Amsterdam is a city of tulips and tolerance. It`s also a city with great

AMSTERDAM
ATENS
Not
just a
pretty
place
Amsterdam al fresco: relaxing on the waterside
Amsterdam is a city of tulips and tolerance. It’s also a city with great
airport connections and a place where diversity and flexibility are
crucial ingredients of the meetings offer. Natalie Ivemy reports
A
msterdam offers variety
on a compact scale. It’s
a city with an historical
heart that has received
a modern twist. It’s
extremely easy to get around and
the venues are accessible, diverse
and flexible. New developments are
springing up all over the place, and,
to make sure they can compete, lots
of existing venues are receiving
refurbishments.
Of course Amsterdam is a
picturesque city, with its charming
ring of canals making it a beautiful
urban
development.
However,
Amsterdam is also a superb meetings
destination. Schiphol international
airport is just 20 minutes from the
heart of Amsterdam and the city has
an extensive public transport network
that makes all areas accessible.
Amsterdam is also a city on water
and many locations can be reached
by boat.
The North/South line is a 9.7 km
metro line that will begin operating
between Amsterdam-Noord and
Amsterdam-Zuid by mid-2013. The
metro line will have eight stations.
With the new metro line, travel time
from north to south will be reduced
to just 16 minutes.
Amsterdammers are known to be
out-spoken, multilingual, hospitable,
innovative
and
hard-working.
These characteristics also apply in
commerce. They will all, of course,
speak English, get to the point very
quickly and work hard to make sure
your event works well.
So what does the city have to offer
in terms of venues?
“If a conference comes to town, it
WHO
to contact
Birgit Lindken
B2B Marketing Manager
Netherlands Board
of Tourism
Tel: +44 (0)207 539 7984
E-mail: blindken@
holland.com
attracts the professor to the young
scientist. In order for the conference
to work, Amsterdam must provide a
variety of venues to suit all needs,”
says Marc Horsmans, director of the
Amsterdam Convention Board.
Hotels are very full – resulting
in relatively high rates and low
availability, especially in the high
seasons of spring and autumn.
However, the city is on the case
and plans to provide an extra nine
thousand beds by 2015.
“Other cities in Europe have
continued building hotels, we must
compete with the likes of Barcelona,
Rome and St Petersburg,” says
Horsmans. “It’s imperative we
achieve the extra 9,000 rooms, and
the council is making sure permits
for new builds and expansions are
pushed through.”
Continued on page 64
May 2008
AMSTERDAM.indd 2
PHHWLQJV LQFHQWLYHWUDYHO
63
21/4/08 13:45:03
AMSTERDAM
Continued from page 63
Heaven sent
T
he number, quality and
diversity of venues has
increased tremendously
over the past ten years.
The
largest
event
space in Amsterdam is RAI, and it’s
currently upgrading its convention
centre and services by undergoing
a c105 million (£83 million) plan of
expansion. The icing on the cake
will be the new Elicium, expected
to open in January 2009. It will be
used as an upscale exhibition area
also suitable for gala dinners and
conferences. The Elicium will have
3,400 square metres of floor space
and can accommodate a sit-down
dinner for up to 1,200 guests. When
organised as a theatre, the ballroom
can accommodate a maximum of
2,020 people, making Elicium one of
the largest locations of its kind in the
Netherlands.
If you are holding an event and are
looking for a contemporary four-star
hotel, then take a look at the Eden
Rembrandt Square Hotel. Opened in
2006, it’s conveniently located in the
centre of Amsterdam, right next to
the Amstel River. As well as brand
new meetings facilities, they have
a card to play – Flo Amsterdam –
a superb French restaurant and a
must for culinary lovers. The menu
is inspired by traditional cooking
methods and changes every three
months. Definitely worth a visit!
In June 2007, Amsterdam’s
newest five-star hotel opened its
doors. Just a five-minute walk
from the Central Station, Grand
Hotel Amrâth is located in the old
Shipping House and symbolises the
glory of the shipping industry. This
is expressed by numerous works
of art, sculptures, architectural
ironmongery and stained glass
windows. With views over the
canals, the combination of location,
rich history, art nouveau furnishings
and excellent service make this hotel
memorable. The hotel has 164 stylish
bedrooms, and even has the wireless
internet, mini-bar and entrance to
the wellness centre included in the
rate. For meetings, choose between
eight different rooms from board to
banquet to wine cellar. Maximum
capacity is 22 for boardroom and 60
theatre style and 250 for a reception.
The most impressive hall is the
‘Beraadzaal’, where shipping barons
used to have their meetings. The
room is completely intact including
64
PHHWLQJV LQFHQWLYHWUDYHO
AMSTERDAM.indd 3
Expansion plans: RAI will boast more conference space for 2009
Jaap Snijders of ITB Holland in Amsterdam recommends:
ASK
the expert
Gala dinner for 100 people:
The Cristofori Salon is a very elegant building which is still an original piano factory. Set right on
the canal it is very accessible by boat. On the top floor, the ballroom has maximum capacity for
150 for a sit down dinner. You can have cocktails downstairs, before a short tour and a ride in the
elevator to the ballroom. The elevator takes around fifteen people and has someone playing a
grand piano in it - plus a painting of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Price: Ballroom rental €1,900 (£1,481) plus €95 (£74) per person including food and drink.
Conference for 500:
The Beurs van Berlage is the former Commodity Stock Exchange building and a short walk from
four, four-star hotels. It can hold a thousand people for a theatre style meeting. Large curtains can
separate the big room so you don’t feel lost in large space.
Price: Room rental €1,200 (£935) plus between €80 – €100 (£62-£78) per person including
coffee breaks and lunch.
all the original furniture.
The former Merchant Exchange,
Beurs van Berlage, is a lively centre
for events. The main hall is the only
location in the centre of Amsterdam
which can currently accommodate
dinners and conferences for up to
1,275 guests. Reception spaces near
the Vaults have recently been fully
restored and make a unique venue
for private dinners or receptions.
For an outstanding example of
20th century Dutch Art Deco, head to
De Bazel. This magnificent building
hosts a modern conference centre. All
chambers have been redecorated to
their original style and offer a special
setting for business meetings.
Hailed by some as Amsterdam’s
best hotel, the InterContinental
Amstel is a prestigious hotel which
elegantly dominates a quiet, though
central section of the Amstel River
within walking distance of the
financial sector. The hotel has six
stylish banquet suites with natural
'Other cities have
continued
building hotels,
it's imperative we
achieve the extra
9,000 rooms'
Marc Horsmans
Amsterdam
Convention Board
daylight and can accommodate up
to 180 theatre style and 350 for a
reception.
Lastly but probably not expected, a
hostel. It might not be first choice for
a business meeting, however, if you
are looking for an affordable event,
Stayokay could be your choice. Or
perhaps you have money to spend
but want something a little different
and quirky. The accommodation
is certainly basic but it might be a
change for the staff!
Chris Hommes, Stayokay sales
and marketing manager, says:
"Stayokay offers the business sector
a surprisingly affordable product.
Our hostels are equipped with all the
necessary facilities for a pleasant
stay.”
Stayokay provides a whole host
of options from fun teambuilding
exercises, group sports activities,
creative workshops, imaginative
diversions to meetings and themed
party events.
May 2008
21/4/08 13:45:48