NH Hoteles StartupBus Europe

30-10-2013

NH Hoteles is sponsor of the StartupBus Europe. The hotel chain finds its core values ‘talent management, motivation and teamwork’ well presented in this competition. During the tour several buses from Barcelona, Berlin, Rome, London, Paris and Amsterdam aim for the Pioneers festival in Vienna. During the road trip the participants create and launch a startup. In total there are 150 challengers divided over six buses. During the road trip to Vienna, the Dutch StartupBus stops in Antwerp, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Prague and München.

The participants challenge each other for a spot on the entrepreneurial Pioneers Festival. The finalist wins a weekend break by NH Hoteles in one of its 400 hotels in 27 countries as well. NH Hoteles gets inspiration from innovation and is constantly on the lookout for new opportunities to develop services and talents. The collaboration with StartupBus is a way to meet with young creatives and future entrepreneurs.

From launderette to local pub

3-5-2013

No more waiting for two hours until your laundry is finished in an boring launderette… Two young advertisers Dries Henau and Yuri Vandenbogaerde launched the new concept the ‘Wasbar’ in Gent last October. The concept is simple, the ‘Wasbar’ is a combination of a launderette and a pub. While you have to wait for your laundry, you can drink something, eat breakfast or lunch, browse on the web, meet friends or even have your hair cut. On some evenings you can eat tapas and concerts are organized. What started on a small scale, turned into a great success. They soon will soon open a second location of the concept in Antwerp and a third in Leuven. There is also a request to franchise.. Look also at the launderette in Amsterdam.

Meatballshop in Belgium, Balls & glory

6-9-2012

Tv-Chef Wim Ballieu wants to start a chain of meatballshop. He started a pop-up store in Gent at the Sint-Jacobsnieuwstraat in April. The balls – made from the meat from the butcher shop of his father – are filled with creative fillings such as chervil and pancetta, foie gras and even crab. You can eat in the shop and take-out the balls, they are served with ‘stoemp’ (mashed potatoes) or a salad. The balls are very popular; the pop-up setting is changed to a permanent settlement. Furthermore, a branch in Bruges will be opened and a pop-up version will open in Antwerp. We already wrote about The Meatball Shop (NY) and Monday, meatball day at restaurant ‘De Open Keuken’ in Hilversum.

The new swimming pool

13-4-2012

Antwerp has a ‘Bathboat’ in August. It contains a swimming pool that floats in the water of the Kattendijkdok. Besides a pool, the boat is also a restaurant, has banquet rooms, a lounge bar and a sun terrace. The goal is that the boat will be ready in August and will host Winter activities as well.

Special coffee Oud Sluis

29-2-2012

3-Star restaurant Oud Sluis (the Netherlands) led by Sergio Herman serves from now on special coffees. With the Antwerp espresso roaster La Marzocco Linea from the brand CaffèNation Dopio espresso, cappuccino and latte can be made. Benjamin de Buck, host of Oud Sluis, followed a special barista course how to use the machine.

A rare handwritten cooking book of the 17th century

10-2-2011

De Library of Heritage in Antwerp, Belgium, has published a handwritten cooking book from the 17th century online.

Ecological responsible fries

2-11-2010

In restaurant Haute Friture in Antwerp guests can enjoy eco-friendly fries and other dishes. The restaurant tries to minimize waste and is therefore uses a minimum of plastic and other packaging. Customers eat with wooden cutlery out of cardboard boxes. In addition, some meals are also served in compostable containers and palm thatch.