Conference holland 2016 by Het_Portaal_Uitgevers

SECTIE

PLANNER Carola van der Hoeff: SPEAKER Lucien Engelen: ‘I simply have a great job’

The future of healthcare STAGE FRIGHT Nine tips: SPONSORING Nine tips: A rousing speech without nervousness How to ensure a happy sponsor COMPLIANCE Pharma codes: MEETING The Journey: ‘Meetings willDESIGN get a different role’ Interrupt the ordinary’ MEETING DESIGN Practicum: SOCIALraw MEDIA 15 Reasons Curious, and rebellious, analytical ICCA had tremendous Twitter traffic and compassionate...

PLANNER Rhiannon SPEAKER Diederik Jekel: Bryant: ‘Safety Explaining becomes science increasingly in a funny way important’ MUSIC Essential REPORTS MEETING component DESTINATIONS:

Eight for motivation Dutch cities andand solidarity regions

5 Edwin Nunnink is editor in chief of Conference Holland and QM. He can be reached at edwin.nunnink@hetportaal.com or @edwinnunnink on Twitter.

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HET PORTAAL UITGEVERS B.V. Veerdijk 40-i, 1531 MS Wormer The Netherlands Tel: +31 75 647 57 47 E-mail info@hetportaal.com Website www.hetportaal.com EDITORIAL STAFF Editor in Chief Edwin Nunnink edwin.nunnink@hetportaal.com Senior Editor Judith Munster judith.munster@teksthuys.nl Senior Editor Harald Roelofs roelofsh@gmail.com Contributing Editor Daan Borrel dav.borrel@gmail.com Industry Specialist Eric Bakermans ebakermans@holland.com Industry Specialist Tons Soons ton.soons@winningwords.nl PHOTOGRAPH & ILLUSTRATIONS Cover Illustration Erwin Kho www.zerbamine.nl Contributing Photographer Thomas Fasting www.fastingfotografie.nl Stock photos iStock www.istockphoto.com DESIGN Company Finnmedia www.finnmedia.nl Creative Director Aryen Bouwmeester aryen@finnmedia.nl Graphic Designer Christian Gude chris@finnmedia.nl PRINT Company Real Concepts www.realconcepts.nl ADVERTISING STAFF Sales Manager Ferry Aaftink ferry.aaftink@hetportaal.com Account Manager Arjan Woortman arjan.woortman@hetportaal.com Traffic Manager Monique Zijlstra monique.zijlstra@hetportaal.com Traffic Manager Annemarie Smit annemarie.smit@hetportaal.com MANAGEMENT Chairman and CEO John Michael Swaab john.swaab@hetportaal.com

WWW.CONFERENCEHOLLAND.NL @ConferenceNL www.facebook.com/conferenceholland EDITION 2016

MORE THAN MEDICAL Is this edition only intended for medical associations? No, definitely not. BY EDWIN NUNNINK

Of course, the X-rays on the cover refer to the medical sector. We want to point out to you that there are 8 medical faculties in the Netherlands, which are connected with 8 medical universities that score highly in world rankings. They also represent the diversity that our compact country has to offer, for their locations vary from, for example, the high North, Groningen, to the deep South of our country, Maastricht. On the western side of the Netherlands they almost stand in a straight line: from Amsterdam (two medical faculties), via Leiden to Rotterdam. Centrally situated is Utrecht, and to the east the University of Nijmegen ensures full coverage. And all these cities are easily accessible from Schiphol Airport, the airport that has an international reputation for direct world-wide connections. And, of course, we cannot avoid giving attention to the Pharma Codes. In cooperation with Simon Dufaur of MCI, we explain what the consequences of these regulations are, and how they can be dealt with (strategically). However, this article is not only interesting for medical associations. It is important for every association to consider the income flow of the association and its congresses. After all, today's association is a (more informal) community, and what used to be a (potential) sponsor is now a partner which you no longer seduce with a once-only gold, silver or bronze package. Fortunately, the Netherlands as a country of knowledge has more strings to its bow. The government has designated nine so-called top sectors. Apart from Life Sciences & Health, these are Agro & Food, Chemistry, Creative Industry, Energy, High Tech Systems and Materials, Logistics, Horticulture and Starting Materials and Water. These are the sectors in which the Netherlands excels at an international level and which are fully supported by the Dutch government with a view to further developing the industry and stimulating knowledge exchange. You will read more about these sectors in the destination reports in this magazine. Here you learn which city and which region excels in which sectors, and which facilities they offer to make congresses a success. You will also read about new, proven techniques for transferring knowledge. It was not a coincidence that the first international practicum for meeting designers took place in the Netherlands at the start of this year. After all, transferring knowledge and behavioural change are also science. Spoiler alert: The impact of a speaker on a stage is very limited. As is an online video. What does work, however? Fortunately, there is a group of international meeting designers who dare to experiment. This edition is intended for everyone who has made a profession out of knowledge exchange. Learn, enjoy, and lots of love from Holland.

‘If the bond is close, you can't do anything wrong’ Carola van der Hoeff likes to share her twenty years of congress experience. Not surprisingly, her club life extends beyond the International Pharmaceutical Federation, where she is employed in the position of Chief Operating Officer & Congress Director.

The impact of pharma codes “There will probably not be fewer meetings but the look and feel of them will change,” Simon Dufaur of MCI predicts when asked about the impact of pharma codes on medical meetings. He expects to see a polarization in the type of meetings.

30 ‘Innovation is born out of people who travel light’ The first international practicum for meeting designers took place at the start of this year in the Netherlands. Initiator Eric de Groot talks about the objectives and the learnings of the practicum.

To explain the findings of many extraordinary researchers

Science journalist, Diederik Jekel, knows how to make even the most difficult material accessible. For any type of audience: from children and bankers to Frisian women's clubs. "You cannot change how the audience listens, but you can change how you yourself talk.''

16 How to deal with stage fright Help, I don't dare go on stage! Even very experienced speakers are sometimes affected by this. We give you nine tips that you, as an organizer, can give to your speakers.

OPINION

Eric Bakermans

The meeting sector can boost Holland’s Top Sectors The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs has identified 9 top sectors. Cross-fertilization between these sectors produces clear added value. The conference and meeting sector has the power to bring all the parties together.

Ton Soons

Geoff Donaghy

Trouble in the meeting room

Good security demands a joint effort

In case you design spaces or rent meeting rooms, it can be great to give your clients some well-thoughtout advice and ask them what they want to achieve with their meeting. You might keep them from a lot of trouble in the meeting room.

By making sure there is open and ongoing communications leading up to an event, convention centres and their clients can together ensure the highest possible level of security – and by doing that, make sure that the events can proceed uninterrupted.

CONTENT

DESTINATION REPORTS

(with congress calendar on page 73)

39 Friesland Genuine and authentic Friesland combines high-level expertise in the fields of water technology and dairy industry with a rich culture. This province still has its own language, and considers authenticity of paramount importance. Just as reliability: promises are to be kept.

Leiden 43 Welcoming and freethinking Anyone who thinks of Leiden, thinks of a major university, a historic city, Rembrandt, a ring of canals, the largest Dutch knowledge centre for life sciences and an ancient sanctuary for 'dissidents'.

Hague 47 The City of thinkers and innovators

Holland, North of Amsterdam 59 North Traditions and Innovations

Brabant 51 Strength through cooperation

63 Utrecht Smart city

The Hague is the city which houses the seat of the Dutch government, where the International Court of Justice makes its judgements and, moreover, it is the city with a bustling economy. the Hague is smart, influential, personal and connected in the broadest sense of the word.

Praised for it's hospitality, cosy towns and beautiful nature on the one hand and for it's innovation, knowledge and the need to share it on the other hand, the region of Brabant has it all: Business Brains & Hospitality Heart.

55 Rotterdam Always innovating

Rotterdam has more than 400 years of successful experience in trade and shipping. Today, it is a young, versatile and dynamic city that is (internationally) renowned for its bold, contemporary architecture and innovative character.

In the region of North Holland, located North of Amsterdam, all the icons of the Netherlands come together. It is famed for its picturesque fishing villages and the typical Dutch bulb fields; it is known for its innovations in the field of water management, agri-food and renewable energy.

67 Noordwijk â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Space to Beâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Noordwijk offers astounding diversity for each square mile. This exclusive seaside resort is situated in the Dutch Dune and Flowerbulb Region and is, with its numerous international space agencies, the epicentre of the European aerospace industry.

About Conference Holland is the most comprehensive guide for association managers and meeting planners who consider or decided to organise a conference in The Netherlands. Conference Holland is a special edition of QM [Quality in Meetings] a publication of Het Portaal Uitgevers. Het Portaal Uitgevers supplies trade and industry information in the trade fair, meeting, promotional marketing,

corporate gift and promotional product domain. We aim to improve knowledge in those who use these marketing and communication media to increase their returns and to stimulate and support further development in the relevant industries. We organise printed media, digital platforms and events to this end. These activities are carried out under the Expovisie, QM, and PromZ brand names.

ASSOCIATION PLANNER

‘I SIMPLY HAVE A GREAT JOB’ Ms Carola van der Hoeff likes to share her twenty years of congress experience. Not surprisingly, her club life extends beyond the International Pharmaceutical Federation, where she is employed in the position of Chief Operating Officer & Congress Director. BY EDWIN NUNNINK, EDITOR IN CHIEF CONFERENCE HOLLAND

In Carola van der Hoeff's career, it has always been important for her to have a 'click' with her immediate superiors. Already during her International Business course at the school for higher education in economics and management, she worked for Congrex Holland, under the direction of her fellow-villager Ms Ellen de Ranitz. She was to work for twelve years with this internationally operating PCO. After Ms De Ranitz had left Congrex, Carola moved to Eurocongress. During the job interview with the ‘leading ladies’ Mariëtte Helmann and Michelle Labouchere, there was a 'click' within five minutes. This resulted in four years' employment, and she was still there at the time of the transformation to MCI Amsterdam. “Then I was approached by two associations simultaneously , one of which was FIP”, says Carola. “That suited me, because I wanted to grow. With Eurocongress/MCI, this was not possible for me, for I handled no fewer than ten congresses a year. That was just pushing, pushing, pushing.” During the interview at the FIP

headquarters in The Hague, there was this click again, this time with the manager, who also happened to live in the village where Carola was born. One year later, her career took an important turn. Her manager died unexpectedly and Carola and her colleague divided the tasks between themselves. Since then, she has been responsible for the organisation of the congresses and the finances of the International Pharmaceutical Federation. How important are congresses as a source of income? “Congresses yield between 35 and 40 percent of our income. This depends primarily on the venue of the annual congress. In Europe, the income is often better. This year, we are going to Buenos Aires. This means, for instance, for people from Korea that they will need to travel for 30 hours, just to reach Argentina. From the Netherlands, it takes 14 hours. If you have a five-day congress, and before that also the counsel and bureau meetings, and a jet lag, it is quite a lot.

Let alone the travel expenses. On the other hand, we notice that people react very enthusiastically when they hear Buenos Aires, because they have never been there. We shall see. We have based our budgeting on slightly less income. We can afford to make a minor loss, but as the financially responsible officer, I of course prefer to break even.” Is your funding under pressure due to the pharma codes? “We notice very little of this, for sponsoring is of limited importance for us. Most companies do not consider us sufficiently important because the pharmacists and scientists we represent, are not the ones that prescribe drugs. In addition we are linked to the WHO, which means that our sponsoring options are limited.” “Our major sources of income are the memberships of the member organisations and the individual members, and in addition there are schools of pharmacy and the congress.” “We use these to finance our staff costs and the projects we carry out in cooperation with the WHO or entirely

ASSOCIATION PLANNER

INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL FEDERATION © THOMAS FASTING

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global body representing pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, founded in 1912. Through 137 national organisations, 155 academic institutional members and over 5,000 individual members, the organisation represents over three million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists around the world.

CAROLA VAN DER HOEFF: ‘IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT IF YOU ARE OPEN IN YOUR COMMUNICATION, YOU WILL GET FAR.

on our own through our foundation. For instance, we have a project on medical shortage. One would think that this is only relevant for developing countries, but it exists everywhere. Even here, in the Netherlands, there was an acute shortage of thyroid medication in January. Other projects deal with, for instance, counterfeit medicines that are sold on internet, and good practices of pharmacy in developing countries. Personally, I am very busy at present getting donors interested in the Pictograms project.” How do you choose the venue for your annual congress? “We are a global organisation, and therefore our congresses are held all over the world. Last year we were in Germany, this year we will be in Argentina, next year in Korea, and in 2018 in Glasgow. We organise them more often in Europe because, as was remarked before, we know there will be more participants. The venue also depends very much on the question whether the member organisation can meet our wishes.

What's on the list of wishes? We work with a bid manual. It contains three important requirements in respect of the responsibilities of the organising member organisation. It has to take care of the opening reception of about 2,000 to 2,500 persons and the counsel dinner for 200 persons. Furthermore, they have to guarantee 250 participants from the country itself, for the normal registration fee. These are pretty high requirements, also in comparison with other associations. But it works. Of course, this is also financially motivated, but we do it because we want to have commitment from the member organisation. How far ahead do you plan? I am already working on congresses for 2020 and even 2021. You really need such a long period for medically related congresses. When we have received a bid, we go on a site visit. We look at the location – usually a congress centre –, the city for a bit and a few hotels. After that, you discuss the agreement and the question whether you want to do it. We usually

At the headquarters in The Hague, there are 12 permanent employees, who are supported by more than 150 volunteers. The annual FIP congress attracts on average some 3000 to 3500 pharmacists and scientists. In addition, a scientific congress is organised once every three years.

www.fip.org

also try to find a local DMC that can help us with the hotels and social events. We start developing the theme and the logo at least three years ahead. The following year is for the session proposals and after that, we start developing the programme. I have just returned from Seoul, where we had a meeting with the Minister of Health. We were there last year as well, but that was at the time of the MERS virus outbreak, and the appointment was cancelled. We always try to link a ministers summit to the congress, with ministers of as many countries as possible discussing a subject related to pharmacy. If that proves impossible, we aim a little lower and try to organise a day for the chief pharmacists. For our member < organisations, it is important that

ASSOCIATION PLANNER

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;IF THE BOND IS CLOSE, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WRONGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; subjects that concern them are discussed at the highest possible level, because it offers them the opportunity to speak directly with their governments at such a time. You have to plan these things a long time ahead, for in the end it is the minister concerned who has to commission the event and provide the financial commitment. Have there been many changes to the structure of the congress over the recent years? We try something new every year, just as everybody else does. We work with apps, social media and we may go paperless one day. But, well... Last year, the app did not function perfectly. It is odd, but we did not receive many complaints. The participants did download it, but I doubt if they use it. Our people form a traditional club, where networking is very important. So it did not matter very much.

But Wi-Fi is an issue. In Korea it was perfect, but in Buenos Aires it is very limited, up to a maximum of 250 users. Having it installed yourself costs tens of thousands of euros. We have not got the budget for that. We solve this problem by creating a lobby where people can check their e-mail, because that is the most important aspect. We combine it with our stand, so that we can have more interaction with the participants at the same time. That is how you make a virtue of necessity. I think it is very important to inform the participants properly about the situation. Do you not have problems with attracting younger participants in particular? The numbers of our participants are stable, with only fluctuations due to the venue chosen. We very much want more young people, but it is not going so badly in this respect.

It is more important that we have many first timers who do not come again in the next year. That is due to the fact that they often come from neighbouring countries. Participation in the next congress in another continent is often too expensive for these people. Another issue to be dealt with in the coming years is the fact that many people attending the congress are no members. That is why we would like to introduce a fee including a one-year membership during next-year's congress. This will give us an opportunity to contact these people and communicate what the benefits are. We have a great deal of information available, which they can use for their own environment and studies. Is there no shift towards online events? We do have an increasing number of online workshops, during which a section discuss a specific topic among themselves, often through GoToMeeting. However, I do not expect that this will affect live meetings. I think things are continuing nicely on our side. But we are going to record more videos. The next congress will be provided with a kind of small studio where we can film and interview participants. These videos will be displayed on our separate website iamapharmacist, where pharmacists from all over the world tell why everybody should become a pharmacist. I think that people prefer to watch a video that is not too long - say, 30 seconds - instead of reading an entire text. We will also totally renovate our website in 2017. At present, it contains a great deal of information, including the <

ASSOCIATION PLANNER

speakers' presentations and abstracts of a congress, but it is difficult to search information in it. Therefore, an important aim is to make it possible for all members to access information easily, for instance by a more visual approach instead of only text. What do you like about your job? I like my responsibilities and working with all these member organisations. You are dealing with a new team each time, and they can differ very much from each other. The Argentinean team is delightful to work with. These people are very warm-hearted and they really see you as one of the team members. But when I have just returned from Korea, I think

‘Oh, that was fun too’. When you arrive two volunteers welcome you with a bunch of flowers and they tell you that you have to participate in karaoke the next day. Not really something for me, never done it... But I positively loved it! It's a new experience everywhere. It is important for many member organisations to have the congress in their own country. So, they always say ‘this is going to be the biggest conference ever’. It's also the energy that makes it so enjoyable. I simply have a great job. Do they not look on you as a busybody from the headquarters? If you lay down properly in the agreement what is their responsibility

and what ours, and also mutually express this clearly – in some cultures you have to repeat it to get confirmation –, then it's not really a problem. And sometimes you have to be flexible. It is not always easy, but I have experienced that if you are open in your communication, you will get far. You must always ensure to create a bond with the organisation you’re cooperating with. You work with each other for so many years. If the bond is close, you can't do anything wrong. I am Dutch, of course. I am direct and say what I think, although my directness is not so extreme by Dutch standards. Hierarchy is an important point to consider. It is therefore essential to have

ASSOCIATION PLANNER

a thorough understanding of the person you are talking to. You have to prepare and, what's very important, remain yourself. And, I don't get upset so easily. I'll find a solution, I always think. You really feel at home in clubs, for you are also active in the meeting industry outside the FIP. Since January, I have been on the board of AC Forum. I like it very much. Peers sharing information. It may be about practical matters, compliancy, marketing strategy or new developments that people have tried. For instance, recently there was an association that had experience with Waytation. it uses a chip in the participants' badges, so

that you can monitor how they move and circulate during the day, without violating their privacy. I find this a highly interesting development. Last November, Iris Allebrandi of ECNP and I organised a workshop on Basic Conference Management within the AC Forum. It was intended for the young ones who have just started â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they usually come from some catering school or other course of study â&#x20AC;&#x201C;, and who need to develop further. Furthermore, I am also on the board of the Pre-financing and Guarantee Fund. This is a unique fund in the Netherlands, which helps to limit the financial risk of organising a congress. It is especially interesting for somewhat smaller

congresses that do not have a buffer. The fund was not sufficiently known, which is why we, the board, have invested in marketing it. It works, we can see a considerable increase in applications. I like to contribute to putting the Netherlands on the map as a congress country. And this is not difficult. The Netherlands remains an attractive, compact country, which is easy to visit and where there are tulips and historical cities that you simply must have seen. â&#x2030;&#x2C6;

SPEAKERS

NINE TIPS FOR A ROUSING SPEECH WITHOUT NERVOUSNESS

THIS IS HOW YOU DEAL WITH STAGE FRIGHT Help, I don't dare go on stage! Even very experienced speakers are sometimes affected by this. Here are some tips you, as an organizer, can give to your speakers. BY HARALD ROELOFS, SENIOR EDITOR CONFERENCE HOLLAND

Give your speakers a little attention before they go on Speakers sometimes like, a bit of attention from the supervisor or meeting planner before they go on stage. And, often, it is then simply a matter of just saying that it is going to be great or that they look good; you could also give them one of the tips below for their nervousness. It may be just that extra push that gives them the confidence they need.

Do presentations together and become a dynamic duo A dual presentation can be a good tool for gaining control of the fear of speaking in public. You are no longer literally standing there alone and, for the public, it can be more dynamic than a single speaker. Decide on your division of roles well in advance. The text does not have to be completely divided up and organized, but make sure it is clear who says what and how you are going to

complement each other. This will prevent one of the two of you from being purely decorative.

Do thorough preparation Good preparation is half the battle because it increases your confidence. Write down keywords beforehand on separate cards that you can use as guidelines for your speech. Never simply read your text aloud on stage. That is so boring that you can better advise your audience to simply read a book on the subject. Practice your talk in the mirror or to your partner or a friend.

Visualize your success and the applause Top athletes at the Olympics, for example, often visualize their performance dozens of times before they actually go to do, for example, their high jump. It is scientifically proven that the chance of success is increased if the jump

has already been made ten times in their minds prior to the jump itself. This also applies to a speaker. Play a movie in your head where you give your speech and then let yourself to be cheered with a big applause. Visualize the situation, both from your own viewpoint, but also as a member of the audience. In the latter example, you can fantasize that you see yourself presenting your speech on a TV screen. You could also fantasize that you are in the audience looking at yourself.

Put the focus on your audience Another powerful visualization tool is to give yourself the feeling that the job is already done. If you try to feel like this when it is your turn, success is virtually guaranteed because you are then already completely in success mode. For those who believe in the impact of spiritual visualizations, they can put themselves and the public in the white light. It is enough to imagine that there < is a huge, white beam of light shining

SPEAKERS

ANOTHER POWERFUL VISUALIZATION TOOL IS TO GIVE YOURSELF THE FEELING THAT THE JOB IS ALREADY DONE

on you and the audience. According to spiritual theories, such visualization ensures a positive interaction with the public because white protects against negativity.

Make eye contact and pay attention to body language By making eye contact with the audience, you can get an idea of how you come across. This usually works well in combating nervousness. When talking to a large group, remember to occasionally glance upwards (and behind you) to involve the people sitting further away. From a great distance, the people do not know exactly who you are looking at. However, if you actually look up towards them, everyone feels included. Note the body language of your audience. By the way they are sitting, looking and moving, you can get an idea of how your story is coming across to them. One important indicator is whether their posture changes during your presentation. For example you can, by a change in voice volume or by making a humorous remark about their posture, bring back the people who have nodded off. Also, you can usually see who is about to respond and immediately react to that.

Acknowledge your reception Speak calmly and slowly. That comes across as more forceful. Moreover, you then have time to think about how you are going to proceed and you are less nervous. If you get a question, especially one you have to think about or that surprises you; repeat the question. That is, as it were, a confirmation that you have received it. By repeating the question, you indicate that you have heard the question correctly, the audience can hear the question again and it gives you some time to think about your answer. Moreover, it is also effective if a rude or gloomy question is asked. Because the speaker repeats the question, the questioner often realizes that he or she is actually out of line and will then, either directly or indirectly, make a move to apologize.

Keep your hands quiet The restless and busy movements of the hands not only conveys the tension of the speaker, but can distract the listeners from the presentation. Also, pay attention to objects that you hold in your hand. If you tremble easily, it is wise not to use a pointer. There are also speakers who continually fiddle with

their glasses or click their pens. This, too, can distract the listeners. Hands alongside the body is usually the best approach because it lends itself the most to making supporting hand movements and this makes the presentation more dynamic. The fear of looking like a dry old stick can be reduced by your other body language: Keep your head up and your shoulders back. Supportive gestures are good, but please pay close attention to what gestures you make. For example, pointing an index finger in the direction of the audience is often felt as an accusation. You can add focus and brightness to your presentation through the use of intonation. It is the variation of volume and pitch that keeps the presentation alive.

Compliments after the presentation Usually, we want the keynote speaker to stay around briefly to enjoy his success and answer questions during the reception. A speaker who feels that he has done well, is radiant during such a gathering. The meeting planner, honorary chairman or facilitator can ensure that compliments come his way so that he / she will stay at the reception with a feeling of fulfilment and success. â&#x2030;&#x2C6;

OPINION

21 ERIC BAKERMANS is Marketing Manager Meetings & Conventions at the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC Holland Marketing), and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). ebakermans@holland.com

HOW THE DUTCH MEETING SECTOR CAN BOOST HOLLAND’S TOP SECTORS The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs has identified 9 top sectors. Crossfertilization between these sectors produces clear added value. The conference and meeting sector has the power to bring all the parties together. BY ERIC BAKERMANS

Recently, Meetings Review announced that PCMA’s Barbara Palmer published an interesting article which articulated the need for all destination marketing organisations (DMOs) to collaborate on activities in order to deliver growth of a knowledge and creative economy whilst securing relevance at the policy-making table of government. Everyone in our industry who still thinks it is only about individual expenditure from business visitors attending scientific or any other type of congresses or meetings has been living under a rock or hasn’t caught up on his or her literature. DMOs – especially those in the business events industry – and economic development agencies should have a natural bond. Indeed, not too long ago these types of organizations were working towards the same targets, albeit on a different track. And yes, this also applies to the Netherlands. Significant contribution Now that the recently launched report on the general and economic impact of multiple-day business events in the Netherlands shows a staggering € 2.3 BLN direct and indirect value – which is close to the total value of the Dutch

energy sector – it is fair to say that this is clearly significant. Congresses, conventions or other business events do contribute to the knowledge economy of countries, especially in a relatively small country such as Holland. As a trading nation by nature, it would be hard to miss out on the growing awareness that business events are not just a component of tourism as such. Top-sector approach The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs has identified 9 top sectors. The success of the topsector approach is not only due to cooperation between industry, science and government in the various sectors. Cross-fertilization between the top sectors also produces clear added value. Just consider the Horticultural sector working together with the Energy sector to partially meet a city’s energy needs, or the collaborative effort by the High-Tech Systems & Materials and Logistics sectors to enhance safety as a clear example. Identifying at least a dozen or so associations, companies, and con-

gresses that share a link with the above mentioned examples isn’t exactly rocket science. And in some cases cooperation works out just great between the triple helix of businesses, science and education and government. Sustainable partner Businesses and researchers are increasingly collaborating on innovation, and will continue to cooperate to disseminate and market new developments. This is also our ambition for the long term, and we expect it to generate increasing returns. As a sustainable top sector partner, the government brings parties together and offers incentives when appropriate. This includes our sector too and we have the power to bring parties together. The Netherlands will continue to provide an excellent environment for effective entrepreneurship, which requires reliable infrastructure and clear regulations. These preconditions will improve the quality of our business climate even further, and encourage even more international organisations to host their events here in the Netherlands. ≈

COMPLIANCY

‘IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO SUPPORT EDUCATION THAN TO PAY PROFIT TAX’ “There will probably not be fewer meetings but the look and feel of them will change,” Simon Dufaur of MCI predicts when asked about the impact of pharma codes on medical meetings. He expects to see a polarization in the type of meetings. BY EDWIN NUNNINK, EDITOR IN CHIEF CONFERENCE HOLLAND

“There are no commercial restrictions when you look at corporate support for a meeting. The pharma codes are all about reputation management and risk mitigation. We also speak of the codes as firewalling to help prevent any inappropriate behaviour and, thus, prevent any accusation of bribery”, says Simon Dufaur, Strategy Consultant and healthcare expert at MCI Brussels. Dufaur and his colleague Cerstin Steindorf published in 2014 ‘How successful medical meeting leaders reach their goals; lessons from 13 experts’, highly-regarded paper about the effects of healthcare compliance and disclosure requirements on medical meetings. In April, a second paper will be published on this subject. “In some occasions there is national law involved,” Dufaur continues. “There are examples of companies of being in breach of these codes, such as in the UK where various companies has been proven to be bringing discredit on the pharmaceutical industry through sending uncertified <

COMPLIANCY

meeting invitations, providing excessive hospitality and promoting unlicensed medicines (as well as promoting off label use.” Recommentations and regulations “The general thought is that the industry can police itself far more better than government. In the case of infringement, it will typically be handled at the national level by the relevant national body. There is also an important role for the companies, particularly as a first control onsite during a congress. It is expected that Company A, who is code cognisant, will point out to Company B, who is perhaps less so, that what they do is against the code and to seek a quick, amicable solution. In case that doesn’t help they will turn to the congress organiser. It does happen.” When you talk about pharma codes it is important to separate two branches: the pharma industry and the medical device industry. In Europe they are respectively represented by EFPIA and Eucomed (similar to PhRMA and Advamed in the U.S.). The big difference in their approach to healthcare compliance is that the EFPIA code consists of recommendations, whereas the Eucomed code is about regulations. Another big difference is that EFPIA allows direct sponsorship, whereas Eucomed is ruling out this possibility.

SIMON DUFAUR: ‘ASSOCIATIONS WHO CAN ARTICULATE WITH CONVICTION AND EVIDENCE WHAT THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE HCP’S TREATMENT OF CARE IS, WILL BE MORE ELIGIBLE FOR INDUSTRY SUPPORT.’

Red face test EFPIA, who has the CEOs of numerous major pharmaceutical companies sitting on its board, acknowledge that the pharma companies have a role in the healthcare chain to support the education of doctors, so they can provide the best treatments to their patients. For that reason EFPIA allows direct sponsorship

as long as it is transparent and ethical/ appropriate. Dufaur: “To determine if something is appropriate you have to do what we call the red face test. How do you feel if you have to say it to a journalist or read about it on the front page of a newspaper.” The red face test helps to ensure that the meeting is not deemed to be luxurious, the location is not a golf resort or casino or accepts and caters for accompany persons. Everything that is not critical to the educational or scientific purpose of the meeting has to be evaluated in that sense. “You still can have a social event, but if it is named gala dinner, it will not be eligible for sponsorship, as this conveys the wrong impression”, Dufaur says. Country codes Europe wouldn’t be Europe if every country transposed the EFPIA code to its own. So what to do if you organise a conference in The Netherlands, with Hungarian, French and English doctors and a sponsoring company based in Switzerland? Dufaur: “You can look for the most strict code applicable and look for which codes have biases. We generally take the code in the host country. The maximum costs of a dinner will be different in different countries because every country has a different GDP and a different cost of living. In the UK it is GBP75 (€93.50) per meal and in Hungary HUF5075 (€16) per day, for example. You can’t make everything applicable to all of these codes.” “Association meetings are deemed to be compliant. That means they have to be e4ethics approved. This is a preassessment of multinational meetings based on five different criteria. The result is a rating based on a traffic light system

COMPLIANCY

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'YOU CAN’T MAKE EVERYTHING APPLICABLE TO ALL OF THESE CODES.” with different colours representing approval/concern/review in progress. Again this is a recommendation, but medical companies will look at the rating, to determine if the meeting is eligible for sponsorship.” Banning direct sponsoring For medical devices, a negative assessment by Eucomed, will mean that a member company can’t sponsor that meeting. Direct sponsoring will be banned overall as of January 1st, 2018. 2017 will be a transition year. For members of national medical device associations, which are not member of Eucomed, have to stop direct sponsoring as of January 1st, 2020. Like EFPIA, Eucomed recognises the importance of supporting healthcare professionals in their education and therefore will support exchange of knowledge in the future. In their view it is the medical society that knows best which doctors need support. They can apply for a grant used for attendance. “There is a threshold when you look at the meetings that are monitored by Eucomed”, Dufaur tells. “There is a lot of administration involved and the information is reviewed and assessed four or five times before the actual meetings takes place. So, for practical purposes, the focus until now is on international meetings held across Europe and the Middle East with more than four countries involved and attracting about thousand delegates or more. Below that threshold, third-party organisers need not submit their meeting for assessment though are still expected to respected the code and the spirit of compliance and ethical behaviour.”

Positive about the future The MCI survey of recognised leaders at medical associations, sponsor companies, regulators and third-party entities, that led to Dufaur’s paper ‘How successful medical meeting leaders reach their goals’ found discordance over the effect of pharma codes on education quality. Simon Dufaur himself is in general positive about the future of medical meetings. There will probably not be fewer meetings but the look and feel of them will change. For medical companies it is always better to support education than to pay profit tax.” The budgets spend on exhibitions, traditionally the most important way to sponsor a conference, are shrinking very fast, he acknowledges. That’s just partially an effect of the pharma codes. “The role is changed from sending a commercial message, to giving information whereby the doctor has to initiate the conversation. That means that the ROI is less and more emphasis is placed on ROE (return on engagement), especially considering the high costs and the fact that there is no need for a big booth to impress the delegates. But we must also recognise that often the purchasing decision has shifted from the healthcare professional to a central purchasing organisation. So the delegate isn’t the right person to speak to anymore. When we look at the medical device companies, we see a focus shift on showing how they demonstrate their products, with an uptake in product theatres and more local training meetings. There are cases where we ask ourselves ‘Do we need an exhibition?’ We are in a trial and error phase on that subject.”

The paper ‘How successful medical meeting leaders reach their goals; lessons from 13 experts’ is available as downloadable PDF in the library of the MCI Thought Leadership Series. Simon Dufaur’s latest Thought Leadership Paper will be published there at the end of April. http://bit.ly/CH16mci

Dufaur expects to see a polarization in the type of meetings. “You have the large critical meetings, the reference meeting you have to go to. And very niche meetings, very topical specific, taking it narrow and deep. It are the middle ones, particularly, that have to work really, really hard on their value proposition.” The role will change What certainly will change is the role of meetings within associations, according to Dufaur. Where in history many societies have emerged from meetings is nowadays the question how meetings can serve the vision and strategy of the association. “Associations have to look at their revenue stream. Over dependency to one revenue stream is never a good thing. Today it’s all about partnerships and engaging relationships. The prospectus with bronze, silver and gold packages for a two or three day annual meeting is outdated. It’s the kind of wrong perspective. Associations have to get away from a near total dependency on sponsorship. That can mean trimming down activities.” “There has to be a focus shift. The proposition to the medical companies has to be like: We want you to support using developing various initiatives for our highly targeted community. Associations who can articulate with conviction and evidence what their contribution to the HCP’s treatment of care is, will be more eligible for industry support.” ≈

OPINION

26 TON SOONS is a trainer and advisor in texts, presentations, and conferences. Up until 2004 at Euroforum, he organised more than 250 conferences and courses. After that he started his company Winning Words Communication. Ton often leads conferences, interviews and discussions and he organises speaker training courses for conference agencies. ton.soons@winningwords.nl

TROUBLE IN THE MEETING ROOM How a layout determined the success of the reception of asylum seekers. BY TON SOONS

Mayor of Budel Marga Vermue has to guide the votes of her citizens in favour of the arrival of a large group of refugees in her village. Like in many other municipalities, the residents of Budel get no say in the matter. That is why the mayor does not choose a traditional theatre layout with a raised lectern that allows the administrators and experts to take up a safe and distant position towards the residents. Instead, an information market is set up with stalls, a coffee corner and standing tables. The stalls are manned by representatives of the town council, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, the Council for Refugees, the police and the Association of Mental Health and Addiction Care. The result: No rumbling and shouting but instead personal conversations with attention for everyone's questions and concerns. What a brilliant idea!

Old formulas Often enough people mindlessly stick to old formulas by choosing a layout that places two groups directly opposite each other, even though that set-up immediately sets back a lot of the invitees. Round or oval tables are used at political summits for good reason. Nobody wants to be made to feel less important by use of a hierarchic meeting room layout. Everyone should get the chance to be listened to. Feng Shui This reminds me of a management training in which I was taught you should purposely place employees,

What a brilliant idea!

applicants or salespeople on a slightly lower chair and let them look up to you in backlight. I thought it was disgusting. It is unbelievable that something like this was taught. It is also completely contrary to Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese philosophical system of spatial planning. I am a huge fan of Feng Shui. I have never applied this horrible strategy and I advise you to not do so either. This terrible set-up undoubtedly leads to so much displeasure that your guests will never ever want to maintain a relationship with you. Giving advice In case you design spaces or rent meeting rooms, it can be great to give your clients some well-thought-out advice and ask them what they want to achieve with their meeting. You might keep them from a lot of trouble in the meeting room. â&#x2030;&#x2C6;

MEETING DESIGN

‘INNOVATION IS BORN OUT OF PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL LIGHT’ The first international practicum for meeting designers took place at the start of this year in the Netherlands. Initiator Eric de Groot talks about the objectives and the learnings of the practicum. BY EDWIN NUNNINK, EDITOR IN CHIEF CONFERENCE HOLLAND

On 11 February 2016, twenty-nine international visitors walked through the gate of the historic Fort aan de Klop in Utrecht, centrally located in the Netherlands. The visitors were met at the gate and asked what they wished to leave behind. The issues they had on their minds could have been counterproductive for the challenge that awaited them over the next two-and-a-half days. The visitors then had to write these issues down on a card and hang it on the gate. “We purposefully unburdened people before they entered the session,” says Eric de Groot of MindMeeting. He is the initiator of the very first practicum for meeting designers. “Nowhere else in the world is there

WHAT IS MEETING DESIGN? Eric de Groot and his partners at MindMeeting recently produced a video that explains what meeting design actually means. www.mindmeeting.org/video/

a research and development lab dedicated to what we are working on. All of the developments are based on assignments from clients. Our field does not have fundamental research like we're familiar with, say, in physics.” All practitioners For de Groot, this is a reason for like-minded people to gather in the Netherlands to share their knowledge, to experiment and to bring their ideas to the next level. As he says, “They're all practitioners: people who put what we call 'meeting design' into practice. One immediately realises that the term 'meeting designer' is far too limited. Ultimately it was up to everyone who paid to think about how to achieve the desired outcome of a meeting.” By way of illustration: among the participants were established names such as Maarten Vanneste (specialising in Meeting Technology), Elling Hamso (ROI), Adrian Segar (Facilitation), Victor Neyndorff (Strategy), Barbara Suters (Spatial

Elements) and David Benitez (B2B communication). “We made the following deal in advance: whatever material we develop will be for everyone to use,” explains de Groot. “We incorporated everything from the practicum into Google Docs, and we made this freely available to all participants. We also organised the practicum so that the costs were equal to the revenues. We were very transparent about the expenses and divided the costs by the number of participants.” Experiential model As one may expect from meeting designers, an experiential model was created in advance of the practicum. In collaboration with several guest editors, an 'experience concept' was developed that can best be described as the Festival of the Druids — as depicted in the well-known Asterix & Obelix comics series. The goal was to create an atmosphere of free exchange where the participants would feel free to experiment. To that end, one important principle

MEETING DESIGN

1. Initiator Eric de Groot after the Meeting Design Practicum. 2. Research and experiments. 3. Firm conversations in the middle of the night. 4. Sharing knowledge visually: a knowledge tree that grew slowly. 5. Meals were self-prepared.

was to have people to eat and sleep where the sessions would take place. The participants prepared meals together in the fort's professional kitchen. In the evenings, the key was handed over to the property owner so the group could work undisturbed. Spartan conditions The Spartan conditions also served another purpose, says de Groot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We consciously avoided creating a hospitality

atmosphere. That's why meals were self-prepared and people used sleeping bags. We only wanted people to come who would actively contribute. And we made specific reference to that in the invitation to the practicum. Naturally, people who wanted to be looked after did not respond. We also formulated that independent and collaborative spirit into the core values of the practicum: curious, raw and rebellious, analytical and compassionate... It was only intended

for those who are deeply curious about meeting design. We were 100 percent successful at meeting this objective.â&#x20AC;? Research topics Before the practicum, participants drew up an inventory of the topics and issues that they wanted to research. A group of guest editors then selected several research projects from this long list.

MEETING DESIGN

‘AN OASIS IN THE DESERT’ “For me it was like spending two days in an oasis in the desert,” Elling Hamso, one of the participants of the Meeting Design practicum, tells.

Different formats were subsequently linked to the chosen research topics by the team best suited to the topic. Several general objectives were also formulated. De Groot: “For example, people were to make three new professional friends they kept in contact with after the practicum, and people were to laugh uncontrollably. We all tested the latter at the end of the practicum.” Another objective was for the participants to love their field even more. “For this objective we told people: ‘Try figuring out for yourself whether you arrive at the same conclusion’,” notes de Groot, while laughing. The Challenge One of the formats was 'The Challenge'. A participant prepared a challenge which he had to formulate as clearly as possible. He was given ten minutes to present his challenge, and the others were then allowed to ask him critical questions for ten minutes. The group was subsequently given fifteen minutes to devise recommendations. The challenger, however, stood outside the group as an observer and therefore was unable to participate in the conversation. In the group, he was only referred to in the third person. “That was just a joy to do”, says de Groot. “For instance, the challenge to transform a typical meeting agenda into a design that allows you to achieve twice the results in half the time. Or how to relate a sales deal, which took a long time to close, back to an event held much earlier to gain a clearer picture about the return on investment. These are interesting questions to mercilessly sink your teeth into.” Moving simultaneously “One of the experiments concerned how moving simultaneously affects group

formation. Research tells us that people who move simultaneously develop greater affection for one another. We tested this out with an on-stage dancer and one group that moved and one that remained still. We then asked everyone how connected they felt to the group. Totally non-scientific, of course, but the 'movement group' did experience 15 to 20 percent stronger bonding. And let's be honest, Asian companies have long known how effective this can be. That's why employees perform their morning exercises together. If an association wants to create a stronger community for its conference, why don't organisers try having participants move together?” “On the other end of the spectrum was the format 'Tips & Tricks'. What threads can you pull at, which angles can you can think of to achieve a more productive meeting? It was great to see how all the specialisms aligned. This process resulted in a long list of simple things that one can execute immediately.” “We came up with a prize for the best Tips & Tricks. People were given a druidstyle beard and were played a welcome tune by a trumpeter. Everyone could not stop laughing, which immediately covered that objective.” Next year The question is whether this represents a step toward developing a true research and development lab for meeting design. For Eric de Groot, this step is not yet necessary. “Innovation is born out of people who travel light. Once you begin to institutionalise that, you have to have accountability and you need to be able to defend your results.” “We will hold the practicum again next year with the same group. In any case, we have already gathered enough material for another two-and-a-half day session.” ≈

“I spend my life struggling to make meeting owners and meeting planners really understand the value of creating learning experiences that change behaviour and create real bottom line value. The opportunity of spending two and a half days with thirty people with of the same mindset and the same struggles and the same visions, that was just a fantastic setting for me. I learned from each of them and I learned to do my job better. How to teach my ROI better and how I can help other meeting designers to create more value for their events. It was all about ideas, inspiration and the feeling that I am part of a community.” The meetings industry is slowly moving from logistics to a primary focus on content and value, but we have a long way to go. We need to organise and develop the professionals who have as their profession to design the content of meetings. That is why I think the Meeting Design Practicum is such an important initiative. One of my ROI Institute partners, Rosa Garriga, recently took a job with Kenes and her title is Meeting Architect. She may be the first with that title on her business card. They hired her to work with associations to make their congresses more effective, to improve the design, the objectives and measurement. She’s taking what we teach into real world business practice. A job. That gives me a lot of satisfaction. As more and more people become meeting designers, we need to support them. We need to give them their professional home. Therefore we need to have a community of meeting design leaders to continue to develop the profession and the practicum to experiment. We had a safe environment for experimentation. Something worked and some things didn’t. That was one of the great things. I am already looking forward to next year.

In addition to his role as AIPC President, GEOFF DONAGHY is CEO at ICC Sydney (the International Convention Centre Sydney) and Director of Convention Centres AEG Ogden. Geoff Donaghy also represents AIPC on the peak global body, Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC). AIPC represents a global network of over 175 leading centres in 58 countries with the active involvement of more than 900 management-level professionals worldwide. It is committed to encouraging and recognizing excellence in convention centre management, based on the diverse experience and expertise of its international representation, and maintains a variety of educational, research, networking and standards programs to achieve this. AIPC also celebrates and promotes the essential role of the international meetings industry in supporting economic, academic and professional development and enhancing global relations amongst highly diverse business and cultural interests.

GOOD SECURITY DEMANDS A JOINT EFFORT After a year like we’ve just experienced, it’s hard to think of major public events like conventions and exhibitions without also thinking about security. The answer from a convention centre point of view is to consider some basic facts. BY GEOFF DONAGHY

First, centres are more likely than many other gathering places to have well defined security policies and procedures in place. In most cases, these have been developed and tested on a regular basis, and are based on an intimate knowledge of the building and how it functions as opposed to generalized practices that often exist elsewhere. These measures are designed to cover a whole range of possibilities beyond direct building security, which means that they are flexible enough to respond to issues as diverse as fire, geological events, medical needs and many other elements that might accompany an incident driven by external forces. Integral parts Secondly, as integral parts of their respective communities, centres are generally well integrated with both security and emergency measures for the destination as a whole. This is a critical issue as events have repeatedly shown that good coordination is one of the most effective means of

managing any situation that may arise. Emergency response, medical facilities, police and even immigration agencies are generally part of this loop, meaning that an incident can quickly command not just the resources of the facility, but the whole range of responses that may be required.

already built into the facilities. Good design is further enhancing these capabilities on an ongoing basis, as is the sharing of experiences and procedures amongst centres around the world through organizations like AIPC, the International Association of Convention centres.

Appropriate balance Third, centres are generally well experienced in managing the appropriate balance between good security and an avoidance of too much visibility in that respect. This is important because while a visible presence of security measures is to some extent comforting, there is a point at which it can become a distraction in itself, and start to impact the overall experience of a delegate or visitor. One of the reasons this balance is easier to achieve in today’s sophisticated centres is that many of the required resources – like video surveillance, building wide communications and the ability to readily secure various areas – is

One overriding need From a client perspective, there is one overriding need – and that is good communications. Organizers know their groups; their vulnerabilities and any issues that may attract the wrong kind of attention, better than anyone – and as per the above, centres know their buildings, capabilities and procedures in the same way. By making sure there is open and ongoing communications leading up to an event, these two can together ensure the highest possible level of security – and by doing that, make sure that the kinds of events most likely to facilitate global exchange and all the benefits that result from that can proceed uninterrupted. ≈

OPINION

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

DIEDERIK JEKEL MAKES SCIENCE FUN FOR EVERYONE Science journalist, Diederik Jekel, knows how to make even the most difficult material accessible. For any type of audience: from children and bankers to Frisian women’s clubs. “You cannot change how the audience listens, but you can change how you yourself talk.” BY DAAN BORREL, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

How did you become a public speaker? “In 2009, I was busy getting my degree in Physics. At my university, the children's TV programme, Het Klokhuis, was being taped. My professor had to explain a physics phenomenon in language that children would understand. That translation really attracted me: I had been going to secondary schools for a while to translate difficult information into language that children would understand. Coincidentally, the director of Het Klokhuis was looking for an intern who could make scientific information understandable. I was pushed forward. One of my colleagues then went to work for the popular talk show, De Wereld Draait Door [The World Keeps Turning]. When I graduated, I texted him to say that I would like to come on the show and talk about the Nobel Prize in Physics. That went very well. About the same time, I was able to start working for VPRO, so I was suddenly on television more often. Thus, the ball started rolling. People thought: how great, a science nerd with a way with words. I speak to a wide audience: from Frisian women's clubs and bankers to scouts. I also give communication training to speakers who have to convey a complicated story in comprehensible language.”

What do you talk about? “I always talk about scientific subjects, often about physics, chemistry and biology, but I actually keep it as varied as possible. I talk about extraterrestrial life; the Higgs particle; the science behind such films as Harry Potter, but also about the future of the labour model. Or about the question: what is a scientific revolution and are we in one now? I've also done a TEDx about the science of fear. When I speak, I always use a sort of conversion: I translate a difficult message into an easy story. But I'm also sometimes asked to tell students an inspiring story about what awaits them after graduation. People are curious about the type of work I do; about how a nerd ends up on television.” What is your message? “That every scientist has the social responsibility to explain what they do to a wide audience. Even if it's just their grandmother's birthday, with a TEDx or a blog - it does not matter - but they need to enter into the conversation. In today's society, I see a resurgence of interest in science, but it is not nearly enough. Anyone can easily name five football players, but who can name five Nobel Prize winners? Or five scientists?"

“Science is struggling with a serious image problem. Ask someone to draw a scientist and he comes up with a white-haired old man in a lab coat. For that reason, a lot of girls think it is not for them. And also, many people think: science, what good is it, it is just an opinion. But we currently have to deal with some very complex problems - such as the status of water and global warming - and therefore it is important that everyone understands a bit how the universe works. This is essential for our future. You have to be able to differentiate between the sales talk of the one politician and the sales talk of the other politician.” How does the audience react to this? “Most scientists obviously, think it is nice to hear that they are important. But there are scientists who wonder if my approach is the right one. They feel that journalists really over-simplify their message.” “From non-scientists, I also get a lot of positive comments. ‘If only I had previously had such a teacher,’ say people sometimes. The negative responses can be counted on the fingers of two hands. That is also because I really love explaining science: the universe is one big boys' and girls' book.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

SCIENCE JOURNALIST

Diederik Jekel explains science, in his inimitable way, on radio, television, on the Internet and in a book. He received his master's degree in solid state physics in 2010 and then briefly did research at the University of Twente. In October 2010, he was given the opportunity to talk about science in the popular television programme, De Wereld Draait Door, [The World Keeps Turning] and, since then, he has been a full-time science journalist. www.diederikjekel.nl

to know what they like. Only then do I adjust my talk. And, in this way, we always make contact.”

It is made up of all these particles that compete or collaborate with each other. This is also the way I explain hardcore physics in my two books. Awhile ago, two young children asked me to help them with their oral report. That gives me goose bumps. I have very valuable and rewarding work.” What is your speciality? “I am not an extraordinary researcher in Physics, I left that behind me long ago. My talent is to explain the findings of many extraordinary researchers. I make scientific discoveries sexy. I can translate a story into the specific environment

of an audience. In communication training, I always say: ‘you cannot change how the audience listens, but you can change how you yourself talk.’ The power of a good presentation is that it is specially designed for the public; only then will they stay with you. In Switzerland, I had to explain the operation of the particle accelerator to a group of bankers. I did that by using financial metaphors. That made it funny and they understand it more quickly. They got an image and a feeling for it: I bet that if I were to call them now, they would still know the story. I play with the audience, because I want

What has surprised you recently? “It surprises me more often that we are now truly living in a revolutionary time. Believe me, our grandchildren will look back on this time. Objectively, some really cool things have been discovered in recent years. In Switzerland, the Higgs particle has surfaced by using the particle accelerator. This was Einstein's last prediction. The Higgs particle is the last particle that had to be found to complete the physics story. It took them 45 years to find it! It explains why one mass is heavier than another. And Rosetta, the comet chaser, landed on a comet for the first time. There will never be another first landing. We can now only land on a planet. Though there is still a lot that is not clear, at this time, some really very special discoveries are being done.” ≈

DESTINATION

FRIESLAND

‘The event was widely supported by the Frisian authorities’ Sören Bauer is a Communication and Knowledge Management consultant from Vienna. He is a member of the secretariat of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water led by the European Commission which held its third conference in the Frisian town of Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, on 10 February. Some 550 representatives of authorities, the corporate sector and knowledge institutes from 50 countries participated in the conference. “The participants of our 3rd conference considered the state of affairs in the area of waterrelated innovations in Europe. They examined the opportunities and limitations in the field of, for instance, tidal-energy, water scarcity and water surplus, and how innovations may lead to solutions. Leeuwarden turned out to be the perfect destination for this conference. The event was widely supported by the Frisian authorities and organisations, such as the province, the municipality, the Association of Regional Water Authorities, Wetsus and the new Water Campus. Cooperation was good and professional, and all local partners considered it very important to make the congress successful. Add to this the hospitality of Leeuwarden, the characteristic Frisian landscape and waterscape, the large number of side meetings and site visits – such as a visit to the New Afsluitdijk, a demonstration of wastewater treatment technology and many more – and everybody will understand Bianca Bouwman is an event manager and that the organizing committee was complimented the owner of the events agency Cibana generously with its decision to hold the Regelt. Together with representatives of Utrecht conference in Friesland.” University, Wageningen University, the VHL University of Applied Sciences and the Dairy Campus in Leeuwarden, she is organizing the Conference on Precision Dairy Farming, to be held in the WTC Expo in Leeuwarden, Friesland, from 21 to 23 June. “The conference will have three, different days. On the first day, the conference will be attended by 250 to 300 scientists from all over the world. They will examine new technologies in dairy farming. In the Netherlands alone there are 3,658 Automatic Milking Systems. Furthermore, more and more cattle farmers are using sensor technology, which uses sensors to provide insight into the animals' lying and standing behaviour and their rumination activity. When it comes to technology in cattle farming, the Netherlands is a frontrunner. That is why the visits to advanced dairy farms in Friesland on the second day from an important aspect of the conference. On that same day, there will be a special programme for Dutch cattle farmers in the WTC. The theme of the third day will be ‘Veterinary Day’, on which cattle veterinary surgeons will look in depth at what sensor technology means for animal health. Why Friesland as the destination? Apart from the fact that Friesland is one of the most beautiful Dutch provinces, it is also the centre of the Dutch agricultural sector.”

‘Friesland is the centre of the Dutch agricultural sector’

FRIESLAND

DESTINATION

FRIESLAND

GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC Friesland combines high-level expertise in the fields of water technology and dairy industry with a rich culture. This province still has its own language, and considers authenticity of paramount importance. Just as reliability: promises are to be kept. This makes Friesland a unique place for special conferences.

riesland is designated European Capital of Culture 2018. This is hardly a surprise; authenticity and culture are core values in this part of the Netherlands. Did you know that this Dutch province still has its own language? Furthermore, Friesland derives its title from the so-called “mienskip”, which means: community. The social cohesion among the Frisian people is tight. They know they can trust each other. That is why their motto is: “tell what you do and do what you tell.” The Frisians are no exuberant people, but all the more genuine folk. If you decide to organise your conference in Friesland,

FACTS & FIGURES Largest auditorium (seats) Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie Number of hotel rooms (total)

1,000 > 1,500

Largest hotel (rooms) WestCord WTC Hotel

143

Distance to Amsterdam Schiphol (km)

110

Regional airport Groningen Airport Eelde

www.frieslandmice.nl

you can rely on it that everything is being arranged to the minutest details. Water & Dairy Friesland has two large centres of expertise within its boundaries. One of them specialises in water technology and the other in dairy industry. Both centres of expertise are recognised on an international level. Under the name of “Water Campus”, research is done into various processes of water treatment. Examples are the elimination of viruses from drinking water and the use of water in creating a sustainable world. 'Dairy Campus' aims for instance at research how to meet the ever increasing worldwide demand for dairy products while balancing the interests of humans and animals. In addition to water and dairy technology, Friesland has several smaller – yet internationally wellknown – scientific centres in the area of multilingualism (Fryske Akademy) and tourism (Stenden University). Enjoying a bit of culture With its rich nature and history, Friesland is one big region of events. If you want to become inspired outside the conference or meeting room, you can choose from a variety of outdoor

activities, cultural events and interesting company visits. Would you like to sail a race in a pram and in between cure eel in the company of an eel fisher? Go to Vlieland on a lifeboat to go blokarting? Take a tour through the countryside in a classic Daf passenger car and visit windmills, Frisian estates and historic cities? It is all possible. Friesland has also many culinary delights to offer. Leeuwarden was “Capital of Flavours” in 2015, and not without reason. Friesland has a wide range of Frisian products: cheese, sausages, spirits and sweet delights such as cookies and special Beerenburg chocolates. You can taste these products during a “Fryske Food Tour”, or by sampling “Fryske tapas”. High level dining? Friesland has three restaurants that have been awarded a Michelin star. Locations Friesland has hundreds of meeting venues. For example, you can have a meeting on a clipper, in a tipi in the Appelscha woods, or surrender yourself to the elements on the beaches of Ameland. In addition to these vivacious options, you will find in Leeuwarden the largest event and conference venue of the northern Netherlands, presenting over 45,000 square metres of meeting rooms and an onsite four star hotel with a restaurant on the eleventh floor, which has been awarded a Michelin star: WTC Expo. And what's more, Friesland has a number of beautiful theatres that can host both large and small groups, such as the Lawei theatre in Drachten and the Harmonie in Leeuwarden.

DESTINATION

3 2

Bilderberg Landgoed Lauswolt estate, recently awarded five stars and one Michelin star for its kitchen, offers exclusive meeting accommodation in the woods. The same goes for Golden Tulip Tjaarda Oranjewoud, which is located on an estate amidst the former country houses of the Dutch royal family. Hotel chains WestCord and Van der Valk are present in Friesland as well. WestCord, mainly on the Wadden islands with a number of beautiful hotels. Friesland has several venues which are suitable for private meetings with small groups. Rural accommodations, equipped with all commodities and to be booked exclusively for you and your guests. Examples are “Turfhoeke”, “Pollepleats” and “Landgoed Oranjewoud”. Accessibility and overnight stays Friesland has over 80 hotels in the three star range, 30 in the four star range and one five star hotel. It has a large variety of hotel accommodations, both in the city and the countryside. The recently refurbished Grand Café

and Hotel Post Plaza with its 82 four star rooms is a delightful operating base for a Leeuwarden event. For a hotel in the woods you can go to the luxurious hotels Bilderberg Landgoed Lauswolt estate and Golden Tulip Tjaarda Oranjewoud. And of course the Wadden islands too have excellent hotel accommodations. In addition to regular hotels, you can also book a hotel boat, army tent, holiday park or B&B. A major advantage of meetings in Friesland is that it has no traffic jams. The motorways become quieter as you progress to the northern part of the Netherlands and, together with the wide views, turn your trip to Friesland into a relaxing experience. Friesland is just slightly more than one hour's drive from Schiphol Airport. A car ride from Schiphol Airport to Leeuwarden takes no more than ninety minutes. Groningen Airport Eelde, less than an hour's drive from Leeuwarden, offers daily flights to London and other places. Leeuwarden also has a readily accessible train station connecting you to your

1. Friesland is the number one watersports paradise. 2. Woudagemaal, the largest still-functioning steam pumping station in the world. 3. Friesland has a number of beautiful theatres such as the Harmonie in Leeuwarden. 4. Vlieland, one of the serene Wadden Islands in front of the Frisian coast.

destination by means of an excellent network of trains and buses. Merk Fryslân The currently existing expertise centres in Friesland already have been very active in attracting international conferences through their networks. This has resulted in several interesting conferences, such as the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) Water, Precision Dairy Farming, Guests on Earth Conference and r-atics 5. Merk Fryslân is the intermediary between the organiser of an event and the local parties needed to turn a conference into a success. They are happy to advise you about the region's opportunities. ≈

DESTINATION

LEIDEN

‘In addition, the conference had an important PR function’ Eveline Crone is, as Professor of Neurocognitive Developmental Psychology, affiliated with the Institute of Psychology at Leiden University. From 15 to 19 September 19, 2015, Leiden was, thanks to her, the location of "Flux: The International Congress for Integrative Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience," which was attended by 300 scientists in the fields of psychology, pedagogy and neuroscience. Crone: "The aim of the conference was to exchange views and results on the question of how young people learn, process information and handle social relationships, in relation to brain development. Through the conference, important scientific steps could be taken within the field of integrative developmental cognitive neuroscience, which integrates seamlessly with the mission and goals of various research groups in Leiden. In addition, the conference had an important PR function: namely, to put Leiden and the Netherlands on the map as a place where high quality and innovative research is done in the field of the brain development and cognition. This is particularly important for the position of Dutch / Leiden researchers in editorial teams and on boards of major international journals and for the visibility of top researchers and young Dutch researchers abroad. The conference was a great success, with the social event Martijn Malessy is professor on the beach in Wassenaar as the absolute highlight. There of Nerve Surgery at the Leiden was a festive atmosphere and dancing until late in University Medical Centre (LUMC) and the evening after the beach BBQ! " founder of the first Dutch Nerve Centre.

‘Someone said: Martijn, you live in paradise!’

Leiden

In 2019, he will organize, together with his group, the Narakas Meeting in Leiden. This tri-annual conference draws approximately 200 experts from around the world in the field of the "brachial plexus". "The brachial plexus is a complex neural network that runs between the neck and arm. If this network is broken by an injury, and the arm is paralysed, various medical specialities are involved in order to restore function. At the Narakas Meeting, named after the authority in this area, the exchange of knowledge through discussion is essential. The conference was awarded to Leiden because the LUMC has a significant reputation in the nerve area, especially when it comes to the brachial plexus. But, of course, not least because Leiden is a wonderful city. I have previously organized international meetings here and participants raved about the city. They felt that they had stepped into a painting by Johannes Vermeer. They experience the city as being quiet and safe, where you can still hear the birds chirping and enjoy the fresh air. For them, Leiden is a truly European city with picturesque streets, canals, shops, restaurants and friendly people. Someone from Buenos Aires said: "Martijn, you live in paradise!"

DESTINATION

LEIDEN

‘ WELCOMING AND FREETHINKING’ Anyone who thinks of Leiden, thinks of a major university, a historic city, Rembrandt, a ring of canals, the largest Dutch knowledge centre for life sciences and an ancient sanctuary for ‘dissidents’.

ou could call it spiritual hospitality. Through the centuries, Leiden has opened its gates to people who could not stay in their homeland because of their beliefs. This included the Pilgrims, Puritans by faith, who fled from England looking for a place where they could practice their religion freely. They arrived in Leiden around 1609. From that time, they lived in 21 self-built weaver 's cottages behind what is now the Kloksteeg. And they were not the only ones who took refuge in Leiden, also the Protestants from France and Belgium found their way there. In a short time, the city grew from 20,000 to 70,000

FACTS & FIGURES Largest auditorium (seats) ECC Leiden

2,500

Number of hotel rooms (total in greater Leiden)

3,000

Largest hotel (rooms) Holiday Inn Leiden

200

Distance to Amsterdam Schiphol (km) 25 By train in 15 minutes, 6 times an hour

www.leidenconventionbureau.nl

residents and Leiden became a thriving, international city with people from all over Europe. The tolerant attitude of the city council toward dissenting religious groups was known far and wide. Freedom of thought was, even then, already in the DNA of the residents of Leiden. Most of the Pilgrims left after eleven years to seek their fortunes in America. Now they are known as the Founding Fathers of the United States. No fewer than nine US presidents have descended from the Pilgrims. In 2020, 400 years later, Leiden will commemorate a partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States: the Pilgrim year. Acts of heroism The Leiden community is also made up of a steadfast people. This was well demonstrated during the Spanish occupation of the Netherlands. In 1572, Leiden joined the Dutch revolt against the Spanish rule. As a result, the city was besieged by the Spaniards. The people fell prey to disease and starvation. The city nearly fell into the hands of the Spanish troops but, on 3 October 1574, the occupier fled. This Leiden Relief is annually celebrated with music, a carnival, fireworks and the handing out of herring and white bread to the

population. The residents of Leiden get up before dawn – together with their mayor and often dressed in pyjamas – to sing plainsongs loudly, out of pride for their heroic ancestors. Tradition has it that Leiden, as a reward for the heroic resistance, was given the first university in the Netherlands. Nothing has changed The mentality in Leiden has not changed whit. Leiden is still the city of freedom of spirit and fortitude. The Leiden Stadslab, an initiative of citizens who love their city, refused to be told what to do and created – and now helps with the development of – the new Singel Park. This was an initiative that was embraced wholeheartedly by the municipal executive. Top-notch university Leiden University became one of the leading universities in Europe. The great freedom of conscience stimulated its blossoming. Students come here from every continent. This is the place where all languages and cultures come together. No wonder, with a breadth of courses offered that is as broad as that of Leiden, itself. The university has a global leading position in law and languages and a wide range of research areas: medicine, natural sciences, archaeology. In all international rankings, Leiden is among the 100 best universities in the world. From the moment this university was founded in 1575, and up through today, Leiden has

DESTINATION

1. Corpus Congress Centre – where you can walk through a human body. 2. The historical city is even more beautiful from the water. 3. Leiden Observatory in the historical centre of Leiden. 4. Often, the city offers a welcome reception for the conference participants.

been at the forefront of science, both fundamental and applied. Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) has a tradition of pioneering (bio) medical research and thus stands at the international pinnacle. Life Sciences & Health is, therefore, a prominent cluster at the University. Beating heart The Bio Science Park in Leiden forms the heart of the medical-biological applied research in Northwest Europe and is the biggest life sciences cluster in the Netherlands. Leiden leads in pharmaceutical research. In addition to publicly funded research institutions, there are many small, medium-sized and large companies, such as Astellas that develops innovative pharmaceutical products, and Hal Allergy, a leading European company in the field of allergy treatment. Together, the institutions and companies at the Bio Science Park develop and produce, among other things, new drugs and vaccines. The proximity of the medical and science faculties contributes significantly to this success.

Social programme Anyone who wants to see more of Leiden, just has to walk outside. The city is so compact that you cannot get lost. In fact, you'll certainly bump into each other on the street. There is great museum density: with 13 different museums, including four national museums, there is something for everyone: from a look at antiquities and archaeology in the Museum of Antiquities to a dive into the animal world at Naturalis. An outing not to be missed is a visit to De Burcht [The Fortress]. It is one of the oldest, public examples of a fortress in the Netherlands. Archaeologists discovered that it had to have been built in the late ninth century. For those who can brave all the steps, a beautiful view over the city awaits them. You will also see the canals that run through the city. They are no less than 28 kilometer long. You can get anywhere by boat and you will see that the historical city is even more beautiful from the water. Feeling hungry? Then walk to the Pieterskerk kwartier, in the ancient heart of the city. An area of small streets and nice restaurants, from snack bars to the high-end segment. The Pieterskerk itself is an impressive venue for conventions and social programmes. Locations Leiden has a large variety of conference venues. There are, in addition to more common conference venues, such as the

Stadsgehoorzaal [City Concert Hall] (capacity up to 838 participants ), and the new ECC Leiden, at the Holiday Inn Leiden (capacity up to 2,500 participants), impressive churches and modern museums, with auditoriums, such as Corpus Congress Centre – in combination with Hilton – where you can walk through a human body. The city has a representative range of hotels in the 3- and 4-star segment, often with conference capacity. And don't forget the Holiday Inn, Hampshire, Hilton Garden Inn, the Ibis hotel opposite Central Station or the Van der Valk hotel on the waterfront, where you can step into the boat right from the terrace and, of course, there are a host of smaller, boutique hotels. From Schiphol Airport, you are in the city in 15 minutes. Leiden is truly an airport location. Leiden Convention Bureau Lead Convention Bureau offers concrete assistance in the search for the best conference location. It provides free and independent advice on conference venues, hotel accommodations and Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs) and has suggestions for a memorable social programme. In addition, it organizes site visits and helps with the drafting and design of the bid book. Often, the city offers a welcome reception for the conference participants. ≈

THE HAGUE

‘The court-capital houses many organizations concerned with a better world’ Gideon Shimshon is Director of the Centre for Innovation at Leiden University, which is located on The Hague campus. The Centre focuses, among other things, on the future of education. How can you improve education through (digital) innovation and make it accessible to more people? In this context, Leiden University is affiliated with the Coursera Platform. This year, the Centre for Innovation organized the annual Coursera Conference. From 19 to 22 March, at the World Forum in The Hague, some 600 to 700 delegates from 100 universities and from 60 countries worked together on "Better Education for a Better World." Shimshon: "More than 17 million students -- thanks the Coursera Platform -- attend university courses at one of the affiliated universities, of which 450,000 at Leiden University. When it comes to 'borderless education for all,' Leiden is one of the forerunners in the world. Therefore, it is logical that the conference takes place in The Hague. Moreover, what better place is there to have a conference on 'improving the world through innovations in education' than in the international capital of Peace and Justice? The court-capital houses not only the government but also ministries, embassies, Virginia Dignum is an associate diplomatic and legal institutions: and many professor at Delft University other organizations concerned with a of Technology, Faculty of Technology Policy and better world." Management. Under her leadership, from 29 August to 2

‘When it comes to ethics, The Hague is the place to be’

The Hague

September 2016, the first edition of the European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI2016) will be held. Around 700 researchers from around the world will then come together in The Hague to discuss Artificial Intelligence for Human Values. Dignum: "The ECAI Conference provides an opportunity for researchers to present and hear about the very best research in contemporary Artificial Intelligence (AI). The current theme is the importance of ethics in AI developments. And when it comes to ethics, The Hague is the place to be. The Hague is the international city of peace and justice. Human rights are central to The Hague. Besides that, The Hague is a beautiful city and it has the most historic sites per square meter in The Netherlands. The Hague oozes culture and history and is home to the Dutch King and Queen, and the seat of the Dutch government. The Hague offers excellent opportunities for sightseeing and gastronomy."

SECTIE

DESTINATION

THE HAGUE

CITY OF THINKERS AND INNOVATORS The Hague is the city where things get done. Here, high-level decisions are made. It is the city which houses the seat of the Dutch government, where the International Court of Justice makes its judgements and, moreover, it is the city with a bustling economy. The Hague is smart, influential, personal and connected in the broadest sense of the word.

he Hague, also known as the royal residence, is regularly in the news. Here, large, international tribunals, such as the World Court and the ICTY have been established. It is the city where important, influential assessments are delivered, and where decisions are made. Because, in addition to all the jurisprudence, this is also the place where the Dutch government sets the course for the country.

FACTS & FIGURES Largest auditorium (seats) World Forum Number of hotel rooms (total) Largest hotel (rooms) The Hague Marriott Hotel

2,161 4,100 306

Distance to Amsterdam Schiphol (km)

Regional airport Rotterdam/The Hague Airport (km) 20 www.theconventionbureau.com

Pride The Hague has much to be proud of. The city and region are seen as the ICT & Telecom capital of the Netherlands. Many national and international telecom companies are based here, including KPN, T-Mobile, AT&T, Samsung and Huawei. Alongside of all the unlimited possibilities of the digital era, the digital developments also involve security risks. This is a global challenge and it is the Hague where the solutions for it are being developed. Along with such parties as the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Thales, Siemens, Fox-IT and the Ministry of Security and Justice, work is being done, day in and day out, on surveillance, innovations and economic developments in the field of digital security. Initiatives such as The Hague Security Delta and the Border Security Innovation Centre also share their knowledge in order to achieve constructive solutions. All these thinkers and innovators are continuously trying to pave the way for our future way of life. The knowledge they have, they are eager to share as

speakers or participants in discussions at scientific and networking events. Energy and Renewables Energy and Renewables is another important sector in the economy of The Hague. The global headquarters of one of the largest companies in the field, Royal Dutch Shell, is located in The Hague. Just outside the city, in Rijswijk, the Global Exploration and Production Centre is located. Other energy and geoscience related businesses in the city are: the Association of Dutch Suppliers in the Oil and Gas Industry (IRO); the Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association (Nogepa) and Delft University of Technology. Apart from energy and telecom companies, The Hague is also home to major players in the financial world. Large insurance companies, pension funds and asset managers are together responsible for 13,000 jobs. The presence of the government and regulatory authorities and the expertise of large companies, such as NationaleNederlanden, MN Services and AEGON, make The Hague an attractive place for this sector. Conference city with style The allure of this historic city, the vast knowledge network in the fields of telecommunications, security, finance and fuel, and the presence of the International Court of Justice, make

DESTINATION

1. From Schiphol, the train takes you to the centre of town in less than half an hour. 2. The round-table discussion during the Nuclear Security Summit hosted at the World Forum. 3. The fully-renovated Mauritshuis, next to the Binnenhof were the seat of government is located.

The Hague an excellent city to organize a conference in The Hague is therefore among the top Dutch conference cities, thanks to its accessibility, a wide range of conference facilities, community support and its warm hospitality. In the next few years The Hague has the ambition to become one of the world's top 50 convention cities. Investments will be made in the organization and infrastructure to continue growing as a conference city. The Hague Convention Bureau has all the required expertise to be of service to event organizers. In the past, The Nuclear Security Summit and the Global Conference on Cyberspace were organized in The Hague. But also such events as The Unmanned Systems Expo (2020) and the Personnel Protection & Safety Conference take place here. Several cooperatives in the oil and gas sector and the pharmaceutical and technical industries are choosing The Hague as a conference venue. And this year, the World Pension Summit, as well as the

conference of the International Federation for European Law will be held here. Locations Meeting and conference venues come in all shapes and sizes. The largest is the World Forum, which also has an auditorium for more than 2,000 guests. In addition, there are various academic locations in the centre of the city and special places like the Grote Kerk or the Fokker Terminal. Seeking the pinnacle of accessibility? Next to the Central Station in The Hague, the Babylon Meeting Centre recently opened its doors. The diversity of hotel offerings is at least as large as that of the conference venues. From luxury to budget, The Hague has rooms in all classes. Do you want to stay in the centre of the city, close to shopping and restaurants, or would you prefer a hotel along the coastline of Scheveningen? The Hague is very easily accessible. From Schiphol, the train takes you to the centre of town in less than half an hour.

Furthermore, the city also has a regional airport. In addition to the extensive public transport network in the city, there is also the possibility to rent a city bike, so that you can explore the city just like a Dutchman. Discover the city You will certainly want to explore the city. Here you can enjoy sites with a rich history, the white beaches and a wide range of cultural activities. The Hague offers a wealth of impressive art. Visit the fullyrenovated Mauritshuis to see Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and works by Rembrandt and Mondriaan. Or walk five minutes further to get lost in Escher's work that can be seen in Het Paleis. But also such highlights as the Binnenhof, where the seat of government is located, the Peace Palace and Noordeinde, the working palace of the king, are worth seeing. If you walk by the Noordeinde Palace, you can check if the flag is flying and the king is presently at work. ≈

DESTINATION

NORTH BRABANT

‘It was possible to lay out an innovative concept within budget’ Marga Groot Zwaaftink is Meeting Designer and Director of CommGres Convention Bureau. On behalf of various social organizations, she organized the annual conference "Youth in Research, which was held in Convention Centre 1931 in Den Bosch on 14 March. Over 400 professionals in the youth care sector, in policy, research and practice, were present. Groot Zwaaftink: "The theme this year was 'A year after the care transition: what has it brought us? And how does knowledge play a role here? We chose the location 1931 in Den Bosch because the historic building has lots of atmosphere and is within walking distance of the city centre. There are always people who want to see something of the city after the conference or have a bite to eat in a good restaurant in a nice location. And these places abound in Den Bosch. In addition we had, in the design of the programme (meeting design) specifically looked at locations with a lot of flexibility in seating capacity and the ability to create one central square. 1931 met both requirements and thought actively along with us. Thus, it was possible to lay out an innovative concept within budget. The result was that the poster sessions had a central location next to the catering, there were 22 themed tables and a plenary session with keynote speaker located right among the participants. Plenty of interaction, you see!"

‘I was very surprised by the beautiful country side’

Kate Bacon is Customer Relations and Events Manager of IACC. One of the events she organises in 2016 is the European Members Conference – IACC Europe Knowledge Festival, from 24 till 26 September on estate and conference hotel Kapellerput in Heeze, Brabant. The conference will be visited by around ninety members of the International Association of Conference Centres. “The annual IACC European Members Conference always is held in one of the member conference centres. This year Kapellerput in Brabant has the honour to host the meeting. Kapellerput is a great location with easy access from all over Europe and beyond. Also important is the charm of this part of The Netherlands. When I visited the venue, I was very surprised by the beautiful country side. The venue is in the immediate vicinity of the lively city of Eindhoven, which is very oriented on design. It is also a very culinary region with some great restaurants.”

North Brabant

DESTINATION

NORTH BRABANT

STRENGTH THROUGH COOPERATION Praised for it's hospitality, cosy towns and beautiful nature on the one hand and for it's innovation, knowledge and the need to share it on the other hand, the region of Brabant has it all: Business Brains & Hospitality Heart.

haring might be Brabant's biggest strength. Sharing knowledge, connection and of course hospitality. This lifestyle typical of Brabant leads to rapid growth. An example is the Brainport initiative; an innovative top technology region with

FACTS & FIGURES Largest auditorium (seats) 1931 Congress Centre Brabanthallen Exhibition venue (m ) Brabanthallen ’s-Hertogenbosch

2,000

Number of hotel rooms (total) Largest hotel (rooms) NH Conference Centre Koningshof Veldhoven

> 40,000 > 10,000 509

Distance to Amsterdam Schiphol (km)

Regional Airports (km) Zaventem Brussels (from 's-Hertogenbosch)

159

Eindhoven Airport (from ’s-Hertogenbosch)

www.conventionbureaubrabant.nl

Eindhoven as its centre. Researchers, developers and entrepreneurs work together every day to boost economic growth as well as a sustainable, healthy and safe society. Another great example is AgriFood Capital. It is a collaboration between entrepreneurs, governments and educational institutions in the region of North-East Brabant. These parties work together to create new solutions for social issues concerning sustainability, food and health. AgriFood Capital wants North-East Brabant to excel as the one and only top region in agrifood in 2020. No wonder big Dutch companies like Philips, DAF, ASML, VDL Jumbo, Mars and Sligro feel at home here. It should be clear that Brabant is an international player. This year, a number of large events will be organized in Eindhoven, such as the European Data Forum 2016 and the European Innovation Partnership Smart Cities & Communities 2016. Cultural ‘s-Hertogenbosch If you can spare some time for a cultural expedition, you should certainly go to the Jheronimus Bosch Art Center in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Here you can admire full-size photographic reproductions of

all the master's works. But what is truly special is the fact that you can organise a private dinner here. The new museum quarter of 's-Hertogenbosch is located in the Verwerstraat, a ten minute walk from the Art Center. Feeling hungry? Grab a coffee at the Robbies concept store, which is located in a former bank. Or enjoy a walking dinner through the city and discover for yourself why 's-Hertogenbosch is known to be the exuberant heart of the Netherlands. Want to get out of town? Opt for a boat trip on the Binnendieze. The trip will take you through the city centre to the village of Sint-Michielsgestel and past the nature reserve "The Bossche Broek". If you are lucky you might see a kingfisher. Both Vincent van Gogh and Hieronymus Bosch spotted the bird here and perpetuated it in their works. You can combine this trip with a meeting at De Ruwenberg hotel, which has its own jetty. You can also moor at De Pure Keuken in the town of Vught for a cooking workshop. The chef welcomes you on the jetty for a unique private dinner (max. 12 people). The guests will be taken back to the city centre by boat after the dinner. Creative Eindhoven Eindhoven is a unique and dynamic city. Strijp S is the city's creative and cultural heart. This former Philips terrain is full of industrial historical heritage and

DESTINATION

1. Eindhoven, the city of lights. 2. Opt for a boat trip on the Binnendieze. 3. Panorama of Eindhoven city center. © ISTOCK | LYA CATTEL

4. St. John's Cathedral in 's Hertogenbosch. 5. For those who love going outside Brabant is the place to be.

has been transformed into a unique area that centres around culture, living and working. Many designers and art studios have settled here. The Philips work terrain has been refurbished for a new purpose while leaving many of the buildings intact. In the engine room of the former Philips power plant you can now find restaurant Radio Royaal. In the striking Klokgebouw (clock building), which is cultural heritage of Brabant, you can enjoy cultural activities, get sportive or get to work. The inner man will also come into their own. Have you got a sweet tooth? Pop into Patisserie Pinkie or drop by restaurant Onder De Leidingstraat for a lovely lunch. Satisfy your hunger in the evening and dine at Blue Collar Hotel or restaurant Wynwood. Natural Brabant For those who love going outside for team building and other activities, Brabant is the place to be. Go mountain biking, take a walk or ride horseback across the Drunense Duinen. At the edge of the Drunense Duinen

you will find the village of Helvoirt, the hometown of Vincent van Gogh's parents and where Vincent himself was inspired to paint. Take one of the professional painting workshops in the cosy atmosphere of a historical barn for a one-of-a-kind experience. Unique locations There are many congress locations in the Province of Brabant. The most recent can be found in the Klokgebouw in Eindhoven, in Boshuys Best in the village of Best, in the Noord-Brabants Museum and the Gruyterfabriek, both in 's-Hertogenbosch. It's the diversity that makes these locations special. From an industrial space with plentiful room for your own creative interpretation, like the Klokgebouw, to a unique location with ambiance, like the Buitenhuys from Boshuys Best. If you want to stay the night, there are many original hotels to choose from. In hotel Inntel in Eindhoven every room has been designed keeping in mind a different theme or characteristic of the city, for example the "city of light". This combines high-end technique and innovation with design. You can tell you're in Eindhoven from looking

at the room. The Blue Collar Hotel on Strijp S in Eindhoven is a small, raw and incomparable hotel. Entrepreneur Peet Hofmans is working hard to give the former barracks in the Willemspoort area in 's-Hertogenbosch a new destination. He will develop this location into a sustainable brasserie boutique hotel. He wants to create a public "living room" for Willemspoort where peace, hubbub, modernization and sustainability come together. Accessibility When it comes to accessibility, Brabant definitely measures up to the bigger cities in the Netherlands. To begin with, it has its own airport: Eindhoven Airport. There are also five international airports in the surrounding areas: Amsterdam Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport as well as the airports of Maastricht, Brussels and Düsseldorf. You can reach Brabant within an hour from any of these airports. Furthermore, all towns and villages in the area are easily accessible by train or motorway. Convention Bureau Brabant A one stop shop: Convention Bureau Brabant searches for one-of-a-kind conference and event locations. The bureau asks for quotes and arranges visits of the locations to keep the orientation process simple, efficient and well-organized. It realizes this by working together with different participants from the area. Convention Bureau Brabant's services are free of charge. ≈

DESTINATION

ROTTERDAM

‘Academics always find it impressive to see their field in practice’ René de Koster is a professor of logistics and operations management at the Department of Technology and Operations Management at Erasmus University. He was one of the organizers of the annual International Conference on Logistics and Maritime Systems in 2014 (LOGMS2014). For three days, the Erasmus Expo and Congress Centre in Rotterdam offered a roof to more than 200 academics and a handful of practitioners. "LOGMS takes place in a port city, alternately in Asia or Europe: Busan, Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Bremen ... the world seaport city of Rotterdam could not be left off that list. Under the theme "Smart Future Logistics" we brought attention to such issues as transport by ship – both on sea and in the hinterland – port logistics, design and management of terminals, storage and handling. The fringe programme included a cruise through the ports with dinner on board, a bus trip to the European container terminal and visits to the Euromax and APM Terminals, Future Maasvlakte, Port of Rotterdam and various companies. Academics always find it impressive to see their field in practice, and that also Marion Smits is associate professor holds true for Rotterdam. Everyone thought it was unique and neuroradiologist at Erasmus to 'experience' the bustle of the city – both from the MC Rotterdam. She combines research water and on shore. with clinical work, with a particular focus on

‘You cannot start early enough to involve young talents in the field’

neuro-oncology in the Brain Tumour Centre in Rotterdam. From 19 through 23 September 2018, the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR) will take place under her leadership. Rotterdam will then welcome 800 to 1000 colleagues from all parts of the world. "The theme is not yet known, but it will probably have something to do with 'Young Talents.' I am, myself, the youngest conference president the ESNR has ever had. I also think that you cannot start early enough to involve young talents in the field. Also nice is that you can fill in the theme creatively, for example, by having Rotterdam conservatory students provide a musical touch. It was not difficult to convince the Congress Committee of Rotterdam. The city has a lot that is special to offer. Water, history, architecture, beautiful and affordable hotels, wonderful convention centre, all within walking distance, easily accessible ... Apart from that, Dutch scientists, including those working at Erasmus, have an important place on the world neuroradiology stage. Finally, the conference is also beautifully timed to coincide with the opening, in 2018, of the new Erasmus MC as 'the most modern hospital in Europe."

DESTINATION

ROTTERDAM

ALWAYS INNOVATING Rotterdam has more than 400 years of successful experience in trade and shipping. Today, it is a young, versatile and dynamic city that is (internationally) renowned for its bold, contemporary architecture and innovative character. The port and the population – consisting of more than 170 nationalities – create a unique, open and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

otterdam, the largest port in Europe, is known worldwide for its pioneering (technological) innovations in the maritime sector. But this city is a world class metropolis in more sectors, with many multinational companies, financial services, a highquality medical sector and a dynamic economic network. Here one knows how to get things done, to create and take on opportunities. This is also the place where the first foreign branch of the Cambridge Innovation Centre is housed: in the Groot Handelsgebouw. Over the

FACTS & FIGURES Largest auditorium (seats) Rotterdam Ahoy

2,750

Number of hotel rooms (total)

7,568

Largest hotel (rooms) Inntel/Mainport Hotels Rotterdam

306

Travel to Amsterdam Schiphol (minutes by HiSpeed train)

Regional airport Rotterdam/The Hague Airport (km) 0 www.rotterdampartners.nl/ conventions

next few years, this centre will house 550 innovative companies and thus bring together and expand its international network of entrepreneurs, investors and existing businesses. Rotterdam likes to go big: in 2025, Rotterdam wants to be home to the World Expo. Currently, it is working on a bid to win this international event. The World Expo 2025 is supporting the development of a new, sustainable reality with an economy that is not only greener and more resilient, but also fairer. Rotterdam, therefore, has chosen the theme, Changing Currents. Another large, advanced project is the Dutch Windwheel, to be built between 2020 and 2025. This new landmark is a 170-meter high wind turbine in the form of two large rings. Inside it, there is room for hotels, homes and offices and various innovations in the fields of water, energy, technology and construction engineering. Floating Farm From the summer of 2016, the technical tour de force, Floating Farm, will be in operation: a stable floating farm, where milk production, milk processing and the marketing of dairy products takes place. It is also a laboratory where companies and research institutions can explore and experiment to create self-sustaining milk production units. Specialists from all

over the world will visit this innovative project in October 2016, as the IDF World Dairy Summit will be held in Rotterdam. This is a major international conference on developments within the dairy industry. The RDM Rotterdam, the former site of the Rotterdam Dry Dock Company, is also all about innovation. Businesses and educational institutions are working together on the research and design of the new manufacturing industry for the port and the city. RDM Rotterdam is also an inspiring venue for numerous cultural and business events. The multifunctional spaces of the convention centre and the Onderzeebootloods [Submarine Wharf], can house meetings and events for 5 to 5,000 visitors. Investment Climate In 2016, Rotterdam has now become one of the top 10 major European cities with the best investment climate. In the Foreign Direct Investments Index – the authoritative ranking by the international business newspaper, The Financial Times – Rotterdam adorns the ninth place among the Large European Cities of the Future 2016/17. It is a ranking of cities that have the best prospects for foreign investment, economic development and business expansion. Rotterdam owes its place on the list of the connectivity and its FDI strategy. The city excels in, among other areas, the fields of medical and life sciences, agrifood, cleantech, maritime services and logistics. For these disciplines, many conferences and trade fairs are also organized.

DESTINATION

1. Two architectural highlights: the Erasmus Bridge and "vertical city" De Rotterdam. 2. Another large, advanced project is the Dutch Windwheel, to be built between 2020 and 2025. 3. Van Nelle factory – on the UNESCO World Heritage List and used for conferences.

Examples include Europort (the maritime trade fair), the 15th World Conference Cities and Ports in 2016 with 400 participants, the World Dairy Summit 2016 with 2,000 participants and Gastvrij Rotterdam (the annual trade fair for hospitality professionals). During Gastvrij Rotterdam 2016 The World Championship of Chinese Cuisine will take place and in 2017 the Bocuse NL final. The following year, in 2018, Rotterdam wants to facilitate the Bocuse d’or EU final. Due to the knowledge available in the city in the field of medical and life sciences, dozens of conferences are organized annually in the medical field which emphasize the knowledge available in the city. That Rotterdam excels in these sectors, is reflected in the education sector in Rotterdam: leading educational centres, such as the Erasmus Medical Centre, Erasmus School of Economics, Rotterdam School of Management and the Netherlands Maritime University (Shipping and Transport College), which is unique in the world, have found their home in this city. Always surprising Rotterdam does not only score in business terms, but is also a 'hot'

destination for travellers. In 2014, Rotterdam was tipped as a must-see city by Rough Guides and The New York Times. New is the recommendation in The Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2016. Rotterdam also owes its spot on this coveted list to its futuristic architecture. Bold, modern architecture is characteristic of the city. In 1923, Van Nelle director, Van der Leeuw, ordered the construction of a new plant, according to the rules of the Modern Movement. Hyper-functional and without frills. It was sensational at that time. In 2014, the Van Nelle factory was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This unique location can now also be used for conferences for up to 2,500 guests. In the 1970s, Rotterdam again created a stir with the construction of the cube houses. That fresh look at architecture has always been part of the city. Thus, in late 2013, De Rotterdam was completed by the architectural firm, OMA. De Rotterdam is a complete city within the city: the three towers accommodate luxury apartments, a hotel, offices and, on the ground floor, several bars and restaurants with stunning views

of the Maas. Other examples of recent architectural highlights include the Markthal [Market Hall], the new Central Station and the Erasmus Bridge. In addition to the architecture, water plays an important role in the city. The port city is inextricably linked to the Maas river. The river flows through the city and has a direct connection to the sea. The Rotterdam inland ports have been transformed into lively entertainment and culinary hotspots. The Maritime Quarter, the Old Port and Delfshaven are good examples of this. Conclusion: Rotterdam, a city that is characterised by ambition and creating and seizing opportunities. It is, consequently, the perfect place for anyone who wants to make something happen – also in the field of congresses. Rotterdam Partners Rotterdam Partners Convention Bureau advises organizers of congresses and corporate events -- independently, professionally and free of charge -- about the possibilities in Rotterdam. They work together with more than 170 partners in the city who are active in the business visitors and/or tourist sector. ≈

DESTINATION

NORTH HOLLAND NORTH OF AMSTERDAM

‘The visitors were very pleasantly surprised about Hoorn’ Kees van Louvezijn is chairman of the Foundation of Dutch Cape Horn-sailers. Because of the 400th anniversary of Cape Horn, Louvezijn organized, in August 2015, the International Cape Horniers Meeting at the Van der Valk Hotel in Hoorn. The conference attracted 60 participants; at the final session during SAIL Amsterdam, there were 100 people. "With the event, we commemorated the fact that, on June 14 1615, an expedition was launched from Hoorn with two three-masters to find out whether South America and the Antarctic were connected to each other and if there was a passable trade route between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The latter proved to be the case, and the new strait was named "Le Maire Strait, a bright cape was given the name of Cape Horn. The international visitors were very pleasantly surprised about Hoorn: the historic old city with the ports, the Westfries museum with the VOC chamber, the Maritime Antiquities and historic Oosterkerk. Other highlights were the Zuiderzeemuseum, the Batavia shipyard in Lelystad, Zaanse Schans, Marken and Volendam and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Finally, we had rented a three-master for a unique evening Dineke Heersma is Department programme at SAIL Amsterdam. All in all, our guests Manager of the scientific group were very impressed with all the beauty that Maritime & Transport Technology at North Holland has to offer." the Technical University of Delft. One of her

‘I was looking for an affordable location near Amsterdam’

North Holland

tasks is to organize conferences. This includes the 12th International Conference on Hydrodynamics, to be held from 18 to 23 September. Heersma: "About 200 international scientists will come to Egmond aan Zee in North Holland to learn about and discuss "all the circumstances" surrounding seagoing vessels. A broad topic. In 2001, I was looking for an affordable location near Amsterdam - scientific conferences have never had a big budget - and I came across Hotel Zuiderduin. It is a beautiful location in a typically Dutch region with an excellent price. I was hooked and I still am. This hotel does not belong to a chain, and it shows. There is always a feeling of coming home. Moreover, the region is beautiful. How about a conference dinner at the Zuiderzeemuseum or in beach pavilion, De Schelp, on the beach? Excursions to Amsterdam and Alkmaar? And after a meeting, the participants can just walk out the door onto the beach from the hotel, or stroll through a lovely shopping street. Participants find it, literally, a breath of fresh air."

DESTINATION

NORTH HOLLAND, NORTH OF AMSTERDAM

TRADITIONS AND INNOVATIONS The region of North Holland, located North of Amsterdam, is a typically Dutch region where all the icons of the Netherlands come together. It is famed for its picturesque fishing villages and the typical Dutch bulb fields; it is known for its innovations in the field of water management, agri-food and renewable energy.

orth Holland is a major supplier when it comes to vegetables, fruit, fish, meat and dairy products, for both at home and abroad. The agri-food sector is booming here. Besides all the fresh products, North Holland is one of the largest production areas in Europe for bulbs, flowers and ornamental plants. One of its great prides is, therefore, Seed Valley, the international centre for plant breeding and seed technology. This is the home of dozens of innovative companies that develop high-quality horticultural seeds for the production of vegetables and ornamental flowers. Here, specialists work constantly on plant

FACTS & FIGURES Largest auditorium (seats) AFAS stadion, Alkmaar

1,000

Largest hotel (rooms) Hotel Zuiderduin, Egmond aan Zee Distance to Amsterdam Schiphol (km to Alkmaar)

550 42

www.conventionbureauholland.nl

varieties that produce higher yields, are more resistant to pests and diseases, grow optimally under specific climatic conditions, taste better or produce more beautiful flowers. The horticultural seed and associated technologies developed here are exported all over the world. Water and energy Surrounded by the North Sea, Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer, North Holland cannot avoid water. Traditionally, this region is progressive in terms of everything that has to do with water, whether it's for land reclamation, the fight against water or clean drinking water. Leading knowledge institutions in the water sector are based here, including the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Imares. You can also find, in this region, an important knowledge cluster for the offshore and maritime sector: Maritime Campus Netherlands (MCN). Water, wind and sun are plentiful in northern North Holland. It is, therefore, not surprising that this region is becoming the centre for new technology and business in the field of renewable energy. Offshore wind farms, the Sun City [Stad van de Zon] (a new district

in Heerhugowaard which is completely neutral in CO2 emissions) and energygenerating dykes show that this region is innovative in the field of renewable energy. Prosperous economy All these developments have, over the years, ensured that northern North Holland is an interesting and exciting place for many large companies. Thus, here you will find the ECN Petten, the Netherlands Energy Research Centre. This is the largest research institute in the field of energy in the Netherlands. ECN develops new technologies and carries out, in various ways, pioneering research into innovative solutions in order to facilitate the transition to a sustainable energy economy. One big name from the pharmaceutical industry is Boehringer Ingelheim, an international, innovative company focused on the development and marketing of new drugs that contribute to improving the health and welfare of humans and animals. In late 2015, Microsoft established a large data centre along the A7 in Middenmeer. The centre serves as a hub for cloud services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Microsoft chose to give a sustainable impact to the centre. The centre uses residual thermal energy from the glasshouse horticulture in the area and vice versa, the heat generated by the servers in the data centre are used to heat the greenhouses.

DESTINATION

2 5

from the former Zuiderzee area, such as a church, a smoke house, shops and houses from the surrounding fishing villages. Alkmaar is and remains the Dutch cheese town, but that title only partially covers the feel of the town. For years, the city has been termed one of the best shopping cities in the Netherlands. This is cultural shopping in a city full of historic buildings that are also located just minutes from the North Sea beach.

In Egmond aan Zee, along the North Sea beach, there is Hotel Zuiderduin. This hotel offers 550 rooms and 33 meeting and conference rooms, ranging in size from 30 to 1,000 square meters. Here, conferences can be held up for up to 1,500 guests. The newest location in North Holland is the Beach Hotel Golfzang in Egmond aan Zee with two halls where small groups can gather and 144 hotel rooms. For those who want a more trendy place with an industrial character, there is, for example, Taets Arts Gallery in Zaanstad. The building has a total of 30,000 square meters. There are various halls and meeting rooms, a state of the art meeting room for 10 to 500 people and there is an outdoor area. This complex can accommodate meetings for 10 to 7,000 people.

Conference locations Many banks, healthcare institutions and IT companies organize large meetings in the region. There is, therefore, a wide range of conference venues and hotels: from a football stadium into a theatre, from the beach to an industrial heritage building. Take, for example, the Kees Kist Lounge at the AFAS Stadium in Alkmaar, with an area of 1,120 square meters. Here, you can organize meetings for up to 1,000 guests. The Van Der Valk Hotel Hoorn has 157 rooms, 11 conference rooms, a casino and five cinemas which can also be used as conference halls.

Convention Bureau Holland Convention Bureau Holland (CBH) is the specialized agency in the province of North Holland, just above Amsterdam, that organizes your business meeting. Organizers of multi-day conferences can come here for free advice and information. The service ranges from building a website to the registration of clients, the financial end and budget control. In addition, CBH can assist with booking the venues, reception, transport and partner programmes. CBH provides you with a completely carefree organization of your conference. ≈

1. VOC-ship Halve Maen enters the port of Hoorn. 2. Oostereiland by night. 3. One of the largest production areas for flower bulbs. 4. The Cheese Market in Alkmaar. 5. The always popular North Sea beach.

Towns and villages All of these new developments are great, but the charm of northern North Holland is definitely the typical Dutch traditions that are not forgotten here. Those who want to sniff culture, will do well to visit the ancient villages and towns in this region. Take a walk on the dyke in Volendam and enjoy the authentic atmosphere, the port and the water. The village was visited and immortalized by many famous painters. Wandering through the quiet streets, you quickly find yourself 100 back years in time. Another beautiful town is Hoorn. Everywhere, you can see the history of the powerful Dutch East India Company that, in the 17th and 18th centuries, maintained trade relations with Asian countries through its shipping. This is also the case in Enkhuizen, where the Drommedaris, the defence tower in the harbour, and the city centre with the historic buildings still remind us of this prosperous time. Don't forget to visit the cultural and historical Zuiderzeemuseum where you can see authentic buildings

DESTINATION

UTRECHT

‘Participants are already responding very positively’ Gerlof Valk is professor of Endocrinology at UMC Utrecht. Under his leadership, the 15th International Workshop on Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia and other rare endocrine tumors, or WorldMEN 2016, will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2016, in Utrecht. The conference will be held at the Jaarbeurs Utrecht and will be visited by 250 to 350 researchers and medical and nursing specialists who deal with rare hereditary endocrine tumor syndromes. But also by patients. WorldMEN focuses on sharing 'state of the art' and new insights into patient care, scientific research and patient participation. Falcon: "That patients - from Europe and North America - are also participating, is exceptional in the world of medical conferences, but it is logical. In the UMC Utrecht, we are leading the national research on MEN. In collaboration with the patient organization, we have created a unique national database. One of the reasons that makes it unique, is that we do research on the basis of the questions often asked by patients. This research has led to ground-breaking results that are used throughout the world. Therefore, it is now time that the biennial conference, which takes place alternately in Europe and North America, comes to Utrecht. In the organization, we are getting great support from the Utrecht Convention Bureau. Participants are already responding very positively to our beautiful city and the Daniël Kusse is Chief beautiful locations." Communications Officer at the Hubrecht Institute: a research institute of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences, which conducts research in the field of developmental biology, in general, and stem cells, in particular. In Utrecht, from 16 to 18 September, more than 400 scientists from around the world attended the conference "Single Cell Genomics 2015. Kusse: "Single Cell Genomics is one of the fastest growing technologies which have great impact on diverse fields within the biological research. The Director of the Hubrecht Institute, Professor Alexander van Oudenaarden, was co-organizer of this annual conference. He is one of the world's most famous single cell researchers. The participants were very impressed by the city of Utrecht. The combination of modern Tivoli-Vredenburg and the old city centre of Utrecht was very popular. Moreover, the organization of this conference had good support from the city of Utrecht and the Utrecht Convention Bureau, which certainly benefited the conference."

‘The organization had good support from the city of Utrecht’

Utrecht

DESTINATION

UTRECHT

SMART CITY

he population of Utrecht is the most highly educated in the Netherlands. Could that be the reason why the Utrecht Science Park can be found here? This is the beating heart of Europe's most competitive region. Here, knowledge institutions, research institutes and companies work closely together to find new solutions for a longer and healthier life, now and in the future. With 22,000 employees and 70,000 students, who gather here every day, it

FACTS & FIGURES Largest auditorium (seats) Jaarbeurs Number of hotel rooms (in the city) (around the city within a radius of 20 km) Largest hotel (rooms) NH Utrecht Distance to Amsterdam Schiphol (km)

1,533 1,750 1,950 276 40

www.utrechtconventionbureau.com

is a hotbed of knowledge and innovation. But there are more reasons why Utrecht is smart. This is the location of the best university in the Netherlands, from which no fewer than 12 Nobel laureates graduated. Utrecht is the first Fiware lab in the Netherlands, where developers can make free use of data centre facilities and the standard building blocks available for Fiware (Future Internet). This is unique in Europe. And then there is U Create, where technology companies, researchers and young talents from the creative industry are brought together to set up innovative care solutions. This includes such creative disciplines as design, gaming and interactive media as a catalyst for applied innovation in home automation, telemedicine and lifestyle apps. And the developments continue, because this year Utrecht is opening Garage Inc., a creative place for sustainable start-ups. In a city that works on the future, you will also find large, reputable companies which are happy to share their knowledge. Thus, Utrecht is home to KNMI, TNO, University Medical Center Utrecht, Douwe Egberts, NS, Mercedes Benz and Rabobank as well as many other companies.

It is one of the most competitive regions of Europe: Utrecht. With all its historical beauty, it may seem like a quiet, preserved city, but the opposite is true. It is here you will find the largest knowledge centre in the Netherlands, where people work daily on smart solutions for a longer and healthier life. Incentive Fund That this smart city is the ideal place for scientific conferences is clear. This year, the large RAID conference will be held here: Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things & Data. It is not only the huge knowledge network that the city offers and the service of the Utrecht Convention Bureau that make this an attractive place for conferences. The incentive fund of Utrecht certainly also contributes to this. In 2016, € 350,000 will be made available, so that the Utrecht Convention Bureau can make a financial contribution to the conference costs. To qualify for the fund, the conference must comply with a number of conditions, such as a minimum number of conference days and (foreign) participants. Recharging Time to relax? The attractive medieval inner city, with charming squares and narrow streets, authentic Utrecht cafés, exclusive boutiques, trendy coffee shops and wine bars and cool restaurants offer plenty of opportunities to recharge. Crowd pullers are the Dom Tower, the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, and the ancient shipyards that you can

DESTINATION

1. The old town with its characteristic canals with their docks and terraces. 2. Roof garden Uithof. 3. All locations in the city centre are within walking or cycling distance. 4. View over the historic city of Utrecht. 5. Runners in the Utrecht Science Park.

find nowhere else in the world. They are not on the streets, but at water level on the canal. Museum lovers can enjoy their stay here at, for example, the Centraal Museum, the Miffy Museum or the Domunder where you literally disappear beneath the city. There are plenty of opportunities for walking and cycling, boat trips and castle visits. Memorable locations Utrecht is the city par excellence for international meetings. The central location and a unique historic setting make the Domstad [cathedral city] a natural gathering place. Because the city is compact and virtually all locations in the city centre are within walking or cycling distance of each other, you quickly start to feel at home. Live like a local is, thus, the motto here. Utrecht has many exceptional locations for a conference. Supernova, part of the Jaarbeurs, gives a new dimension to a conference or event in an almost alien atmosphere. With this versatile venue, the Jaarbeurs has created a knowledge hub where everything revolves around the connection and right energy.

CitySense is another cosmopolitan event location in the heart of Utrecht. This interactive location is distinguished by its 20-meter projection screen where tailor-made interactive presentations and content can be displayed. Are you looking for a location with history, then Fort Voordorp is recommended. The fort was built between 1867 and 1871 as part of the New Dutch Water Line to protect the Utrecht-Amersfoort railway. Since the renovation, the location offers all the modern facilities. Another historic site is the Paushuize, once owned by the first and only Dutch pope. The Winkel van Sinkel is a culinary department store in a historic building located on the Oudegracht, right in the centre of Utrecht. Not only fun for a social activity, but also to be used as conference venues are the Speelklok Museum and the Railway Museum. The great diversity of locations and options, the compactness of the city (almost everything is within walking distance), the good price / quality ratio and the authenticity of the city make Utrecht a conference venue par excellence.

Accessibility The central location of Utrecht ensures that the city is extremely accessible. Here, we can find the central hub of the European railway network. From Schiphol, the train brings participants to the centre of Utrecht in a half hour. Utrecht Central Station is also served by many international trains, such as the Thalys (Paris), the intercity Antwerp / Brussels, ICE International (Germany) and the City Night Line (various European cities). Utrecht Convention Bureau It is no surprise that, in recent years, an increasing number of knowledge events have been organized in Utrecht. The Economic Board Utrecht is pleased with this development and is therefore working hard to optimize the work of the Utrecht Convention Bureau. This independent agency gives organizers of (international) conferences free advice and can introduce them to a large network of service providers. On the Utrecht Convention Bureau website, you can find a comprehensive guide for conference organizers. In addition, the agency can help with site visits and the social part of the programme. â&#x2030;&#x2C6;

DESTINATION

NOORDWIJK

‘Noordwijk is ideal for organizing aerospace-related events’ Anne Cor Groeneveld is, among other things, chairman of the Dutch Aviation Group and secretary of the Dutch National Aerospace Fund. Every year in November, Groeneveld organizes the annual conference of the Dutch Aviation Group in Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk. In October, he organizes the annual Dutch Aerospace Gala at the Hotel van Oranje where, each year, prizes are awarded to outstanding students. Groeneveld: "Topics that will be discussed during the Dutch Aviation Congress include the Dutch Aviation Agenda, the Dutch Presidency of the EU, airports, airlines, air traffic management, drones, aerospace and education. Noordwijk is ideal for organizing aerospace-related events. ESTEC, the research centre of the European Space Agency and the Space Business Innovation Centre is located there, as is Space Expo. Along with the various aviation activities, this makes Noordwijk the most important meeting place for aerospace in Northwest Europe. Moreover, Noordwijk has many hotels, including two five-star hotels with excellent conference facilities. The seaside resort is strategically located between Schiphol Airport and The Hague and, finally, Noordwijk, as a 'floral seaside resort' is very attractive for combining business trips with side events or pleasure." Rob van den Berg is the director of Space Expo in Noordwijk, one of the largest aerospace museums in Europe and the visitor's centre of the European Space Agency. Van den Berg is involved in many space-related conferences and events, such as Space Up Unconference (2015), Space Gala (2015) and the Launching Event (21 December 2011) and Landing Event (1 July 2012) of the Dutch astronaut, André Kuipers. "The social impact of aerospace on science and society is clear. Just think about telecommunications and navigation that, without aerospace, would not exist in its present form. New technologies, materials and services are continually being developed. For example, ground movements can be seen from space with an accuracy of one millimetre! This offers great advantages in, for example, the monitoring of dykes, the ground water level, the composition of the soil, the speed of deforestation, the thickness of sea ice and the movement and composition (pollution) of the atmosphere. As the epicentre of the Dutch and European aerospace industry, Noordwijk is the place to be for conventions in all of these areas. In Space Expo, one can literally hold a conference among the satellites and rockets, near the Apollo moon landing or even in the International Space Station. "

‘New technologies, materials and services are continually being developed’

Noordwijk

DESTINATION

NOORDWIJK

‘THE SPACE TO BE’ Noordwijk offers astounding diversity for each square mile. This exclusive seaside resort is situated in the Dutch Dune and Flowerbulb Region and is, with its numerous international space agencies, the epicentre of the European aerospace industry.

FACTS & FIGURES Largest auditorium (seats) NH Conference Centre Leeuwenhorst Hotels van Oranje Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin Radisson Blu Palace Hotel Number of hotel rooms (total) Distance to Amsterdam Schiphol (km)

www.noordwijk.info

1,400 800 1,050 350 2,400 25

The Dutch aerospace sector comprises around 80 companies and research institutions with annual sales totalling €140 million. The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) with 2,500 highly qualified employees, is located in Noordwijk. Starting in 2018, the government will be investing 13 million euros extra per year in the Dutch aerospace industry so that Dutch entrepreneurs and scientists can continue to benefit from developments in the European aerospace programme. The investment for Research & Development of aerospace projects from the government amounts to between 90 and 100 million euros annually. The technological discoveries made in Noordwijk are not only used in the aerospace and aviation industry, but also in, for instance, the communication, navigation, meteorology, astronomy and physics sectors.

The permanent exhibition gives an idea of the development of the aerospace industry and the exploration of the universe. For conference organizers, Space Expo offers the necessary facilities. There are several halls and reception areas on site, including an auditorium for 130 people. The Dutch astronaut, André Kuipers, returned on 1 July 2012 from the International Space Station (ISS). He travelled with a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. As many as 1.5 million Dutch people saw the landing for the first time live on Dutch television. This summer, the Soyuz capsule will be brought to the Netherlands and exhibited at Space Expo.

Space Expo The Space Technology industry organizes numerous large and small conferences each year, many of which are held in Noordwijk. Those who want a place in the sun can go to Space Expo. About 17 years ago, this centre was set up as a visitor centre of ESTEC and has, since then, already welcomed millions of visitors.

Flowerbulb Fields Noordwijk is in the heart of the Dutch Dune and Flowerbulb Region. This so-called ‘Greenport’ is an economic area of world stature. Businesses in this region account for almost two thirds of the global trade and export of flower bulbs. The development of horticulture and the respective knowledge institutes,

oordwijk is not only one of the leading resorts of the Netherlands, but also the place where many Dutch and European aerospace activities take place. Internationally, the Netherlands is one of the most developed countries in the field of aerospace. The Dutch contribution to the development of the aerospace industry is substantial: fundamental scientific research, education and training, data processing and application, and hardware design and production for the industry.

DESTINATION

1. Golf course. 2. The extensive coastline with typically Dutch dunes. 3. The epicentre of the European aerospace industry. 4. Noordwijk is in the heart of the Dutch Flowerbulb Region.

5. The charm of a small seaside resort.

logistic and service activities provide for a strong international competitive position. Noordwijk also has one of the most famous attractions in the Netherlands: the bulb fields and Keukenhof, situated about ten minutes from Noordwijk. The Keukenhof is a unique flower park that is open only a few months each year: from around the end of March to the end of May. For conferences, the park features five colourful pavilions and various rooms for business meetings. Of these, the 860 square meter exhibition hall is the largest. In the Keukenhof, groups from 25 to 300 people can be accommodated all year round. Noordwijk-Leiden Noordwijk is 15 miles from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and 6 miles from the ancient city of Leiden, which boasts the largest and oldest university of the Netherlands. While Noordwijk offers numerous hotels and accommodations of various star ratings in the middle of nature, Leiden boasts an ancient city

centre with 3,000 monuments. If only because of this, both cities complement each other and work together. Accommodation The special thing about Noordwijk is that it has conferencing facilities worthy of a big city while it has, at the same time, been able to preserve the charm of a small seaside resort. Do you opt for an old church or theatre or do you prefer a conference hotel? Numerous four- and five-star conference hotels are close to each other and work together intimately. Most hotels are within half a mile of each other and the shopping centre and entertainment district are right in between. A more than eight miles long sandy beach is within a stone's throw, making sure that the sound of the sea can be heard anywhere in Noordwijk. Internationale congressen Noordwijk is, thanks to its proximity to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and the city of The Hague, a good base for major international conferences.

The past years, Noordwijk has provided accommodation for a large number of leading conferences and international delegations. The two largest delegations of the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in 2014, America and China, found accommodations respectively in Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin and Hotels van Oranje. In 2018, Noordwijk, in cooperation with Leiden and Delft, is organizing the SSP Conference. The Space Studies Program (SSP) of the International Space University (ISU) is a 10-week summer program providing a unique educational experience on the world’s space activities to international young professionals. In total, Noordwijk hosts some 250 international conferences and over 1,000 meetings. Conference Bureau Noordwijk Conference Bureau Noordwijk provides conference organizers with advice and information about all the facilities in Noordwijk. Do you organize business meetings and would you like to know more about Noordwijk as a venue for your congress, meeting, conference or other kind of event? Take part in a site visit; together with colleagues from the industry, you can get to know Noordwijk as a venue for your meeting. ≈

MCI

CONGRESS CARE

MCI Amsterdam organises and innovates congresses, ensuring that they support the strategic goals of your association. Leveraging best-practises to engage your community, deliver return on investment and drive your congress’ impact on society.

Your Medical Specialist in Congresses & Fundraising

Schipluidenlaan 4 1062 HE Amsterdam The Netherlands

T +31

(0)20 – 570 96 00

E amsterdam@mci-group.com W www.mci-group.com

Congress Care welcomed last year more than 20,000 delegates at more than 50 congresses & symposia and raised more than EUR 3.000.000,– sponsoring for our clients. P.O. Box 440 5201 AK Den Bosch The Netherlands

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(0)73 690 14 15

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CONGRESS COMPANY Looking for a Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) in Holland? No need to look any further. With over 50 meetings per year for 15,000 to 20,000 delegates, we can honestly say we are the medical meeting planner of the Netherlands! Our mission is to exceed your (delegates) expectations. Utopialaan 49, Bolduc Gebouw A - 3.12 5232 CD ’s-Hertogenbosch The Netherlands T +31 (0)73 700 35 06 E a.bommer@congresscompany.com

Congress by design stands out by its sharp focus on partnership. We work for you, with you. You benefit from our transparency, dedication and clear communication. Our aim is to create and manage a congress both you and your delegates will never forget. Kloosterweg 6c 3481 XC Harmelen The Netherlands

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PAUWELS CONGRESS ORGANISERS Pauwels Congress Organisers (PCO) is a full service PCO; an experienced player in the world of congress and events organisation, nationally and internationally. Based in Maastricht, we organise events all over Europe. Alexander Battalaan 7 6221 CA Maastricht The Netherlands

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@DMIRE

meetings incentives conferences events

@dmire as a DMC and PCO delivers the highest level of knowledge and commitment to the destination management profession. We listen to your ideas and assist you in shaping the vision and the concept for your event. @dmire Amsterdam office: T +31 629534846 The Netherlands

HQ T

+32 2 3616559

E events@admire.eu W

www.admire.eu

meetings incentives conferences events

PROFESSIONAL CONGRESS ORGANISER

DESTINATION MANAGEMENT COMPANIES

ITB HOLLAND With over 35 years of experience ITBholland is one of the leading full-service DMC’s in The Netherlands. Your local partner for corporate meetings, incentives, events, tailor-made VIP arrangements and ground logistics. ITBholland has teamed up with Congress by Design, a full service PCO offering you a one-stop-shop for all your needs. Arena Boulevard 61-75 1101 DL Amsterdam The Netherlands

T +31

(0)20 305 13 50 (0)20 305.34.70 E sales@itbholland.com W www.itbholland.com F +31

PERFORMANCE TRAVEL

MAAS TRAVEL

Performance Travel specializes in organising group travel in The Netherlands, we thrive on many years of experience. With our approach of your meeting, incentive or special interest travel plans for The Netherlands we are able to create added value to your event.

MAAS Travel operates as Destination Management Company in The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria. We provide tailor – made upscale individual and groups tours, event tourism, corporate meetings, incentives and congress related services.

Performance Travel Damrak 68 III-V 1012 LM Amsterdam

Ungerplein 2 3033 BR Rotterdam The Netherlands

T +31

(0)20 –20 770 47 20

E info@performancetravel.nl W www.performancetravel.nl

T +31

(0)10 8184536

E info@maastravel.nl W www.maastravel.nl

INCENTIVE EUROPE We provide you with our 30 years of experience. Incentive Europe´s multi-talented team of professionals speak your language. Based on knowledge and know-how we will create unforgettable events. Pieter Braaijweg 101 1114 AJ Amsterdam The Netherlands

Meetings

Incentives

Congres Support

Events

www.incomingsolutions.nl • info@incomingsolutions.nl Phone: +31 20 62 00 113

T +31

(0)20 504 57 50

E info@incentive.nl W www.incentive.nl

CALENDAR

CONGRESS CALENDAR Selection of international congresses and conferences that will be held in the Netherlands. For the complete list visit http://bit.ly/CH0000 Congress

Date

Venue

City

Website

1 - 2 June

Janskerk

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1615

29th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society-Europe (SIS-E)

2 - 3 June

St. Olaf’s Chapel

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1618

Utrecht Honours Conference

2 - 3 June

University Hall

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1616

35th International Meteor Conference (IMC )

2 - 5 June

Stayokay Hostel

Egmond Aan Zee

http://bit.ly/CH1617

20th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE)

4 - 7 June

Holiday Inn

Leiden

http://bit.ly/CH1620

57th Annual General Meeting of the European Association of Pharmaceutical Full-line Wholesalers (GIRP)

5 - 7 June

Hotel van Oranje

Noordwijk

http://bit.ly/CH1622

38th International Congress of the European Hernia Society (GREPA)

5 - 8 June

Postillion Convention Centre WTC

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1621

STTI European Conference

6 - 8 June

University Hall

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1623

27th Annual Conference on Communications and Competition Law

6 - 7 June

Hotel Sofitel Legend The Grand

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1624

24th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE)

6 - 9 June

RAI Convention Centre

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1625

18th IEEE TCVG Symposium on Visualization (EuroVis)

6 - 10 June

University of Groningen

Groningen

http://bit.ly/CH1626

Information Energy Conference

8 June

Muntgebouw

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1627

eHealth Week High Level Conference and Exhibition

8 - 10 June

Beurs van Berlage Conference Centre

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1628

2016 EurAdopt Conference

Entrepreneurs' Organization Unlimited (EO Unlimited)

8 - 11 June

Mainport Hotel

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1629

International Assembly of the International Friendship League (IFL)

10 - 18 June

Ambassador City Centre Hotel

Haarlem

http://bit.ly/CH1630

FINAT European Label Forum

16 - 18 June

Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1631

24th World Professional Association for Transgender Health Symposium (WPATH)

17 - 21 June

Tolhuistuin

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1632

TEN-T Days

20 - 22 June

Van Nelle Factory

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1633

16th International Conference on Information Processing and Management of Uncertainty in Knowledge-Based Systems (IPMU)

20 - 24 June

Eindhoven University of Technology

Eindhoven

http://bit.ly/CH1634

24th European Social Services Conference (ESN)

20 - 22 June

World Forum

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1635

9th International Conference European Forum for Restorative Justice (EUFORUMRJ)

22 - 24 June

Kamerlingh Onnes Building

Leiden

http://bit.ly/CH1636

25th European Congress of Perinatal Medicine (ECPM)

22 - 26 June

MECC

Maastricht

http://bit.ly/CH1637

13th International Conference on Design & Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning (DDSS)

27 - 28 June

PSV Stadium

Eindhoven

http://bit.ly/CH1638

13th Congress of the International Orthoptic Association (IOA)

27 - 30 June

De Doelen Congress Centre

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1639

European Data Forum (EDF)

29 - 30 June

Evoluon

Eindhoven

http://bit.ly/CH1641

9th International Conference on Computers and Games

29 June - 1 July

Leiden University

Leiden

http://bit.ly/CH1642

Diagnostic Error in Medicine, 1st European Conference

30 June - 1 July

Erasmus MC

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1643

XXVII European Colloquium on Heterocyclic Chemistry (ECHC)

3 - 7 July

Beurs van Berlage

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1644

HOTCUS Annual Conference

6 - 8 July

Roosevelt Study Center

Middelburg

http://bit.ly/CH1645

14th European Workshop on Ecological Psychology (EWEP14)

6 - 8 July

Hampshire Hotel – Plaza

Groningen

http://bit.ly/CH1646

14th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists (EAVP)

7 - 9 July

Teylers Museum

Haarlem

http://bit.ly/CH1647

6th IBF European Biodanza Congress

7 - 10 July

NH De Koningshof Hotel

Eindhoven

http://bit.ly/CH1648

41th Conference of the International Association for Research in Economic Psychology (IAREP)

8 - 10 July

Hof van Wageningen

Wageningen

http://bit.ly/CH1649

11th International Conference on the Engineering of Sport

11 - 14 July

TU Delft Aula Congress Centre

Delft

http://bit.ly/CH1650

18 Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD)

13 - 16 July

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1651

Serialised Storytelling Conference

18 - 19 July

Hanze University of Applied Sciences

Groningen

http://bit.ly/CH1652

5th World Congress of the Game Theory Society (GAMES)

24 - 28 July

School of Business and Economics

Maastricht

http://bit.ly/CH1653

17th International Congress on Photosynthesis

8 - 12 August

MECC

Maastricht

http://bit.ly/CH1654

67th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE)

21 - 26 August

World Forum

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1655

7th Biennial Meeting of the EARLI Special Interest Group 16 (METACognition)

23 - 26 August

Radboud University

Nijmegen

http://bit.ly/CH1656

CALENDAR

Congress

Date

Venue

City

Website

2016 ICP12 conference

28 August - 2 September

Beatrix Theater

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1657

22nd European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI)

29 August - 2 September

World Forum

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1658

8th International Conference on Sewer Processes & Network

31 August - 1 September

ss Rotterdam

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1659

Annual ESPAnet Conference

1 - 3 September

Erasmus Expo & Conference Centre

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1660

15 Congress of the European Federation of Internal Medicine (EFIM)

2 - 3 September

Beurs van Berlage Conference Centre

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1661

European Conference on Computational Biology (ECCB )

3 - 7 September

World Forum

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1662

42nd Conference of the European Radiation Research Society (ERRS)

4 - 8 September

Royal Tropical Institute

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1663

35th Annual Congress of the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia (ESRA)

7 - 10 September

MECC

Maastricht

http://bit.ly/CH1664

9th European Meeting of the International Society for Neonatal Screening (ISNS)

11 - 14 September

World Forum

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1665

42nd International Computer Music Conference (ICMC)

12 - 16 September

TivoliVredenburg

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1666

37th Annual Congress of the International Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ISDS )

15 - 17 September

Hotel Sofitel Legend The Grand

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1667

9th EHDN Plenary Meeting

16 - 18 September

World Forum

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1668

12th International Conference on Hydrodynamics

18 - 23 September

Hotel Zuiderduin

Egmond aan Zee

http://bit.ly/CH1669

4th International Conference on the Virtual Physiological Human (VPH)

19 - 21 September

Royal Tropical Institute

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1670

9th European Congress of Andrology (ECA)

21 - 23 September

De Doelen Congress Centre

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1671

29th Annual Meeting and Refresher Course of the European Society of Head and Neck Radiology (ESHNR)

22 - 24 September

Leiden University Medical Center

Leiden

http://bit.ly/CH1672

Elective General Assembly and Congress of World Life Saving (WLS Rescue )

23 - 25 September

Pieter van den Hoogenband Swim Stadium

Eindhoven

http://bit.ly/CH1673

Elective General Assembly and Congress of World Life Saving (WLS Rescue )

23 - 25 September

European Space research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)

Noordwijk

http://bit.ly/CH1673

IACC-Europe Annual Conference

24 - 26 September

Kapellerput Conference Hotel

Heeze

http://bit.ly/CH1675

9th Congress of the European Family Therapy Association (EFTA)

28 September - 1 October

Westergasfabriek Conference & Event Venue

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1676

15th International Workshop on Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia and other rare endocrine tumors (Worldmen)

29 September - 1 October

Jaarbeurs

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1677

18th Annual Congress of theEuropean Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA)

29 September - 1 October

Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen (Hanze UAS)

Amsterdam/ Groningen

http://bit.ly/CH1678

Annual General Meeting of the International Grouping of Accountants and Lawyers (AGM IGAL)

28 September - 2 October

NH Barbizon Palace Hotel

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1679

5th European Nursing Congress

4 - 7 October

De Doelen Congress Centre

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1680

15th World Conference Cities and Ports (AIVP)

5 - 7 October

Onderzeebootloods

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1681

International Conference on Industrial Chimneys and Cooling Towers (ICCT)

5 - 8 October

Inntel Hotels Rotterdam Centre

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1682

9th International Workshop on Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (IWWM9)

6 - 9 October

Renaissance Hotel

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1683

26th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES)

9 - 13 October

Jaarbeurs

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1684

5th International Conference on Novel Enzymes

11 - 14 October

Hampshire Hotel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Plaza

Groningen

http://bit.ly/CH1685

8th Congress of the International Society for Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders (VAS-COG)

12 - 15 October

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1686

24th Annual ACM International Conference on Multimedia (MM)

15 - 19 October

Theater Tuschinski

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1687

5th International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE)

16 - 19 October

TU Delft Aula Congress Centre

Delft

http://bit.ly/CH1688

100th International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF)

16 - 21 October

De Doelen Congress Centre

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1689

MRO Europe Conference & Exhibition

18 - 20 October

RAI Convention Centre

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1690

XXVI annual MUNISH conference

4 - 6 November

The International School of the Hague

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1691

19th TCI Annual Global Conference

7 - 10 November

Van der Valk Hotel

Eindhoven

http://bit.ly/CH1692

24 World Congress on Controversies in Obstetrics Gynecology & Infertility (COGI)

10 - 13 November

Beurs van Berlage Conference Centre

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1693

Intermodal Europe

15 - 17 November

Ahoy

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1694

10th International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis and Growing Spine (ICEOS)

17 - 18 November

NH Utrecht

Utrecht

http://bit.ly/CH1695

International Marinas Conference (WMC9)

17 - 19 November

RAI Convention Centre

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1696

Natural Capital | Let's talk business!

23 - 25 November

Fokker Terminal

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1697

8th European Multidisciplinary Colorectal Cancer Congress

11 - 13 December

RAI Convention Centre

Amsterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1698

6th Annual Conference of P.R.I.M.E. Finance

23 - 24 January

Peace Palace

The Hague

http://bit.ly/CH1702

12th Heat Pump Conference

15 - 18 May

Postillion Convention Centre WTC

Rotterdam

http://bit.ly/CH1703

6th International congress on bone conduction hearing and related technologies (OSSEO)

17 - 20 May

Van der Valk Hotel

Nijmegen

http://bit.ly/CH1704

2017