Connect Amsterdam Autumn 2022 | Nr. 4

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU AGAIN!

I’m not sure there are sufficient superlatives to describe the fantastic meetings that have taken place in the RAI over the past few months Our convention centre is positively buzzing with energy again and business is picking up at a rapid pace This, in turn, is having a positive effect on the industries served by events at the RAI, as well as the sectors that rely on our business. From logistics partners and stand builders to the hotel and entertainment sector, Amsterdam has come back to life And the fact that we’re making such a major contribution makes me proud

That said, we are seeing and hearing throughout the sector that not everything is running in the usual smooth way. Covid 19 has left deep scars worldwide, which we are all experiencing when organising and facilitating events We have been quite successful in helping new staff members gain experience at events and mostly see the same people returning when called upon We consider ourselves lucky in that respect

We know all too well that this is not the case in other areas. Staff shortages at airports and in the hospitality and security sectors regularly require adjustments in supply Solving this demands creativity, thinking outside the box and good cooperation within and outside company walls We welcome the chance to think along with our partners and use our network to come up with solutions on their behalf. The connections are close, after all, not least due to the large number of visitors we attract every year who enjoy using the products and services of other sectors

Everyone at the RAI is committed to ensuring clients, exhibitors, visitors and suppliers an experience that they will remember with pleasure. To make this possible, we often start working together again shortly after an event takes place, sharing experiences within and outside the walls of the RAI We view meetings like these as a pleasant reunion and the next edition is then already pencilled into the agenda

Maurits van der Sluis COO RAI Amsterdam

BASEMENT CHEFS MAKE THEIR OWN ‘BITTERBALLEN’

The RAI’s Basement Chefs introduced the bitterballen on 14 June during Provada, the largest real estate exhibition in the Netherlands. Many guests were able to try the delicious bitterballen for themselves during the trade fair. Read more about the Basement Chefs on page 17

Basement Chefs

RAI Amsterdam has come up with a new and improved 'bitterballen' recipe What makes it so special? This ball shaped, crispy, deep fried snack contains meat from local North Holland cows, organic garlic parsley and soft salpicon (a kind of ragout). There is also a vegan version consisting of a mushroom filling with fresh herbs, so everyone can enjoy.

The RAI's kitchen personnel are known as the Basement Chefs. They get their name from the fact that they work completely underground and move around using a network of corridors underneath the convention centre The team prides itself on delivering delicious and sustainable products, prepared with passion every day With the 'Heart warming Amsterdam' initiative, RAI Amsterdam has developed a concept in which catering is not only tailored to the seasons, but also linked to social improvement.

SUCCESSFUL RIVIERENBUURT CITY VILLAGE SUMMER FESTIVAL IN BEATRIXPARK

On Saturday 13 August, RAI Amsterdam assisted with the Rivierenbuurt City Village summer festival in the Beatrixpark. Picnic tables were loaned out and placed in the park to provide visitors with a sociable place to gather In addition, three RAI colleagues were present at the festival to assist where needed and requested "A big thank you to the RAI for arranging these great picnic tables,” said local resident Marian Stomph. “And to its three strong assistance crew who lent a helping hand throughout the summer festival "

RAI Amsterdam would also like to extend its appreciation to the City Village for this lively celebration, which brought together local residents and in which we were privileged to take part Our three colleagues who attended enjoyed the warm company and great atmosphere Started by residents, the Rivierenbuurt City Village is a local initiative committed to connecting local people through various activities and help improve social cohesion in the neighbourhood

RAI CHOSEN AS OVERALL WINNER MT500 MEDIA

Content via MT500

RAI Amsterdam achieved four number one positions in this year's MT500 survey The RAI heads the list in the media category as well as the sub categories customer focus, sustainable business and good employment practices.

In addition to the RAI, publisher Sdu and Belgian DPG Media were also among the prizes in the same category this year.

Purpose and positioning

The MT500 is an annual report based on a survey into the image of Dutch companies among managers, decision makers and executives. This survey is commissioned by MT/Sprout and conducted by the University of Amsterdam (UvA) The UvA conducts annual research into the 500 companies with the best reputation in the Netherlands "I think purpose and social positioning are becoming increasingly important for the reputation of organisations," says Professor Henk Volberta who conducted the survey

Dynamic RAI

HR manager Bianca van den Oever is proud of the new insights and opportunities for the RAI following the pandemic shutdown "The RAI is an enormously dynamic workplace where people work hard together to achieve results and celebrate successes together when we attain them. We were fortunately able to maintain that sense of belonging over the past two years, partly by keeping in touch virtually and physically (in accordance with covid rules) and by working closely together."

"THE RAI IS AN ENORMOUSLY DYNAMIC WORKPLACE WHERE PEOPLE WORK HARD TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE RESULTS AND CELEBRATE SUCCESSES TOGETHER WHEN WE ATTAIN THEM."

Bianca van den Oever | Manager HR RAI Amsterdam

AUTUMN TRENDS EVENT INDUSTRY

Content via events nl

Have any trends emerged in recent months? What absolutely must be taken into account when organizing an event, what do you have to take into account? Here you will find an overview of the most mentioned trends for the coming period

Take the best of the festival summer with you

The festival season may be over in the fall, but that doesn't mean we can't take the best of it with us to corporate events So make it fun: a creative decor, unique food stands, entertainment, your program in a block schedule and a network square Turn your conference into a conference tival.

Small event, bigger effect!

Microevents can now be called a real trend Multiple small events spread over a period instead of one large event is the way to go. The focus is thus more on involvement

Are you thinking of a plan B?

The elephant in the room, the corona figures are rising left and right But the event industry wouldn't be the event industry if it wasn't already taken into account on all sides. By smartly choosing your location, so that sufficient space is available for the number of visitors, you have come a long way But also think of a plan B, such as a hybrid event?

Content = key

Perhaps an open door, because of course you go for the very best substantive program, but it is striking that visitors are increasingly critical of whether an event is really interesting for them Relevant content, tailored as much as possible to the visitor of your event is therefore really indispensable

Are you going for a hybrid event?

We now know the advantages of a hybrid event This way you can receive some of your guests on location, and let people participate online It saves travel time and travel costs and people who are hindered by illness can just as well follow the event live. Keep in mind that a hybrid event is very different from an online event and requires extra organization

Good food

Although a few food trends emerge every year, it is the classics that have been dominant lately But then adapted to the season, made from local ingredients Hello pumpkin pizza!

Green, greener, greenest

Small changes often have a significant positive impact on the environment With little effort, you can do your part by reducing your event's carbon footprint. The event industry is now fully convinced that events should be as sustainable as possible Less waste, reuse of materials, a central location, sustainable suppliers and catering or an environmentally friendly location are all code words that, if it is up to us, will never disappear

THIRTY YEARS OF IBC IN THE RAI: A LONG-TERM MARRIAGE

The RAI welcomed the 30th edition of the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) to Amsterdam for four days in September. The ideal moment to talk to CEO Michael Crimp about the event, the relevance of physical meetings and the three decade relationship between IBC and RAI Amsterdam

How would you summarise the overall experience of IBC?

IBC is a huge event where people come together to see all the technology that exists in our business and the content produced by it. Professionals get to touch and feel all of the equipment and meet their industry peers from around the world. IBC is the meeting place for the global media and entertainment business, attracting people to Amsterdam from over 130 different countries They range from senior professionals who come from right around the world to professionals from Northern and Central Europe who join the show for a day or two to network and simply be together

Why is this such an unmissable event?

It’s really important for professionals to come to IBC as it is the place where everybody meets. It’s one of the two touchpoints in the year (the other being in Las Vegas) where people come together from all across the world and make decisions. IBC shows that business is about relationships. In any town or city in the world, there’s always a marketplace where people go to talk and meet. This is not just transactional, it’s very social, it’s about community and building trust. And I think it is really important that people do this face to face Meeting online is a way of gathering information, of getting involved in things, but it doesn’t quite feel the same as being in the room

Michael Crimp | CEO IBC

What’s the relevance of IBC for the broadcasting industry?

The broadcasting industry has gone through many changes and widened to take into all kinds of content that we now consume on all different sizes of screens Over time IBC has evolved to encompass the entire media and entertainment business From everything you view through the lens all the way to what you see on the screen and the different technologies in between New technologies like 5G were first showcased here, for example, and creative professionals come to work out how they can best use and monetise it within their own business.

How do you find Amsterdam as a meeting point?

Amsterdam is an amazing place for any convention and I would recommend it to anybody. It has a superb location within Northern Europe. The city also has a multicultural society with people living harmoniously together in what is basically one big village. Coming to Amsterdam you always feel very welcome Everybody speaks English, which is really helpful as that’s the language of our business You couldn’t ask for a better place

I think the answer to why IBC and the RAI work so well together is that they listen to each other You can compare it to a long term marriage everything might not always go so smoothly but you work your way through it At IBC we say: our heart is in Amsterdam but our head is where our customers want to go So between us, if we can sit down with the RAI and work out how to bring those two things together, we’ll be happy to stay in Amsterdam for a long time

How do you see the future of IBC?

There are obviously lots of opportunities for the future of our business but if I could predict them exactly then I’d be a lot richer than I am and probably on a yacht somewhere in the Caribbean in the next few weeks What I do know is what’s happened over the past years as enabling technology has helped us move into new areas. So when you see 5G at this show, that will enable the future not to be flat. For exmaple look at 5G. This will enable us to serve AR, VR. We all talk about the metaverse, that’s a big thing in our conference programme. There are so many opportunities to be creative in this area. What does that mean for us, what does that look like in the home, what does that mean for a business model? These are all exciting items for the future and our industry continues to grow off the back of them.

Any final thoughts?

I am proud of the IBC team, the way they pull this event together and work with all our consultants and suppliers. It’s a testament to them that we’ve earned the support of such a wide range of global brands of broadcasters and suppliers. You name a big brand and they are at IBC, all coming together to be a part of this fantastic event

This is the 30th edition of IBC in the RAI. What makes the relationship so special?

BACK ORGANISERS!

We are pleased to welcome all organisers back. Since the summer of 2022, we have welcomed organisers of both international and national trade fairs and conferences In the coming period, we, in collaboration with the organizers, will bring people together, connect and inspire them by organising and facilitating meaningful encounters

We also find it important to welcome the organisers back to the bustling city of Amsterdam. During the pandemic, the city of Amsterdam missed you and your visitors Amsterdam can't wait to show you the history, present and future of the city

News from the Netherlands

AMSTERDAM AND THE NETHERLANDS AWARDED WITH DIGITAL AND SUSTAINABLE AWARDS

Content via iamsterdam.nl, impact.economist.com and arcadis.com

Amsterdam ranks second in Digital Cities Index 2022

The latest report from Economist Impact has Amsterdam in second spot among 30 global cities for digital connectivity, services, culture and sustainability.

The Digital Cities Index assessed candidates on the extent and impact of digitalisation and smart city projects according to four key pillars: services (from e government to healthcare, retail and finance), connectivity (digital infrastructure and access to affordable, quality internet), culture (fostering innovation, public engagement and digital inclusion) and sustainability (management of efficiency, emissions, pollution and circular economies)

Among the four pillars, Amsterdam ranked highest (4th) for services. The report specifically singles out the city’s traffic management system, enabled by the IoT (Internet of Things) praising its applications for congestion easing, accident reduction and emissions control. The report also compliments Amsterdam’s provision for services in the sharing economy thanks to innovative businesses such as Peerby and the many smart mobility and vehicle sharing startups based in the city.

Further boosting Amsterdam’s overall score was its high ranking for connectivity: 6th among the 30 countries in the report This owes much to the digital infrastructure in Amsterdam and the Netherlands more widely Around 99 5% of Dutch households will have access to at least 100 Mbps by 2023, and the country is steadily working towards its aim of becoming the European leader in 5G, already ranking second

Amsterdam also has a long history of world leading connectivity and internet culture, and one of the most important internet exchange points in the world: AMS IX. In terms of sustainability, further mentions in the report of Amsterdam’s successful traffic management system highlight its benefits for policing environmental zones and high emissions vehicles

NL ranked as EU’s 3rd most digitalised country

The European Commission has placed the Netherlands third in its annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI).

This tracks the digital progress made by member states and the 2022 index put Finland and Denmark at the head of the pack. The accompanying report describes the Netherlands as “a consistent top performer in the EU”, noting the presence of the Dutch strategy for the digital transformation of the economy and society It also says that the investments the government is making in innovation, research and knowledge development will help cement the country’s strong position in innovative research, use of digital technologies and digital skills

The DESI index also sees the Netherlands come in third spot behind Finland and Ireland on the Women in Digital scoreboard, which assesses women’s inclusion in digital jobs, careers and entrepreneurship In addition, the report urges the Netherlands to intensify its participation in major European technology cooperation projects and further invest in sustainable digital technologies.

Amsterdam ranked 10th most sustainable city worldwide

The latest report from engineering organisation Arcadis ranks Amsterdam as the 10th most sustainable city in the world two places higher than the last report in 2018 Rotterdam follows closely behind at number 12 while Oslo takes top spot

The report ranks 100 cities globally according to three broad factors: ‘planet’, ‘people’ and ‘profit’. Amsterdam proved a relative ‘all rounder’, ranking 10th for ‘people’ (social factors, such as quality of life), 14th for ‘planet’ (environmental factors such as energy usage and emissions) and 25th for ‘profit’ (economic and business factors).

The quality of its transport infrastructure is an obvious asset and, broadly speaking, the transport infrastructure is relatively sustainable (with room for more investment) Unsurprisingly Amsterdam’s bicycle infrastructure is a particular strength

Compared to other cities Amsterdam has an average amount of CO2 emissions per capita and energy use per capita is slightly higher than the global average. As the CO2 emissions performance is partly due to the low share of renewable energy in its mix, this is an area in need of urgent investment especially relative to many of Amsterdam’s central European peers such as Zurich and Vienna.

AMSTERDAM AS EMERGING KNOWLEDGE CAPITAL

By Monik Kokkola, amsterdam&partners

A new report from Elsevier and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam highlights Amsterdam’s role as an emerging knowledge capital that is at the forefront of knowledge development and impact across science, technology and innovation. Comparing the state of scientific research and innovation between Amsterdam and other Dutch and European cities, the report identifies the Dutch capital as a research powerhouse in an analysis entitled Understanding Amsterdam’s Competitive Advantage Published on 26 August, here are some key findings from the report:

High research impact with strengths in life sciences and health

Amsterdam ranks highly when measuring research output by the number of scientific publications The city’s research impact is comparable to other powerhouses like Copenhagen and Cambridge, and its publications are highly impactful and cited significantly more often than the European average Results show that Amsterdam is a leader when it comes to knowledge development in medicine, life sciences and health, with a strong global reputation.

Top-tier AI research

Thanks in part to initiatives like AI Technology for People and the ICAI network, Amsterdam’s artificial intelligence (AI) research has grown with figures comparable to some of the top performers in Europe. The city’s developing focus on AI is having an increasing effect with research cited on average twice as often as the global average. This illustrates the immense potential that Amsterdam’s AI research has to bring visionary solutions to residents and improve people’s everyday lives

Hotspots

THE BASEMENT

The terms ‘front of house’ and ‘back of house’ are widely used in the hotel world. The RAI too has many passageways and corridors behind the scenes but goes one step further with a ‘below the house’ area The extensive network of tunnels under the RAI are used to transport items from A to B out of sight of the guests While many of the cellars found down here are used for storage, this is also home to the kitchens

Yes, the RAI's chefs prepare food for our guests at the heart of this underground world From gala dinner to Dutch bitterballen snacks, from cookies with coffee to an international buffet, they all have their origin in the basement kitchens Hence the nickname Basement Chefs for the staff who do everything they can to make a culinary success of every event.

In doing so, they have made the choice to use as many products as possible from regional producers and other sustainable collaborations. This approach is incorporated in their regional catering concept called Heartwarming Amsterdam. It allows them to fulfil every catering wish with regional and/or seasonal products while also making a clear choice to do good for society by partnering with local suppliers renowned for their fresh, animal friendly, sustainable and tasty wares Made on a small scale, the short distances for transportation further ensure product freshness while reducing CO2 emissions

In the past our Basement Chefs even developed ketchup made from their own recipe using tomatoes from the Stadskwekerij Osdorp urban farm In addition to fresh healthy vegetables this farm is dedicated to providing meaningful paid daytime activities and training to its employees

Waste reduction is also very important for the Basement Chefs. For example, they recently made the RAI employees some delicious cake from a large number of bananas that were about to go off. Other culinary finds that the RAI staff love are pesto & herb butter made with wild garlic from the Amsterdam forest and pesto using organic goat cheese from the Ridammerhoeve farm.

In addition to the kitchens, there is a meeting room in the Basement The office staff occasionally hold meetings there and usually find some fine snack treats on the conference table Friday afternoon in particular is a popular time to meet in the Basement, yet another reason why it can be called the hotspot of the RAI

NEW AT THE RAI: THE FOOD COLLECTIVE

A new restaurant called The Food Collective has recently opened in the RAI. Overlooking Hall 12 in the middle of the Holland Complex, this tasty new concept meets the needs of today’s international trade fair visitors by serving a fresh take on catering.

The customer journey of today’s international visitor entails different catering requirements throughout the day In addition to all the food trucks and catering outlets in and around the RAI, the need for places to network throughout the exhibition day is particularly high And networking is, of course, one of the most important aspects of attending a trade fair.

The aisles and stands are obviously key locations in this respect and many exhibitors equip their stands with comfortable chairs, sofas and coffee machines. However, there are also visitors who prefer to get away from the busy exhibition floor and have a quiet chat with clients over a small bite or drink. With this in mind the RAI has come up with a concept that moves with the shifting catering needs throughout the day.

The Food Collective actually houses three different catering concepts. The Sushi Club serves freshly made sushi from the special sushi bar. The Balcony Bar Lounge offers delicious cappuccinos and croissants in the morning or drinks and snacks in the afternoon. And then there is the à la carte restaurant At Twelve, which is designed to be a popular venue for lunch.

We tried out this new formula for the first time during the IBC trade show in September and it was a great success Besides the many litres of coffee, beer and wine served and thousands of pieces of sushi and Dutch bitterballen consumed, the many compliments from guests made clear that The Food Collective has struck the right balance

Many IBC visitors return every year and were positively surprised by the changes put in place Lots of them even started using The Food Collective as their regular base and could be found there on all five days of the event.

See why on your next visit to the RAI by visiting our new catering hotspot for yourself.

The RAI in society

IN SEARCH OF HIDDEN VALUE WITHIN THE EVENT INDUSTRY

By Stephanie Mathas

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is sometimes perceived as a catch all term. In my experience, however, it is a clear description of the matter at hand a way of doing business that society sees as responsible. As CSR Manager at RAI Amsterdam, I work hard every day to help grow this way of doing business within the RAI organisation.

Where are we part of the problem?

In the context of the many social challenges we face today, two questions are of continuous importance. Where are we part of the problem? And where can we be part of the solution? The first question leads to many areas where we are working to prevent or reduce the negative social impact of our activities. For instance, we are committed to preventing waste by encouraging recycling, spreading logistics better to reduce neighbourhood nuisance and saving energy through smart solutions in our building.

Where can we be part of the solution?

The second question, 'Where can we be part of the solution', is one that fascinates me personally. This is partly because there are so many opportunities to make a difference if you actively seek them out and are open to change My search started years ago when I went out into the neighbourhood on my bike to find out what social initiatives are based around the RAI and what social needs exist locally I came across a wide range of initiatives as I listened to people’s stories, wishes and needs over many cups of coffee

I also asked each initiative what it needed in order to find out how the RAI could make a potential contribution And this is how I met Titia and Mia, the founders of a wonderful local initiative called Stichting Heen en Weer. Volunteers from the neighbourhood drive people with mobility issues from their home to the supermarket or doctor, for example, and back again. They use small, bright green electric cars and give people the chance to remain an active part of their surroundings. Titia and Mia told me that they were looking for parking spaces for their cars, as they had to vacate the places where they were parked at the time. I contacted the RAI’s Traffic Manager Wim to see if we might be able to help. Wim said that although we obviously have a lot of parking spaces at the RAI, we really need them all for some events Could we think of anything else?

I went for a walk with Wim around the RAI grounds and in one of our car parks we found an empty, unused corner This space was useless to us as normal cars could not park there due to its limited size Heen en Weer's cars are small, however, so it was the perfect place for them We installed charging stations and since then the Heen en Weer fleet has made grateful use of this corner in our car park

Looking in from the outside...

If I hadn't met Titia and Mia, we would never have seen social value in this unused spot in our car park Indeed, it would probably never have caught our eye and remained worthless from a business perspective Thanks to our meeting, we were able to both find this corner and transform it into a valuable location that is now making a difference in the neighbourhood

It made us realise that we can find hidden value within our organisation when we take an outside view It has taught us to be open to requests from society and start searching for opportunities to meet them

Thanks to the many meetings we’ve now had and continue to have with a wide variety of social initiatives, we’re finding hidden value in many places. A type of surplus that we do not exploit within our business but can be incredibly valuable to society. Another example is the way we help initiatives with our facilities at times when the business is not using them, with items left over after events or conferences, with the knowledge and expertise of our staff when it can help within a social context and so much more...

Tapping into your hidden value

By learning about social needs, we find opportunities to meet them and be part of the solution That the RAI possesses hidden value is not unique Every organisation, every event, every conference has hidden value. It is a shame not to exploit this value and instead waste it.

I am constantly amazed at the endless ways in which an organisation like the RAI can help social initiatives in Amsterdam. I therefore invite everyone to get to know the organisations in your region... Start with one initiative, become familiar with that and start your search for an 'empty corner in the car park'. In these times when we are all looking for solutions to social challenges, we each have the potential to be a part of the solution and make a difference Don’t waste it!

Stephanie Mathas MVO Manager RAI Amsterdam

"I AM CONSTANTLY AMAZED AT THE ENDLESS WAYS IN WHICH AN ORGANISATION LIKE THE RAI CAN HELP SOCIAL INITIATIVES IN AMSTERDAM."

Stephanie Mathas | CSR Manager RAI Amsterdam

Innovation

ARE SERVICE ROBOTS THE FUTURE?

Content partly via events nl

An almost over the top job application experience, companies applying to staff, service robots and other forms of digitalisation; these are all creative solutions that the hospitality and events sectors are using to cope with labour market shortages, which are particularly prevalent in these sectors. But they are also bringing out the best in both sectors!

'Restaurant puts all chefs out on the street'

'Restaurant puts all chefs out on the street' was the playful headline with which Auberge du Bonheur opened its press release the other day It turned out to be a clever way of drawing attention to its vacancy for a sous chef Part of this special application procedure is a real experience: interested sous chefs are being invited for an extensive lunch, an afternoon walk through the gardens, a five course dinner, an overnight stay and a breakfast with their job interview

Playful ways of finding new staff will also not have escaped your notice on the radio and on the street: Randstad is advertising the Other Way Round Application in which the company applies to the job seeker, and many hospitality and event venues are trying to show why they are such a great employer with clever texts and special terms and conditions.

One big advantage: thinking carefully about your own core values and USPs may eventually yield suitable personnel, but we are not yet at that stage.

Digitalisation as a solution?

Smart programmes or maybe even robots will never take the place of warm, human hospitality, of course But maybe they can unburden staff? Smart booking programmes to reserve venues for simple meetings or make a table reservation are now commonplace, even though there was initial resistance to these too

More and more venues have information kiosks that allow visitors to register or receive up to date information This leaves the attending staff free to deal with other 'hot' matters. The digitalisation of certain processes obviously has advantages: on the one hand, it allows certain practical matters to be handled more efficiently, creating room for real 'offline' contact. At the last edition of IBC in the RAI, for example, facial recognition was used for digitalised registration.

And the service robot? Is that a playful addition, a fun experiment or the future? Guests sometimes need time to adjust 'I had never seen such a thing before, so I didn't immediately understand that they were serving' but also see the advantages: 'The robots are especially handy for picking up empty glasses; you just place your empty glass on a passing robot, ideal!' Up to now within the RAI, robots have been used just once for catering during Money 20/20 Of course, they can never replace personal attention and a beaming smile, but who knows, maybe they will be the addition of the future?

Throwback

A CENTURY OF THE EFFICIENCY TRADE FAIR

Held at the RAI for decades, the Efficiency Trade Fair was a household name in the Dutch digital world. Its history dates back a full century to the foundation of the VIFKA branch association in 1922 with the primary aim of setting up its own trade fair. The goal was to bring together suppliers of office products in the Netherlands with a focus on the use of modern machines for administrative purposes.

The first exhibition in this field The Office was held in October 1922 and lasted almost a month. A wide range of office equipment and administration systems was on display at the Paleis voor Volksvlijt on Frederiksplein in Amsterdam, where the event took place National and international competitions for stenography, machine writing and machine calculation were also held

The last pre war Efficiency Trade Fair was held in October 1938, at the Apollohal in Amsterdam The large number of visitors some 12,500 reflected the end of the financial crisis years The popularity of the trade fair was also evidenced by the fact that Prince Bernhard attended in person.

Another exhibition was planned in 1941, but the German occupation of 1940 1945 put an end to the series of Efficiency exhibitions of the 1920s and 1930s.

In May 1960, the VIFKA organised a special Efficiency Trade Fair for the first time again in the old RAI building in Amsterdam The next one followed two years later, this time in the new RAI building, with 118 importers participating All subsequent editions would take place at the RAI A final Efficiency Trade Fair was held in 1997, but this 'week of efficiency' from 29 September to 3 October at Amsterdam RAI was a combination of Efficiency Trade Fair 97, Document 97, Internet in Business and the Automation Guide Career Days Visitors were inspired by the latest computers, office machines and other innovations.

NLdigital (as the VIFKA is called today) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and bringing back the Efficiency Trade Fair on a one off basis A pop up exhibition will take you through some of the highlights of a century of digital progress. You can register for a free visit to this unique event via: https://www.nldigital.nl/we bestaan 100 jaar/

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