Particle image velocimetry and a 3D hard sphere discrete particle model were applied to determine particle velocity profiles in the plane around a spout in a spoutfluid bed for various initial bed heights, spout and background fluidization velocities. Comparison between experimental and numerical results revealed that the particle velocities are underestimated by particle image velocimetry, which is probably caused by steep velocity gradients, and overestimated by the model, which is probably caused by the closure for fluid-particle drag