Odette van der Veeken Editorial & sales coordinator o.vanderveeken@asega.nl
‘The most wonderful time of the year’ This issue finds us at the end of another year. A year
In this issue, you can read a recap of the Members
in which a lot has happened in Zuidas. Apart from
Meeting which convened last September at the
the wonderful fact that our own Editor-in-Chief Romy
900 Mahler building, with ‘Living in Zuidas’ as its
recently gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl
central theme. It made for a fascinating discussion,
– delegating responsibility to Kiki Dröge and me in
and I must admit I’m eager to see what the future
her absence – Zuidas has been growing in leaps and
holds. What will this place be like in ten years’
bounds. Throughout the district, new housing has
time? How many people will be living in Zuidas?
been built, roads have been improved and rerouted,
And what will it be like to live here? Will it be even
new restaurants and shops have opened their doors,
more of a miniature Manhattan?
and its people have put in a fair amount of hard work, meetings, breaks and toasts.
Soon the holidays will be upon us and we’ll be saying farewell to another year. It has been an
All in all, we can look back on a terrific year.
honour and an inspiration to work with all of you
We’ve had brainstorms and dialogues about
over the past months. Romy will return to her job
various issues, such as accessibility in Zuidas,
at the start of the new year, but I’ll remain actively
living in Zuidas, facilities, sustainability and
engaged in all the goings-on in Zuidas. As the place
greenery in Zuidas. And that’s because we feel
where I work every day, Zuidas has come to claim
invested in this area, and we’re proud of Zuidas
a special place in my heart. I look forward to
and want to make it even better. What’s more:
meeting again soon. For now, I wish you a
we’re achieving that, together.
wonderful holiday season and all the best!
P.S. The next issue of Hello Zuidas is scheduled for the 2nd of January.
For a while it was the burning question that went all around Zuidas: who would be succeeding Klaas de Boer? An insider from the municipal council? Or someone from outside Amsterdam? Another man? Or would it be a woman this time? An urban planner? An economist? An architect? Now, the cat’s out of the bag. David van Traa, currently director of the Expatcenter Amsterdam, will be stepping into Klaas de Boer’s shoes. With a background in organizational psychology, the former mayoral speechwriter was also the NL-NY quadricentennial project leader. And now this Zuidas resident will be taking the lead at the municipal office. We are immensely grateful to Klaas and look forward to working with David, wishing him a successful time at the helm. Olivier Otten, managing director of Hello Zuidas
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