just about the food. If the service is not warm or professional, you won’t have a good evening. If you are simply hungry, you can walk into a snack bar. A client of Society Service is not only satisfying a ‘hunger’, but experiencing something. I once read a story in the book China Now about a coffee bean, which works well as a metaphor. A cup of coffee you make at home from freshly ground beans is a commodity, a basic product. If that same coffee is prepared for you in a nice Italian café, it already gains added value, it becomes a service. It costs a bit more, but all the effort is taken off your hands. But if that same coffee, from the same bean, is served at the Plaza Athénée in a gold-rimmed cup, with a madeleine and soft piano music in the background, then suddenly that coffee bean has been elevated into an experience. That is the comparison with Society Service.”
How do you experience the way the outside world looks at your business? “Some people have prejudices or negative opinions. I still have to defend myself against stigma on a regular basis, even with banks or insurance companies. That has become less over time: I have been operating for twenty years without issues, I have a solid track record, I work with integrity and have a stable financial position. But it has certainly not been an easy road.”
Do you face much competition? “There are only a handful of agencies operating at this level that have been active for more than ten years. There is also a sense of collegiality among them through an association – together you are stronger. And sometimes that is necessary in a world that still involves a fair amount of hypocrisy. There are also newcomers who think it is an easy business, but it is not. Professionalism and integrity are essential. If we believe a booking will not result in a good match, we prefer to refer a client to someone else who might be a better fit.”
You have a section about ‘consent’ on your website. “That is very important. With every booking, a client must agree to our consent policy, which is described in detail. It is about awareness; the client must make an effort to ensure the experience is enjoyable for both sides. The fact that there is a financial compensation does not mean consent is automatically given. It is not a one-way process either: the companions, who often have more experience than the client, also carry responsibility in this. Ultimately, it should be a positive experience for both. Consent is not something you simply give or receive, it is something you achieve together. I actually find it surprising that I am one of the few in the industry who formalizes this so clearly, especially in a field where it is so important.”
BLACK SMOKE. We once described restaurant Black Smoke as a true hellhole for those who are not particularly fond of eating meat. Located on the ground floor of the former Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, an industrial UNESCO World Heritage site, barbecue expert Jord Althuizen (known for his successful series of barbecue books) and business partner Kasper Stuart created a large restaurant centered around open fires and massive grills. At the time, we wrote: “Black Smoke is not a place for slender lifestyle bloggers who already struggle to finish an avocado salad.” Nevertheless, Marike van der Velden and the ladies featured on the following pages, who held an extravagant dinner date there, felt completely at home. From time to time, you hear that people should eat less meat. We understand the argument, but have not quite managed to follow it ourselves.
Dinner Date Extravaganza
In the second part of the publication, top photographer Remko Kraaijeveld offers a visual interpretation of the concept of ‘dinner dates’. Together with several companions from Society Service and a select group of guests, the concept is presented in a bold and stylish way. Restaurant Black Smoke in Rotterdam, founded by barbecue expert Jord Althuizen, serves as the setting.
