Swimming or clubbing in a ghost station in Paris
17-3-2014
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, candidate of the French party ‘Union pour un Mouvement Populaire’ has commissioned a series of proposals of how the Ghost Stations in the center of Paris could be used. In collaboration with OXO architects and Laisné Architecte she made a number of designs on how to transform the vacant subterranean spaces. Their ideas vary from restaurants and nightclubs to a pool and even a theater. Paris has a total of 16 disused subway stations, most of which are closed between 1930 and 1970.
The magic factor is running
14-3-2014
Theme park De Efteling organized in collaboration with radio channel Q-Music the Santa run last December, but also in various Disney parks in America several runs are organized. Half marathons for the whole family, both young children and adults. Like the Princess Half in February, but also the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend and the kidsrun. Disney is also working on setting up a #DisneyFitChallenge. We see that entertainment around running is becoming more important, earlier we saw the Color Run in the Netherlands and on 29 March the Electric Run will take place. Perhaps in the context of health and to make the youth more enthusiastic about running, the theme parks such as De Efteling can organize various types of runs, with the inspiration from Disney Land.
Amsterdam turns bread into energy
12-3-2014
Inhabitants of the Kolenkitwijk neighborhood in Amsterdam threw their bread on the streets because their religion prohibits throwing it away in the garbage bin. This caused a rat plague and other problems with unwanted animals. As a solution the government placed special bread dumpsters in the area. The bread from these dumpsters is used by Pink Pony Express for a national energy experiment in collaboration with micro-biologists. They developed it into a permanent bread digester that can process 10 kg bread into 3000 liter of biogas a day. To celebrate the opening there are three bread baking workshops in the neighborhood on Friday 14 March.
Temporary city in empty building
18-2-2014
Jaap Urban started a project to provide a temporary practical solution for one empty building in Groningen at the end of April or the beginning of May 2014. With the launch of tijdelijkestad.nl he motivates citizens and entrepreneurs to think along about the optimal use of a building for one week. Potential buildings can be suggested via the website, when one is found, the contents of the program and pop-up stores can be filled in. This can vary from temporary shops and sport facilities to restaurants and office space for entrepreneurs. Next that events and workshops will complement the program for the period.
Within three weeks a suitable building will be picked.
Pay a KLM booking through social media
14-2-2014
Now KLM Royal Dutch Airlines makes it possible for customers to pay their booking through social media. Consumers are already able to book extra services through social media, such as a seat reservation or extra baggage addition, but they can now pay their booking via Facebook or Twitter as well. KLM will send the customer a link in a private message on Facebook or Twitter, consumers can choose the method of payment and complete the transaction. A KLM service agent receives a payment confirmation and sends a message to the customer. KLM is the first airline that makes it possible to pay through social media.
Zuidas Amsterdam pop-up store
12-2-2014
The municipality of Amsterdam appointed four locations for pop-up stores at the ‘Zuidas’, near Amsterdam Zuid train station. From 1 May onwards the locations are available to unique concepts that complement the existing offer for six months. All competitors, with both food as well as non-food concepts, can send in their plans before 5 March 2014. The four winners will be announced on 13 March. Perhaps the area will be enriched with a test sleep facility, a tasting area or a collaboration between local entrepreneurs like we’ve seen in the West of Amsterdam.
Flanders promotes cooking talent abroad
22-1-2014
Flanders promotes it’s talented kitchen abroad. During the Madrid Fusion 27-29 January Flanders is guest region and chef Thomas Locus promotes the talented Flemish chefs in Spain as one of the ‘Jong Keukengeweld‘ chefs. He designed a special menu for The Westin Palace in Madrid, the best way to experience this region is through ‘The good taste of Flanders’ the coming two weeks.
The tourist marketing plan for promotion and development of the Flemish eating and drinking culture will be presented on 24 February.
Happy holidays
24-12-2013
We wish you all the best for the holidays.
Best wishes from Laura Stoter, Marjolein van Spronsen and Armand Sol of the Van Spronsen & Partners Group.
City Food Route
18-12-2013
Floske Kusse and Tine Sommeijer want to stimulate city-inhabitants to get more acquainted with local shops. Therefore they’ve started City Food Route. The website provides a map of the neighbourhood with shopping tips for the menu and recipes and relaxed places to get a cup of coffee and relax. The first tour through the old East of Amsterdam is online and soon a tour through the less-known parts of ‘De Pijp’ and ‘Rivierenbuurt’ will follow.
The Lightbattle
16-12-2013
The director of the Rijksmuseum opened the light artwork ‘Lightbattle’ on December 12. In the bicycle tunnel of the Rijksmuseum, where hundreds of cyclists pass through every day, a red and a blue team can compete with each other during a battle. The cyclists colour all lights win. The winners get a spectacular light show. The Lightbattle uses the energy of the cyclists and can be viewed until January 19. The Lightbattle is an idea of Venividimultiplex and developed by InventDesign.
