Micediton winter 2016

Winter 2016-2017 Seeking sustainability Amsterdam: the place to meet open mind sharp business

‘When it comes to hospitality, Amsterdam knows no equal.’

Remco Groenhuijzen Luxury Hotels of Amsterdam Amsterdam’s luxury hotels association

open mind sharp business

iamsterdam.com/meetings

Foreword

The circular city Contents 4 7 8 10 16 17 19 20 23 24 26 28 29 30 34 35

Clearing the air: making transport greener Amsterdam facts and figures Amsterdam neighbourhoods: Noordelijke IJ-oever Venues The venue finder (conference services) Celebrating diversity Conference services Hotels Where to eat Amsterdam neighbourhoods: Oosterpark Royal sustainable ambitions KLM RAI Amsterdam Worth a visit I amsterdam store Your Amsterdam MICE partners

Amsterdam is consistently ranked as one of the ‘smartest’ cities in the world for its focus on green technology and sharing knowledge. Open-mindedness, innovation and a focus on sustainability are the core of Amsterdam’s DNA – a mindset cultivated over centuries of freedom (of speech, the press, religion) and multicultural mixing. The result is a city that knows that business is all about making the right connections in the right way.

That makes Amsterdam the perfect venue for meetings, conferences and other events. Especially if Corporate Social Responsibility is one of your goals. After arriving in Schiphol, which is striving to be the Most Sustainable Airport in the World, you can take your Tesla taxi to your eco-friendly hotel and enjoy an organic breakfast with honey made on site before exploring locavore cafés and quirky office spaces built according to circulareconomy principles.

We’ll tell you where you can find all of the above and more ways to enjoy the city’s guilt-free side, with extra special focus on two of the hottest neighbourhoods for meetings, meals and nightlife alike: Oosterpark and the Noordelijke IJ-oever. Plus tips on how to find the best venues and even where you can take the whole delegation for dinner.

Read on to find out how Amsterdam can make your next event one where the memories last longer than your carbon footprint.

Published by: Amsterdam Marketing Project management: Daisy Waardenburg Print: Joh. Enschedé Amsterdam Design adaption: Monique Willemse Designer: Sandra Nakken Text: Elysia Brenner, with contributions from Lauren Comiteau and Matt Farquharson and Hans Kops Disclaimer

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical or photocopy – without prior permission from Amsterdam Marketing. All information provided in this publication was verified for accuracy by at the time of printing. Amsterdam Marketing is not liable for any misprints or errors. © November 2016

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top photo: Tesla Schiphol Taxi Š Elmer van der Marel bottom photo: Gogoro (iamsterdam.com/ams)

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Sustainable connections

Clearing the air How Amsterdam is making transport greener

When Amsterdam, the EU’s current Capital of Innovation, celebrates her 750th birthday in 2025, the region will be more vital, liveable and dynamic than ever before. That is the ambition that Amsterdam has set itself.

SEEING CIRCULAR Amsterdam’s mayor Eberhard van der Laan is setting the bar high: ‘This city wants to be an example to the rest of the world on how urban connectivity, sustainability and liveability issues can be tackled and solved in a socially and economically innovative and healthy manner.’ With its many circular and sharing initiatives, the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area showcases it’s well on its way.

To experience what it’s like to live and work in the Circular City of the Future, you need to visit Buiksloterham. This former industrial zone in Amsterdam Noord, which includes the famous NDSM wharf, is, step by step, being transformed into a showcase for what living and working will look like in the circular economies of tomorrow. To be self-sufficient and self-renewing, residents are encouraged to share resources and experiences. Take the De Ceuvel complex, which features imaginatively retrofitted houseboats surrounded by an undulating landscape of soil-cleaning plants. Each of the upgraded boats houses an office, atelier or workshop for a creative social enterprise, and the rest of the complex – an indoor/outdoor event space and canal-side vegetarian café that sources from its on-site greenhouse – is simply a great hang-out.

CIRCULAR HOTSPOTS This is but one example of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area’s circular hotspots. Throughout the region, partners – from construction and technology companies to knowledge institutes and architecture, design and government agencies

– work closely together to amass greater knowledge and test the feasibility, functionality and quality of sustainable, energyneutral construction. From decentralised renewable energy production to car sharing; and from reusing or repurposing materials and components to urban farming. In short: everything that will help us live cleaner, healthier and more resilient lives.

SUSTAINABLE SCHIPHOL Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport offers another example of circular innovation. Your walk to or from the plane, for example, is lit in the most sustainable way possible. The energy-saving LED lights in the terminals are part of Philips’ ‘Light as a Service’ model: the airport pays for the amount of light it uses while Philips remains the owner and takes care of installation and maintenance. The company is contractually obligated to reuse or repurpose all materials and parts at the end of the product cycle. It’s a circular win-win. The airport pays 50% less for energy and is a step closer to its goal to be the Most Sustainable Airport in the World, and Philips has a big, recognisable name attached to their new service model in a time when the demand for circular economy solutions is growing.

‘Sustainability for the airport and aviation sector as a whole is of incredible importance,’ says Jos Nijhuis, CEO of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. ‘And sustainability is everything: noise, air pollution, energy consumption and CO2 emissions.’ The airport tackles sustainability in the broadest sense, from community consultations about noise levels to how it manages its supply chain and HR. The KLM airline is a leading proponent of biofuel for commercial flights, and Schiphol itself has set a goal of generating 30% less CO2 in 2020 than in 1990 – installing 3,000 m2 of solar panels to support that ambition.

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Sustainable connections ‘By the city’s 2025 anniversary, all boats in the city should also be fully electric.’

‘Consider eletrification,’ Nijhuis adds, indicating the electric buses used as shuttles at the airport. ‘We also have 167 Tesla taxis to move passengers from the airport to the city.’ While this may come as a pleasant surprise to new arrivals in the city, it makes sense to those who know that Amsterdam is the home of Tesla’s operational HQ. ‘Tesla and the Netherlands share a similar vision surrounding energy sustainability and a clean future for generations to come,’ says George Blankenship, Tesla Motors Vice President of Worldwide Sales & Ownership Experience.

ELECTRIC MOVES ‘The electric vehicle market is still in its infancy, but in 15 years’ time, all cars will be electric,’ predicts Sander Ouwerkerk, the Director of Business Development at The New Motion, which offers charging solutions for electric cars – 25,000 charging points for the country’s approximately 100,000 electric or hybrid automobiles. Competitor EV-Box, founded in the Netherlands in 2010, offers 36,000 more distinctively LED-ringed charging stations, making them the largest producer and supplier of EV (electric vehicle) charging stations and related cloud-based services worldwide. The city of Amsterdam will even install a charging point for anyone with an electric car who does not yet have private access. And the technology keeps improving: the city is also investing in fast chargers that can load an EV battery in half an hour compared to the eight hours it takes traditional chargers to do the job. ‘By 2035, the last petrol car will be sold,’ Ouwerkerk predicts, ‘and the last petrol car will be off the road by 2050.’

ELECTRIC BOATS And it’s not just cars: by the city’s 2025 anniversary, all boats in the city should also be fully electric. The tour boats even by 2020. In Amsterdam, such new ‘rules’ are always accompanied by incentives to make it easier and more appealing to comply. Take those taxis, for example. These heavy road users, of which there are 4,000 in the city, pollute 35 times more than regular cars. To induce taxi companies to make the electric switch, the city is offering a €5,000 subsidy for every electric taxi purchased. Taxi Electric, also known for hiring drivers over the age of 50 who have difficulty competing in the job market, has taken advantage of these incentives, becoming the first taxi company in the world to introduce a fully electric fleet in 2011.

The city’s purchase subsidy extends to other heavy-use vehicles as well, such as delivery trucks. International shipping company DHL chose Amsterdam for its electric pilot precisely for that reason. ‘It’s a very attractive programme,’ says Marijn Slabbekoorn, City Logistics Expert at DHL Express. ‘We want to go electric in all European cities, so we’ll use electric where it’s economically and operationally viable.’

They hope to have a ‘multi-model transport system’ of bikes, electric cars and electric boats in use in Amsterdam by next year.

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Facts and figures

>2,300,000 residents in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

>880,000 Amsterdam in numbers

bicycles in Amsterdam

90%

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of the locals speak at least two languages

safest city in the world

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165

museums in Amsterdam

canals in Amsterdam (more than Venice!)

>40,000 hotel rooms in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

83% of all rooms in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area are found in 3-, 4- or 5-star hotels

322 destinations direct flight connections, via Schiphol Airport

>2,900 international companies have invested in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

1,114,569 participant days (MICE)

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Noordelijke IJ-oever

Urban renewal meets nature’s beauty

Amsterdam neighbourhoods

Amsterdam Noord, the vast stretch of the city across the body of water known as the IJ, is no longer a no man’s land. The free ferries running between the two shores in 5-to-15minute trips now cater to crowds of people wishing to cross the water. True, most stop just on the other side, never making it farther than the monumental buildings that have brought about this change – but that’s just because there’s so much to do and see there that they never really need to. From meeting venues and restaurants with mega views to some of the city’s most sustainable development, the shores of the IJ are like a sampler platter of the best that modern Amsterdam has to offer.

Ready to take the plunge into the North? We have a few tips on where to begin your explorations.

Meeting venues EYE FILM MUSEUM It squats on the water directly across from Central Station, like a pleasant Cubist dream come to life. The theme of the building is film, with four screening rooms playing a mix of brand-new blockbusters and indie classics surrounded by changing and permanent exhibitions exploring the medium. However, the three meeting rooms and cavernous stadium-style lobby and restaurant, with its wrap-around terrace and jaw-dropping water views, host events (for 10-900 people) of every flavour. www.eyefilm.nl/en/event-location  38, Buiksloterweg

IJVENUES On the city-centre side of the water, offering the reverse of the EYE’s spectacular view, the ijVENUES group organises spaces for larger conferences and events, with room for up to 1,900, in such iconic modern architectural landmarks as the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ and Bimhuis jazz theatre, the Mövenpick Hotel, Passenger Terminal, etc. Performances by musicians regularly featured at these venues optional. www.ijvenues.com  759, 26

To see & do THT Also offering event and meeting spaces for groups of 8 to 550 people (or about 1,000 people indoors across all spaces, plus another 1,000 in the outdoor space), THT restaurant and the greater Tolhuistuin is these days also known as ‘Paradiso Noord’ for the regular concerts and parties given there by the team behind Amsterdam’s most popular concert venue. www.tht.nl  38, 105, Buiksloterweg

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 MARITIM HOTEL The northern banks of the IJ will have another whole new attraction by 2019: the newly built Maritim Hotel! The area known as Overhoeks’ is a second tower richer (after the A’DAM Tower). Once complete, the state-ofthe-art building will not only feature four floors of conference and meeting facilities in both the hotel tower and another residential tower next door, which can accommodate up to 4,750 people (making it the city’s largest conference hotel) – with two halls that alone accommodate 2,300 and 1,300 each – but also a skybar and restaurant, with VIP lounge, on the top floor for special meals with a spectacular view. www.maritim.com/en/hotels/netherlands/hotelamsterdam  38, 105, Buiksloterweg

CAFÉ DE CEUVEL Come by land or come by canal, De Ceuvel welcomes all in its spacious indoor-outdoor café and event space, whose vegetarian menu is, in large part, grown on site. That’s just one of the sustainable initiatives in this circular economy, where even waste goes to good use, with an office park – a winding raised wooden walkway through land-bound boat offices with a rope-swing shortcut – you’ll actually want to wander. www.deceuvel.nl  34, 35

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 A’DAM TOWER Amsterdam’s biggest new opening of 2016 is the renovated former Shell Tower, which has been taken over by the music and entertainment industries in the form of the 24/7 (on weekends) hotspot, the A’DAM Tower. The tower is now home to music industry offices, a music school, the Sir Adam hotel, the city’s most exclusive two-story suite, a members-only club and more – and it’s the ‘more’ that makes it the most interesting. The building’s top floors host two club-restaurants – one, Moon, that rotates while serving high-concept dishes by famous local chef Jaimie van Heije – as well as the Lookout viewing platform, complete with a daredevil swing for two out over the edge of the 21st story. The bottom floors are home to a new 24-hour dining and entertainment concept

by The Butcher and a beer garden as well as basement club The Shelter, offering something for everyone at any hour of the day or night. www.adamtoren.nl  38, Buiksloterweg

STORK This huge seafood restaurant on the IJ is one of the most popular in Amsterdam not only for its spacious waterside indoor-outdoor seating in a trendily renovated former warehouse, but especially for its succulent selection of freshcaught water-born dishes. www.restaurantstork.nl  38

IL PECORINO Great for bigger groups, Il Pecorino is considered by many to offer the best woodoven pizzas (infused with nothing but the freshest of ingredients) above the IJ. The waterside setting makes the spot especially popular. For parties of 12 or more, they ask you to reserve at least four days in advance, after which they will put together a special menu for your group. www.ilpecorino.nl  38,

IJplein

congress venue

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food & drinks going out museum/attraction theatre accommodation bus tram ferry

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Venues

An inspirational setting for every event

photo: DigiDaan

NEMO Science Museum NEMO’s renovated Technium exhibition floor offers an innovative setting for events NEMO has finally opened the fully renovated Technium exhibition floor. The science museum’s second floor houses exhibitions based on areas that the Netherlands has made its mark on, including water and engineering structures. One new addition is The Machine, which gives visitors a glimpse into the world of logistics. Another brand new attraction is the Innovation Gallery, which uses iconic heritage items to trace the development of technology over the years. Marvel at the very first mobile phone, or take a trip down memory lane while gazing at a cassette recorder or an old-fashioned rotary dial telephone.

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The Technium exhibition floor offers plenty of opportunities to stage events. Here, amid the exhibitions, you can hold an after-hours cocktail party or buffet for 250 to 300 people.

During the day, groups of 10 people or more can use each of the museum’s venues. Come to NEMO and stage a special event in an inspiring, innovative environment!

T +31 (0)20 531 3150 E events@e-NEMO.nl I www.e-NEMO.nl/venuehire

Venues ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo

The Van Gogh Museum

Where nature and heritage meet Nature, culture and heritage meet at ARTIS, a place where people have come together since 1838 and new memories are created every day. Visit and experience it for yourself – admire the many species living side by side in the Forest House and Bird House. Stroll through the city park, steeped in history and boasting a wealth of flora. The organisation of any event can easily be combined with a tour through ARTIS.

The Van Gogh Museum: inspirational and sustainable The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is home to the world’s largest collection of artwork by Vincent van Gogh.

The museum’s ideal location in the heart of the Dutch capital, combined with its outstanding exhibitions and enthralling stories about Van Gogh, provides a unique venue for special events – whether it is a meeting, an intimate dinner or a festive reception. It is also possible to complement your event programme with a fascinating art theme or a guided tour.

ARTIS offers several spaces, all with their own identity.

Hold a meeting or dinner in the beautiful historic aquarium and enjoy the unique experience of dining between tropical fish and sharks. The ARTIS Library offers an atmospheric location for your conference or seminar.

Alternatively, you can choose one of the rooms in the North Pavilion – you can even have a meeting in the company of the former directors in the Founders Room.

ARTIS is a unique place for meetings and events right in the heart of Amsterdam.

T +31 (0)20 523 3584 E events@artis.nl I www.artis.nl

Along with its inspirational setting for a huge range of events, the Van Gogh Museum is also a sustainable venue, having been awarded the ‘BREEAM-NL In-Use’ sustainability certificate. BREEAM-NL’s building, administration and usage ratings are based on nine categories, including energy, materials, water, waste, health and management.

By organising your event at the Van Gogh Museum, you are also contributing to the museum’s main goal: the conservation of Vincent van Gogh’s cultural heritage.

Responsible and sustainable maintenance of the museum building and its surroundings is also part of this objective.

Organise your event at our museum so that you and other Van Gogh enthusiasts from around the world can continue to enjoy his unique work and experience his extraordinary life story for generations to come!

T +31 (0)20 570 5200 E events@vangoghmuseum.com I www.vangoghmuseum.com or events.vangoghmuseum.com

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Venues Unique Venues of Amsterdam Unique Venues of Amsterdam is an association of Amsterdam’s most interesting conference centres and event locations in the city centre. All the participating venues are (former) theatres, factories, concert buildings, stock exchanges, churches or other essential locations in Amsterdam. Due to the history of these venues, they offer a unique and original experience for out-oftown delegates.

The capacity for meetings at these unique venues ranges from two to 3,500 people. No matter which venue you prefer, high quality is guaranteed, and they are all located in the city centre, surrounded by thousands of hotel rooms. Most of the venues are famous landmarks, so they are easy to find and accessible from Amsterdam Central Station and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

For more information about the Unique Venues of Amsterdam and affiliated companies, please visit www.uniquevenuesofamsterdam.com

T E I

+31 (0)20 586 0710 info@uniquevenuesofamsterdam.com www.uniquevenuesofamsterdam.com

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Members of the association are: • Amsterdam Conference Centre Beurs van Berlage • Artis • De Bazel Amsterdam • De Duif • De Nieuwe Liefde • DeLaMar Theater • EYE Filmmuseum • Felix Meritis • Het Koninklijk Concertgebouw • Het Scheepvaartmuseum • Het Sieraad • KIT Meetings & Events • Koninklijke Industrieele Groote Club • Koninklijk Theater Carré • Melkweg • Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ • NEMO Science Museum • Passenger Terminal Amsterdam • Posthoornkerk • Rembrandt Tower Boardroom • Rode Hoed • Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam • Tobacco Theater • Van Gogh Museum • Westergasfabriek

Venues

The Concertgebouw The centrally located Concert Hall is an inspiring location for events, dinners and meetings. The breath-taking historical building has played host to many of the world’s most famous musicians, and it is this heritage that you will experience.

With excellent parking facilities, two conference halls and up to 10 break-out rooms to accommodate up to 2,500 guests, the Concert Hall is the largest conference hall in midtown Amsterdam.

Most of the rooms are already equipped with a projector, screen and sound system.

Sustainable events The Royal Concert Hall developed a sustainable strategy that will help it reduce its energy footprint; over the next five years, the strategy will lower food waste by 25% and energy use by 40%.

Free high-speed Wi-Fi

Room capacities 50-1,900 people – theatre style 100-550 people – sit-down dinner 1,000 people – reception/walking dinner 10 break-out rooms

Sustainable caterers The Royal Concert Hall works with a variety of high-quality sustainable caterers, which offer dinners, lunches and snacks.

Please call Laura Beenders or Roos van der Donk for further assistance.

Technical suppliers The Royal Concert Hall works with high-quality technical suppliers that can equip your meeting according to your needs.

T E I

+31 (0)20 573 0454 sales@concertgebouw.nl www.concertgebouw.nl/en

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Venues

Amsterdam Conference Centre Beurs van Berlage Monumental Conference Centre in the heart of Amsterdam Amsterdam Conference Centre Beurs van Berlage is a defining landmark of Amsterdam, situated right in the historic city centre. The combination of this central location, typical Amsterdam architecture, very high standards and years of experience with international conferences and events makes Amsterdam Conference Centre Beurs van Berlage one of the city’s most desired conference centres.

receptions and exhibitions for up to 1,300 delegates.

The unique Amsterdam Conference Centre is very easily accessible, located between Dam Square and Amsterdam Central Station. There are five direct trains an hour, and it is only 15 minutes away from international hub Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Your delegates can take advantage of an efficient hotel-booking tool with access to over 4,000 hotel rooms within walking distance for the lowest price, guaranteed.

Originally designed as an exchange in 1903, this beautiful monument has, in the last five years, transformed into the most desired conference location right in the heart of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Conference Centre Beurs van Berlage – the name this unique, internationally focused conference centre now goes by – offers a wide variety of halls and meeting rooms that are perfect for hosting international conferences, dinners,

T +31 (0)20 531 3355 E events@beursvanberlage.com I www.beursvanberlage.com

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Venues Tropical and Cultural KIT In the up-and-coming green neighbourhood of Amsterdam East, you will find the tropical and cultural KIT (Royal Tropical Institute). From the majestic Marble Hall with its 12 different kinds of marble to the stunning Maxima Theatre with its 453 seats, the venue offers a unique experience that takes you through the history of KIT. Sustainable events This monumental building was completed in 1926 – from here, research was conducted in the area of trade, health and cultural cooperation in developing countries. Today we are not only a knowledge Institute; we also open our doors to create unforgettable events.

Profits made from events benefit the Institute for further meaningful projects, so KIT offers you an ideal, sustainable location for your meeting conference or celebration.

KIT Meetings & Events Are you looking for a venue to organise a meeting or a conference for up to 1,000 delegates? Our team will assist you in finding the best fit for your event – whether you are looking for sustainability or history with a modern touch. Find us in Amsterdam East, beautifully surrounded by the Oosterpark.

Have a royal entrance in the Marble Hall, hold your meeting in the Council Room be assisted by our multicultural staff and enjoy our sustainable Moyee Coffee. We look forward to create moments together!

T +31 (0)20 568 8504 E events@kit.nl I www.kitmeetingsandevents.nl/en

T +31 (0)20 524 6452 E info@tassenmuseum.nl I www.museumofbagsandpurses.com

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Conference Events services

Amsterdam Marketing is dedicated to making your next meeting or convention a success

Finding the right venue Business Marketing & Conventions, part of Amsterdam Marketing, is dedicated to making your next meeting or convention in Amsterdam a success. It is your one-stop shop for invaluable planning resources in the city and its surrounding areas, offering professional and independent advice, creative ideas and free promotional materials. We offer no-cost, professional support backed by comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the Amsterdam meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) market.

FINDING A VENUE & SUPPLIERS One of our helpfull tools is the venue finder which you can find at iamsterdam.com/venuefinder. It will help you find the ideal location for your special event, whatever the size. Narrow your search down by group size, star classification or location. Not familiar with Amsterdam? The map feature will help you pinpoint where each venue is in relation to everything else. Tailor your search and, in return, you’ll get a complete description of each venue or service that meets your needs, with the contact information you need to get in touch easily.

Once we’ve helped you pick the perfect place, we can help you perfect the rest of your event as well via our service finder at iamsterdam.com/servicefinder.

Looking for an event space?

Start your search online at iamsterdam.com/venuefinder Or looking for event services? iamsterdam.com/servicefinder Save your favourites in a PDF and share it with your co-planners for their feedback.

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Celebrating diversity With 180 nationalities Amsterdam is one of the most diverse cities in the world Freedom and tolerance have always been part of this city’s DNA. Amsterdam is a city where people feel free to speak their minds and be who they want to be, wherever they are from. This year, Amsterdam celebrates diversity with the ‘180 Amsterdammers’ project: a collection of stories and portraits of Amsterdammers from 180 different nationalities.

That Amsterdam is an internationally oriented, multinational city is nothing new – it was the immigrant mix of Chinese traders, French Huguenots, and Portuguese Jews, to name a few, who brought the rare goods, manpower, trade routes and diamond-polishing knowledge that helped bring about the city’s Golden Age in the 17th century.

As a small country, the Netherlands – and especially its commercial capital – has always looked beyond its borders.

The country’s rigorous language-education programmes (and subtitling-over-dubbing practices) have led to English conversational fluency in more than 90% of the locally born population, not to mention the prevalence of French and German, as well as Spanish and other languages. Seeing the

success multilingualism and multinationalism brings, the Dutch legal and business ecosystems have evolved welcoming laws and business-stimulating policies that have further attracted international talent from all over the world, which is why the city is now home to thousands of high-profile (European) headquarters – from IKEA and Netflix to Tesla and Uber.

Several years ago, Amsterdam was touted by news outlets as the city with the most different nationalities in the world, with 177 at the time. By 2016 that number has climbed to the nice, even number of 180. To celebrate this fact, Amsterdam Marketing declared 2016 the Year of 180 Amsterdammers. Over the year, one local representative of each of these countries has been sought out, interviewed and photographed to create portraits that, when woven together, show the rich tapestry of multiculturalism that defines this city.

You can explore all of these portraits, watch their videos and read their stories on the website www.180amsterdammers.nl/en.

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‘Amsterdam is exceptionally rich in culture.’

Axel Rüger Van Gogh Museum The largest collection of Van Gogh’s works in the world

open mind sharp business

iamsterdam.com/meetings

Conference services Congrestolken – Conference Interpreters

Taxicentrale Amsterdam

Congrestolken gets your message across in all languages Congrestolken Conference Interpreters is a cooperative of conference interpreters based in Amsterdam, all of whom are members of the International Association of Conference Interpreters in Geneva, AIIC.

Mobility service during MICE events Taxicentrale Amsterdam (TCA) is the oldest and largest taxi company in the Netherlands, with 1,250 cars and 1,500 independent drivers. Backed by almost 60 years of experience, TCA specialises in solving your mobility issues – especially during events. That’s why TCA has been the contracted supplier of RAI Amsterdam for so many years.

No matter how exceptional your transportation request is, TCA ensures that everyone arrives on time.

The organisation has 40 years of experience in providing conference interpretation services – not only in the Netherlands but all over the world, tapping into its worldwide network of 3,000 AIIC-qualified interpreters.

Its Quality Assurance System and AIIC membership ensure the highest quality interpretation in any setting. From bilateral talks at government meetings to conferences in all EU languages, Congrestolken provides the right interpreters for the job.

Traffic control & hosts For those who need a large number of taxis in a very short time – for example, if your event ends at midnight or you’re expecting a large number of guests – TCA can assist with organising transportation and guiding your guests to the taxis.

We are a non-profit organization and take pride in the quality we provide. Our interpreters are qualified professionals. Our office is ready to answer any questions you may have and provide you with a competitive offer.

VIP transportation Of course, all passengers are offered high-quality service; however, when your guests need that extra bit of attention, TCA offers a VIP service with premium cars and private drivers.

Loyalty cards & vouchers In every TCA taxi, passengers can pay with cash, credit card or the TCA app. TCA also accepts other payment options, such as arranged guest accounts, loyalty cards and vouchers.

Do you want to learn more?

Do you want to learn more?

T +31 (0)20 625 2535 E info@conferenceinterpreters.com I www.conferenceinterpreters.com

T +31 (0)20 650 6506 E sales@tcataxi.nl I www.tcataxi.nl/events

With the right interpreter, your meeting or event will enjoy two-way communication as everyone will be able to understand the message and participate in the discussions.

Interpretation is an enabling service, so if your goals are geared towards engagement and exchange with others in a multilingual setting, Congrestolken is there to support you.

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Luisteren, denken en spreken tegelijk

HotelsEvents Choose from boutique gems to high-capacity conference centres; historical sites to new designer chic

De L’Europe Amsterdam Located in the heart of Amsterdam on the banks of the Amstel River, in walking distance of the luxurious 19th-century Museum Quarter – the pinnacle of sophistication and cultural bohemia, featuring the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum – De L’Europe is synonymous with rich Dutch history. Since its first official opening in 1896, De L’Europe has been favoured by Amsterdam’s elite, and the hotel continues to attract the world’s most celebrated names. Experience and explore a unique introduction to the Amsterdam of yesterday and today at De L’Europe.

Admire true replicas from the Dutch Masters such as Frans Hals and Rembrandt van Rijn in the Promenade, while replicas from Dutch Masters such as Jan Steen, Johannes Vermeer and Floris van Dijck decorate the walls of the rooms and suites in the historical Rondeel building. Adjacent to the hotel, the suites at the contemporary Dutch Masters Wing offer a selection of modern colours that form the basis for replicas of work from Dutch Masters such as

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Pieter Codde and Pieter Saenredam. Guests may enjoy culinary highlights at the two Michelin-starred Bord’Eau Restaurant Gastronomique, casual-chic Hoofdstad Brasserie or Hèt Terras, the city’s most popular Summer hotspot, overlooking the buzzing city centre of Amsterdam – all complemented by exclusive wines from the private wine cellar, ‘Les Caves De L’Europe’.

A landmark for more than a century, De L’Europe lends itself to board meetings, conferences, weddings, parties, social gatherings and corporate events. At more than 600 square metres, De L’Europe’s meeting space features a winning combination of state-of-the-art technology and chic surroundings. Interconnecting meeting rooms offer natural daylight, a dedicated entrance and stunning views.

T +31 (0)20 531 1639 E banqueting@deleurope.com I www.deleurope.com

Hotels Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Postillion Hotels

The honey served at breakfast at this Schiphol Airportadjacent hotel is made on site, courtesy of 120,000 bees living and working in the hotel’s inner garden – making it the freshest honey you’ll find at any urban hotel. Soon the bees will treat guests to an even more intoxicating treat, for later in the day: NASA (the hotel, not the space agency) is currently developing a honey beer to serve on site as well. And honey is but one of the locally sourced, organic products “with a Dutch touch” that make up the menu at NASA.

Recently, the Postillion Hotel chain opened its first Amsterdam branch: a sustainable and innovative convention centre in the former Kauwgomballenfabriek (Gumball Factory).

Located right next to sustainability-oriented business Park 20|20, NASA has similarly set stringent sustainability standards for its energy and land use. And they want your body to feel as good about staying there as your soul: in addition to their extensive healthy (and famously tasty) breakfasts and other meals, they offer guests and Park 20|20 employees a fitness centre and bootcamp classes. There are also excellent opportunities for bird-watching walks – not to mention 314 rooms and 17 meeting rooms with high ceilings and natural daylight.

Right at the heart of the Dutch economy – near the Amstel Station and fewer than 15 minutes from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol – a venue that truly meets all the requirements of the modern professional has finally been realised. From a scalable exhibit area and well-equipped flexible workstations to 17 state-of-the-art meeting rooms for conferences, major congresses, product launches or international meetings for up to 1,200 guests, the facilities in this venue can accommodate any event. Each facility is equipped with the most innovative features, and they can be booked online easily with just a couple of clicks.

Meetings can be very energy-consuming, which is why the convention centre offers concentration-boosting brain food. These smart snacks and dishes are made with organic ingredients to help improve focus.

NASA is rare in that it doesn’t offer a dedicated shuttle service from the airport; instead, the Novotel Transit App helps guests find their way via public transportation – a fourminute trip they promise will get them there faster and with less hassle than the guests waiting in long lines for shuttles to the other hotels. (Not to mention that it’s the greener option.) The app can also be used to get around the greater Amsterdam area throughout the rest of your stay.

At Postillion Hotels, sustainability is paramount. It’s no coincidence that this building has an A++ energy label, roof-mounted solar panels, a heat-recovery ventilation system and – of course – organic food in the kitchen.

In time, Amsterdam will also offer the full Meet, Work and Stay concept of Postillion Hotels. In 2018, Postillion plans to open an impressive hotel across the street, featuring an almost-70-metre-high tower with 256 comfortable hotel rooms, a cosy restaurant, comfortable business facilities and more meeting rooms.

T +31 (0)20 721 9180 E H7060@accor.com I www.novotel.com/7060

T +31 (0)85 058 0101 E hotel.amsterdam@postillionhotels.com I www.postillionhotels.com/postillion-hotel-amsterdam

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Hotels

Pulitzer Amsterdam Discover quintessential Dutch elegance in an intricate maze of 25 connected Golden Age canal houses. After a full renovation, completed in August 2016, this hidden neighbourhood now features: 225 guest rooms and suites, tranquil inner gardens, meeting and event spaces, a garden cafÊ, a hotel bar and a restaurant that serves simple yet beautifully crafted dishes. The Pulitzer is a unique blend of up-market, traditional and modern Dutch craftsmanship hidden amongst the city’s iconic canals.

Ever since the Dutch Golden Ages, the canal houses of Amsterdam have been the setting for blossoming creativity, trade and meetings. Pulitzer Amsterdam is keeping this tradition alive by providing the perfect location for your meetings and events, custom-tailoring each event they host down to the details.

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In the midst of the Pulitzer gardens, the Garden Room caters to events for up to 150 guests. With a private entrance on the Keizersgracht, the Saxenburg Room and Galleries are the most elegant spaces of the hotel. The arty Merchant boardrooms are the perfect backdrop for meetings, where the double doors create a subtle flow between the two spaces. The four Copper Rooms, for intimate private dinners or luxurious business meetings, are all equally charming in their own right.

Or step on board of the classic salon boat to add a little bit of Pulitzer magic to your event. For that extra touch of upscale Amsterdam ambiance, the Pulitzer has what you are looking for.

T +31 (0)20 523 5235 E events@pulitzeramsterdam.com I www.pulitzeramsterdam.com

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Where to eat

Pick your place Meals are often highlights of conferences and other larger events, when delegates get a chance to let down their hair and pick up their forks together, a nice bottle of wine encouraging extra gezelligheid (Dutch-style conviviality). However, meals often also present one of the trickiest eventplanning challenges – where to fit all those people!

Here are some of our favourite spaces that are used to catering to a crowd. Pick your place and make your reservation, and let them take care of the rest.

Group dining

HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY EAST The larger, less constantly crowded eastern outpost of this Asian-themed eatery is known for its gorgeous (and humungous) garden, but with two floors of indoor eating, there’s plenty of room for groups year round. Just let them know how many there will be, if there are any individual allergies or preferences, and they will ensure that there are more than enough succulent Asian street-food (with a European twist) bites to keep everyone full and happy. happyhappyjoyjoy.asia/en  THE HARBOUR CLUB The waterside hotspot, the first in a growing empire, has luxury-soaked space for even the largest parties, and a menu that covers everything your group could possibly be craving from Champagne and oysters to juicy steaks to fresh-caught sushi and sashimi. theharbourclub.com/amsterdam/en  DE BALIE What started its life as a 19th-century lower courthouse truly became one of the most important buildings in town when it was reopened as a debate centre and theatre complex in the ‘80s. Still one of the city’s most important locations for debates, cultural events and conferences, De Balie is a gathering spot for reasonably priced food and drinks. Larger groups can rent out one or more dining rooms and line up specially catered menus. www.debalie.nl 

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 IN DE WAAG If you’re looking for a setting with a little spectacle, look no further than the former museum gates and weighing house (and guild house and anatomy theatre and more) of the city. The castle-like structure and décor belie a surprisingly modern menu of steaks, fish and other fresh fare. You can even host smaller meetings and events in the special spaces here.

Either way, a group-friendly setting that truly feels special. www.indewaag.nl/en/groups  IJ-KANTINE Once the cantine of the local shipyard, airily industrial IJkantine epitomises everything that makes the NDSM area so popular, right down to the regular summer parties. However, it is also simply a good place to get a meal along the water, with a free ferry ride to get there as a perk. While there is plenty of room for groups in the main restaurant, there are also two

meeting rooms that can be used for private dining as well as a cosy lounge with a fireplace.

The menu is stocked with fresh and wellpresented but affordable Continental fare. www.ijkantine.nl  RESTAURANT D’VIJFF VLIEGHEN Soak yourselves in Golden Age opulence, from Delft Blue tiles to real Rembrandt etchings, while enjoying a completely current twist on the culinary classics from that era.

While the décor is decidedly 17th century, this Amsterdam foodie favourite’s historical highlight actually comes from the 20th century, when the restaurant harboured the provocative (and appropriately named) Provos of the 1960s, who liked to challenge the police in peaceful protests in the Spui square outside. Now it just harbours some of the most revered cuisine in the city, doling it out to groups of 17 to 80 people in semi-private spaces. vijffvlieghen.nl/en/groups 

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Oosterpark

Hip places, green spaces and diverse faces

Amsterdam neighbourhoods

One of Amsterdam’s biggest and prettiest parks never seems to have found its spot on the tourist radar. Leafy and large, Oosterpark is dotted by bird-rich water features and tree-rimmed gazebos. Pretty any time of year, the park is an especially peaceful place for a stroll in the cooler months, when you will share the meandering paths with joggers, dog walkers and few others.

However, this picturesque park is but the centrepiece of a vibrant restaurant and nightlife district, full of meeting and special-events venues from the Tropenmuseum and Tropen Café in the park itself to the hip multipurpose highrises of the Wibautstraat. Once a secret known only to residents of Amsterdam’s east side, now the secret has gotten out – but just barely! The result: an inventive burgeoning mix of ‘it’ locales built around stately architecture, ample green spaces and stunning views where dense crowds are rare.

Where to start? Here are our top selections.

Meeting venues KIT Short for the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Royal Tropen Institute), this large and lovely landmark building is not only home to one of the city’s best museums, the enormous ‘Tropical Museum’, with permanent and temporary exhibitions on underrepresented cultures from around the world, but it is also one of the most impressive places in town to host a meeting, offering halls with capacities ranging from 32 to 600 people as well as more intimately sized meeting rooms. Conclude with bites in the grand Café Tropen for a taste of Dutch-Asian fusion. www.kitmeetingsandevents.nl/en  9, 14

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 VOLKSHOTEL The former home of the Volkskrant, one of the leading Dutch newspapers, this design-forward renovated cement tower on the Wibautstraat (aka the ‘Knowledge Mile’) has developed a following since its reopening for its mix of affordable and stylish temporary lodging, a lush lobby lounge bar and workspaces, basement club Doka, high-up Canvas club/restaurant with the panoramic view, and a rooftop sauna centre. And its meeting and creative incubator spaces. www.volkshotel.nl/en/werkplaats  755, 51, 53, 54

HERMITAGE AMSTERDAM This outpost of the St Petersburg megamuseum not only hosts a changing line-up of in-depth art exhibitions, but it can also host your event in opulent splendor in one of the three conferences rooms and/or the auditorium that seats up to 350. Events can be catered by in-house restaurant Neva. www.hermitage.nl/en  51, 53, 54

JAVASTRAAT The main commercial street of Oost, just a 10-minute walk from Oosterpark, offers one of the city’s most multicultural spots to mix and mingle, with new restaurants from the stunning Walter’s – the Walter Woodbury Bar and veggie-friendly sibling restaurant Bar James to the tasty and Caribbean-themed cocktail spot Rum Barrel and coffee hotspot Bedford Stuyvesant. www.javastraat.amsterdam  22, 65, 759

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To see & do

DE KAS De Kas has been one of the city’s favourite restaurant for more than 10 years and is possibly single-handedly responsible for ushering in the locavore movement. It doesn’t get any greener than this: you eat inside an enormous greenhouse, where many ingredients are grown on site. (The rest on a farm in Beemster.) It is a favourite spot to bring out-of-town guests. www.restaurantdekas.nl  41, 757, 9

ZOKU Amsterdam’s most buzzed-about new spot for long-term temporary stays also caters to the short-term crowd – in fact, your stay can be as short as the time it takes you to finish your coffee, if you like. Bring your laptop or just your appointment book to work and mingle with other professionals in the hotel’s open and cheery shared spaces and ‘playground offices’.

There are plenty of pretty meeting spaces, of course, too. www.livezoku.com  246, 7, 10, 51, 53, 54

SMOKIN’ BARRELS Looking to unwind after a long day of lectures?

This hip café with a huge heated terrace offers burgers and (beer) cocktails (served in mason jars) a’plenty. And it’s just one of the tasty treats waiting for you at the park-adjacent square known as Beukenplein. www.smokinbarrels.nl/en  37

NESCIO CAFÉ & AUDITORIUM BAR Situated right in the park, this new ‘hostel’ by Generator is attracting a lot of local attention for its centrepiece bar, which offers a tasty mix of food and drinks across three stunning indoor-outdoor spaces. (Secret tip: There’s a late-night bar hidden in the basement.) www.nescioamsterdam.com  7,10

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Events ‘I want products that don’t make me feel guilty… and whose parts it is possible to reuse over and over again.’

© iamsterdam.com/ams

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Interview

HRH Prince Carlos of Bourbon

Royal sustainable ambitions As far as HRH Prince Carlos Javier Bernardo of Bourbon-Parma is concerned, the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area has made great progress in closing loops. As an example, the cousin of King Willem-Alexander gestures towards Park 20/20, the setting of our interview, with a wide sweep of his arm. Europe’s first business park designed entirely according to the Cradle-to-Cradle principles is powered by clean and renewable energy sources, constructed using only recyclable materials, designed to harvest rainwater to supply the buildings and return biological nutrients to nature. Here, waste is just the beginning of a new loop. Even the asphalt on the approach road to this part of the Haarlemmermeer, located just minutes from Schiphol Airport, is made from recycled materials.

QUALITY OVER PRICE ‘But the innovation goes further,’ says the Prince. ‘The project developer will continue to own the buildings and infrastructure, so it’s in his interest to safeguard the continuity of the project by choosing quality over price. The tenants also have a vested interest in maintaining and nurturing the ecological chain they work in, as this will allow maximum involvement and enable them to embrace innovation faster.

‘This project is a shop window for the circular ambitions of the entire region and beyond,’ continues Prince Carlos.

‘I see similar projects developing all over the Netherlands.’

Indeed, despite having some catching up to do when it comes to energy transition, we are global leaders in closedloop recycling projects. And we are rapidly adopting circular thinking and practices.

He puts his mobile phone on the table in front of us. ‘This device contains parts that have been made from rare earth elements mined in inhumane conditions in Africa. But when a new model is released in two years’ time, this one will go to the scrap yard. Basically, human lives are involved and I’m

not acting responsibly. This really gets to me. I want products that don’t make me feel guilty, that I can be sure weren’t made using child labour, that haven’t given rise to geopolitical conflicts, and whose parts it is possible to reuse over and over again.’

‘POLDER AGREEMENT’ ‘Every large city has circular ambitions now, but Amsterdam has something extra,’ says Prince Carlos. He’s speaking of the close connections between the business and public sectors and research and education institutions that Amsterdam is so well known for.

That is why, Prince Carlos’s Institute for Sustainable Innovation & Development spoke with at least 300 parties to pave the way for the SER Energy Agreement for Sustainable Growth: a ‘polder agreement’ between government authorities, companies, energy distributors and energy producers to facilitate increasing the proportion of renewable energy sources and reducing CO2 emissions to under the European standard sooner. As the talks progressed, Prince Carlos says, ‘I noticed we had passed the tipping point: we no longer needed to convince anyone about the importance of circular business.’ The business directors, government officials and financial institutions to which he was speaking had already embraced the idea. ‘It goes to the very core of their strategy,’ he explains.

‘This isn’t merely an idealistic belief; it is also healthy economic thinking. Everyone wants to buy products that make them feel good. And it’s just a matter of time before our fossil fuels are depleted or no longer accessible to everyone.

So we have to reduce our dependence on them, starting with a sustainable energy mix. It has always amazed me how irresponsibly and inefficiently we treat everything the earth has spent millions of years creating. You wouldn’t wash your windows with a 50-year-old whisky…’

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KLM Events

KLM: leaders in sustainability Your global meetings partner for airline travel

Corporate Social Responsibility is a central feature of Dutch airline KLM’s pioneering position in international aviation. KLM is also committed to building a sustainable society that cares for the environment, both at home and abroad via constant dialogue with all of its partners and others.

KLM is thoroughly aware of its impact on the environment and society. Of course, the airline wants to make as little (negative) impact as possible, but minimizing that is not enough. KLM wants to make a proactive contribution to society, welcoming anyone with a good idea to submit it. At the KLM Takes Care website you can find examples of KLM’s efforts to achieve sustainable aviation and post your ideas and comments.

KLM’s policy conforms to the universal principles laid out in the United Nations Global Compact initiative of 1999. By signing the Compact, KLM has demonstrated that it will respect human rights and labour conditions, combat corruption and minimise its impact on the environment. KLM views the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals as guiding principles for its policy.

KLM and Air France together operate an ambitious CSR policy and publish a joint Sustainability Report, which is available digitally on the KLM Takes Care platform under the heading White Papers & Reports (klmtakescare.com). Their efforts have been recognized, being, for example, placed at the top of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index as the most sustainable airline for 11 years, now. And, for the seventh time, ranking first as the most sustainable company in the Transport category.

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www.klm.com www.klmtakescare.com www.airfranceklm-globalmeetings.com

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KLM also takes special care to serve the MICE industry via its AIR FRANCE and KLM Global Meetings initiative, which offers organisers an online tool through which they can offer airfare discounts of up to 15% to their delegates. (The organiser can also earn free tickets.) Just make sure you register on their site at least two months before the event.

RAI Amsterdam

Inspiring people

Corporate social responsibility at the RAI Almost a city of its own, the city’s largest special-event space – with 11 halls offering more than 100,000 m2 in exhibition space, plus two auditoriums, a ballroom and 70 conference rooms accommodating almost 2,000 people more – is ringed by top restaurants and bars and one of the city’s prettiest parks. With more than 4,000 parking spaces as well as on-site entrances to the metro system and exclusive access for taxis, the complex is well connected with the larger city as well.

Every year, RAI Amsterdam facilitates and hosts well over 50 international conferences, 70 exhibitions and shows, even more events and over a thousand smaller conferences, presentations and meetings, attended by more than 1.5 million visitors. This winter, for example, you will find there the Masters of LXRY fair and Nutcracker on Ice in December, the Horecava fair for restaurateurs and the ECCO2017 medical conference in in January as well as many other events.

To ensure that these events can continue for many years to come, it is the ambition of the team behind the RAI to stimulate the sustainable growth and development of people, markets and the local environment by attracting valuable meetings with its CSR policy. They apply these principles to everything from organising events and helping to make them more profitable through sustainable branding to their own energy usage and waste management.

This approach focuses on three areas: • People : Humans & society • Planet : Sustainable organising & facilitating • Progress : Stimulating development & growth T +31 (0)20 549 1212 E corcom@rai.nl I www.rai.nl/en

How they implement these focuses for any given event is tailored to the particular partner they are working with. This leaves but one question: how can they help you make your next event more sustainable?

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Worth a visit Social programmes during your stay: canals, shops, diamonds and your event in a museum

Gassan Diamonds Amsterdam has been known as the “City of Diamonds” for over 425 years. In the greenest corner of Amsterdam – known as “de Plantage” – you will find Gassan Diamonds. This formerly steam-driven diamond factory, originally built in 1879, is the oldest diamond factory in Amsterdam.

Each day, Gassan Diamonds offers free diamond tours in many languages led by one of its expert guides. Visitors can watch diamond polishers at work and learn about the factors that determine the quality of diamonds and their related value.

Gassan Diamonds can provide special business-to-business activities for both small and large groups: • Organise your meeting in the oldest diamond factory of Amsterdam.

• Add a lovely lunch or cocktail to complete your programme.

• Celebrate with the Diamond and Champagne Surprise Cocktail, where one glass of Champagne hides a genuine brilliant-cut diamond and the rest a synthetic stone.

Once everyone has enjoyed the Champagne, a diamond expert will check each stone to find the lucky winner of the real diamond. It’s an exciting promotion that adds a sophisticated incentive for travel participants.

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Groups can listen to a watch expert give a special lecture about the Haute Horlogerie, during which an exclusive collection of watches are shown. Lectures about specific brands are also available.

Gassan Diamonds specialises in providing tailor-made gifts of outstanding quality. Gassan Diamonds not only offers products but services such as anniversary programmes and after-sales service.

Organise an event in the Uilenburger Synagogue, an icon in the old Jewish neighbourhood of Uilenburg, located next to Gassan Diamonds.

Organise team-building events for the employees of your company.

Get to Gassan Diamonds the Dutch way: rent a bike, take a canal cruise or visit by tourist bus. Parking facilities for buses and a mooring site for canal boats are available. Gassan Diamonds is open seven days a week from 9:00 to 17:00.

T +31 (0)20 622 5533 E info@gassandiamonds.com I www.gassan.com

Worth a visit Canal Company and Gray Line Amsterdam

Amsterdam Museum Association

Experience Amsterdam from its most spectacular perspective: the water! Step on board and be dazzled by the breath-taking sights. Winding canals, picturesque warehouses and lovely bridges – it’s no wonder the canal ring is a World Heritage Site! In honour of the city and its history, we have the most sustainable fleet in town.

Our ships are clean and silent, so both you and future generations can enjoy Amsterdam to the utmost. We are proud to hold the Golden Green Key, the international eco-label for sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Host your event in one of Amsterdam’s best museums From historic splendour to cutting-edge contemporary art and architecture, the 44 museums of the OAM (Amsterdam Museum Association) provide the perfect MICE location for all tastes.

As your local MICE partner, we offer a wide range of programmes in and around Amsterdam: • Event transfer: from venue to hotel or restaurant, we transfer groups up to 1,000 guests via the historic network of canals.

• Event locations: our boats are excellent event locations, with options ranging from floating board meetings to conferences on the water for up to 500 guests.

• Network activities: wine tasting, lunch or a dinner cruise: we offer the perfect combination of sightseeing, relaxing and networking.

• Excursions: visit state-of-the-art attraction A’DAM LOOKOUT, the spring garden Keukenhof or the traditional village Volendam on one of our guided tours.

Amsterdam is home to many of the world’s most famous museums. The city has more museums per square metre than any other destination, making it a real paradise for art-lovers. Uniting under the OAM, 44 of these worldrenowned museums are now open to the meeting’s industry. Together, they boast the world’s biggest collection of Van Gogh paintings, at the Van Gogh Museum, and beautiful works by Rembrandt, at the Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam Museum tells the story of the city, which is rounded out by the canal-house museums Van Loon, Willet-Holthuysen and Geelvinck Hinlopen. The Hermitage Amsterdam, meanwhile, has unique access to the Hermitage St Petersburg collection, while the Stedelijk is renowned for its modern art.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable Amsterdam experience during your MICE event, OAM offers the perfect solution. Surprise your delegates with the most stunning and unique location for a dinner or reception, the perfect combination of business and pleasure.

Whether you’re organising a meeting for a large or small group, OAM offers assistance in hosting an all-inclusive event in one of the city’s most beautiful locations. If this sounds like an appealing option, please do no hesitate to contact us and start planning your next trip to Amsterdam.

T +31(0)20 217 0500 E info@canal.nl I www.canal.nl

T +31 (0)24 711 1378 E service@amsterdammusea.org I www.amsterdammusea.org

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Worth a visit Premium department store de Bijenkorf

Batavia Stad Amsterdam Fashion Outlet

World of Brands De Bijenkorf is the largest department store in the Netherlands, offering the most exclusive brands, exciting events and premium services for a first-class shopping experience. Located in the centre in Amsterdam, de Bijenkorf has been a symbol of true Dutch heritage since 1870.

This charming, reconstructed 17th-century village is a shopping Valhalla for anyone looking for quality basics or to make a statement with their outfit. More than 250 highend brands like Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger and Nudie Jeans will inspire you with the latest trends, must-have pieces and more. Beyond filling the gaps in your wardrobe,you can also indulge in jewellery, chocolate and even innovative cookware. Tired of shopping? Relax and soak in the cosy ‘Batavia vibe’ at one of the hip cafés and pleasant restaurants.

Tax Free Shopping At de Bijenkorf, you can collect your tax refund directly in the store; they offer an instant cash or credit tax refund on all non-EU customers’ purchases. Simply visit the Tax Free Lounge located on the fourth floor, where the multilingual staff or self-service kiosks will help you claim your instant tax refund.

Brand New Things to Celebrate With a grand total of 75,000m2 filled with only the best and finest clothing, leather goods, accessories and beauty products, de Bijenkorf is home to the most exclusive brands. These brands include Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Dior, Prada, Céline, Tod’s, Tiffany & Co. and many more.

With premium brands and generous shopping hours, de Bijenkorf promises a truly memorable shopping experience.

363 Days of Shopping Batavia Stad Amsterdam Fashion Outlet is open 363 days a year and seven days a week, 10:00-18:00 on weekdays and 10:00-20:00 on weekends and bank holidays.

Visitors from outside the EU can shop tax free, and international guests can use China UnionPay. Visit us from Amsterdam or anywhere in the Netherlands The Fashion Outlet is easy to reach by car or bus on the A6, while a daily Shopping Shuttle offers direct, fast and reasonably priced transport from Amsterdam. Batavia Stad Amsterdam Fashion Outlet is also reachable by public transport: hop on the train to Lelystad Station, and then take bus number 3 or a taxi.

What else?

Batavia Stad offers full-service, customisable packages and benefits to partners and their guests. For more information, visit www.bataviastad.com/trade.

T +31(0)88 245 333 E info@debijenkorf.nl I www.deBijenkorf.nl/international

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T +31(0)320 292 900 E sales.nl@viaoutlets.com I www.bataviastad.com

Worth a visit Amsterdam Light Festival

The art of Bansky

The darkest days of winter are made a little lighter (or at least more spectacular) with this annual outdoor exhibition of giant custom light installations by international artists all over Amsterdam’s centre and through her canals. More than just being pretty, the artworks explore a number of themes such as Biomimicry, the theme for this year’s walking route.

Several installations from this festival have been nominated for the Darc Awards, the so-called ‘Oscars’ of the light-art world.

Banky’s art as it was never meant to be seen: collected and displayed in a traditional gallery setting (even if this iconic former stock exchange in the dead centre of Amsterdam is anything but a traditional gallery, most of the time). Banksy’s former agent and gallerist,

‘Illuminade’ There are two ways to experience the festival: the free ‘Illuminade’ walking trail will take you along all the landlocked light art (and some of the canal spectacles as well) between 22 December and 8 January. Even more popular, and lasting the entire duration of the festival, is the ‘Water Colours’ boat route, which offers the best views of the many canal installations.

View from the water Boat tours are offered by a number of different canal-tour companies, and are often accompanied by blankets, hot chocolate and mulled wine, and other perks that make the trip a little cosier. In addition, there are a number of standalone pieces in Amsterdam Noord, such as the ‘Speed of Light’ project by Caspar Noyons, a scale replica of the centre of our solar system that takes just as long to walk as it takes for light to traverse the real thing, displayed at the IJ Promenade.

1 December–22 January Itinerary available online I www.amsterdamlightfestival.com/en

Installations Steve Lazarides, has pulled together some of the artist’s best and most thought-provoking works, here displayed together for the first time in Europe.

The exhibition space is made up to do the mysterious artist proud. No paintings on white walls here. Installations recreate the streets of London plus metro stations, living rooms and even Banksy’s old studio. The art also goes beyond the street art for which Banksy is famous, incorporating original canvasses and sculptures to tell his tale.

Food for thought Here you’ll find, for example, a new Banksy piece: a twist on the iconic poster for the musical Les Misérables in which the girl is crying from the effects of tear gas, which recently popped up opposite the French Embassy in London as a condemnation of the actions taken by French police in the refugee camp in Calais. This and the other 84 works on display, taken together, provide not only an afternoon diversion, but also food for thought for years to come.

Until 8 January Beurs van Berlage I www.beursvanberlage.com/calendar/the-art-of-banksy

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I amsterdam Events store

Your ideal meeting point

Dutch designers join forces to create the iconic I amsterdam Store For a flying start to your stopover, look no further than the new I amsterdam store inside the Central Station’s light-filled IJ hall. Whether you’ve just arrived for a multi-day conference or have time to spare before your next appointment, the shop is the perfect place for planning your time and travels in the city before hopping on a bike, bus, tram or ferry to your destination.

The 280 square meter store, which celebrates Amsterdam’s vibrant cultural scene and pioneering homegrown brands, doubles as your expert local guide. Grab a seat at the large reading table equipped with iPads, and browse iamsterdam. com to learn about each neighborhood’s vibe, find out what’s on, and book a top restaurant. If you’re seeking personalized advice, ask one of the enthusiastic insiders walking around the shop, who are ready to help you with maps and easy-to-follow directions, or eager to tip you on the finest coffee or most cutting-edge exhibitions in town.

Or think of the store as the ideal meeting point for catching up with friends or colleagues. While you wait, relax on the cozy sofas with a complimentary copy of A-Mag, Amsterdam’s city magazine, for the low-down on the city’s best sights and events, and suggestions for discovering lesser-known spots.

Once you’ve locked down plans and reunited with your buddies, take a breather to admire one of the store’s highlights, a wall displaying 27 products and brands, with a focus on the stories behind their success. You can use the wall’s interactive 34 MICEdition Winter 2016-2017

display to learn more about iconic brands such as denim makers G-Star RAW, Dutch flag carrier airline KLM, and Champions League-winning football club Ajax.

Feeling peckish? Choose from local goodies such chocolate bars from Tony’s Chocolonely, which tries to use only slaveryfree cocoa, and family affair Kesbeke’s famous pickled onions.

If you’re popping by at the end the daily grind, reward yourself with a couple of beers from the city’s original microbrewery, the windmill-housed Brouwerij t’IJ. And if you want to surprise your loved ones with thoughtful gifts, you’re in luck. Have your pick from purposeful products like paraben-free cosmetics by Marie-Stella-Maris (who work on making safe drinking water the global norm), minimalistic canal belt-shaped, laser-cut pendants crafted by CRE8 (who train disadvantaged youngsters in techniques such as 3D printing), and exquisitely scented candles from WOO (a lifestyle brand that sources beeswax directly from farmers in Vietnam).

Opening times: Mon-Wed 8:00-19:00, Thu-Sat 8:00-20:00, Sun 9:00-18:00 Central Station IJ-hall De Ruijterkade 28a-d

I www.iamsterdam.com/store

Your Amsterdam MICE partners

MICE partners Amsterdam offers a wide selection of hotels and venues in every style and price class.

In addition, the city is known for connecting parties to help you form the partnerships you need to make your conference or other event the best event possible. Here you will find a round-up of some of Amsterdam Marketing’s most important MICE partners – an comprehensive mix of hotels and venues eager to work with you to make your event, and the rest of your stay, successful.

Make your next event successful

Find even more partners in the online venue finder at iamsterdam.com/venuefinder.

Hotel(venue) Bilderberg Garden Hotel Crowne Plaza Amsterdam South Double Tree by Hilton Amsterdam Dutch Design Hotel Artemis EHM Hotel Amsterdam Apollo NH City Centre Amsterdam Hilton Amsterdam Hilton Schiphol Airport Holiday Inn Seaport Beach IJmuiden Hotel Casa 400 Hotel de l’Europe - p.20 Hotel Okura Amsterdam Hotel Pulitzer - p.22 InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam Marriott Hotel Amsterdam Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City Mövenpick Hotel - p.8 NH Barbizon Palace Hotel NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky W hotel Park Hotel Park Plaza Victoria Hotel

Postillion Hotel Amsterdam - p.21 Ramada Apollo Amsterdam Centre Renaissance Amsterdam Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam Steigenberger Airport Hotel Amsterdam Westcord Fashion Hotel Amsterdam Venue Beurs van Berlage - p.14 Cobra Museum De Bazel De Rode Hoed DeLaMar Theater EYE Film Institute - p.8 Gassan Diamonds - p.30 Heineken Experience Het Concertgebouw - p.13 Het Scheepvaartmuseum

Koningklijke Industrieele Groote Club (IGC) Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ - p.8 Natura Artis Magistra - p.11 NEMO Science Museum - p.10 Passenger Terminal Amsterdam - p.8 RAI Amsterdam - p.29 Rembrandt Tower Boardroom Stadion Arena Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam Taets Art and Event Park Theater De Meervaart Van Gogh Museum - p.11 Westergasfabriek Excursion/entertainment Canal Company - p.31 Cruise with Us De Bijenkorf - p.32 Holland Casino Amsterdam House of Bols Pathe Cinemas Tuschinski Theater Rederij de Nederlanden

Rederij ‘t Smidtje Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen - p.23 DMC Incentive Europe ITB Holland KrasEvents PCO CAOS Congress Care MCI Amsterdam Meetinglinq Other services ACS Audiovisual Solutions Conference Interpreters - p.19 GVB Amsterdam (public transport) Maison van den Boer (catering) Momice (eventmanagement) Taxicentrale Amsterdam (TCA) - p.19

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