Discover Benelux & France | Issue 17 | May 2015

SPECIAL: INTERIOR DESIGN SOLUTIONSLEADING WOMEN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIPGHENT – BELGIUM’S HIDDEN GEMPLUS: DESIGN, CULTURE AND TOURISM

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P R O M O T I N G B E L G I U M , T H E N E T H E R L A N D S , L U X E M B O U R G & F R A N C E

I S S U E 17 | M AY 2015

4_DiscoverBenelux_Issue17_May_2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 28/04/2015 13:08 Page 1

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Issue 17 | May 2015 | 3

Discover Benelux & France | Contents

ContentsMAY 2015

COVER FEATURE22 Junkie XL

Hollywood’s new musical genius Junkie XL isscoring one blockbuster after another. We askedwhere the multi-instrumentalist finds his inspira-tion and talked about his latest film Mad Max:Fury Road.

THEMES16 Mini theme – PACA: A land of wonders

The French region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azuris a wonderful land worth discovering: the stun-ning landscapes, charming cities, fascinatinghistory and fine wines.

26 Interior design solutions

Dutch interior design is thriving, from spatial so-lutions to innovative furniture. Artistry is com-bined with functionality and comfort, leaving nowishes unfulfilled.PLUS: DCCP Architectes, page 38

42 Successful women in entrepreneurship

In this special, we feature some determined en-trepreneurial ladies who know how to turn agood idea into a successful company.

FEATURES12 Introducing: Pascal Schumacher

Vibraphone virtuoso Pascal Schumacher justreleased his solo album, Left Tokyo Right. Currently on tour, we caught up with the Luxem -bourg national to hear about his jazz.

14 Hotel of the Month, the Netherlands

Estheréa, in the heart of Amsterdam, offersguests a unique stay and with its luxurious andstylish interior the hotel is a true sight to behold.

39 Music Interview: Kensington

Continuously raising their standards, Kensingtonhas safely secured a spot in the hearts of theDutch with their catchy brit-pop music.

54 Discover Belgium: Ghent, a hidden gem

Often overshadowed by other Belgian cities, weput the spotlight on Ghent with its cultural her-itage, lively centre and gastronomical delights.

66 Rubens in Private

At this exhibition, personal family portraits of themaster are displayed showing Rubens as a lov-ing sibling, passionate husband and affectionatefather.

BUSINESS58 Company profiles

With more and more digital television, where dothe signals come from? Divitel has the answer.Impeccable translations are like music to theears of Scriptware’s Frank ter Reehorst, find outwhy (page 62).

63 Regulars and calendar

Our columnists explain how visual and writtencues can create a tug-of-war and argue that de-cluttering is the new norm among professionals.PLUS: Business calendar, page 64

DON’T MISS6 Fashion Picks | 8 Desirable Designs 70 Out & About | 75 Lifestyle Column

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16

9

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4 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Discover Benelux & France | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader,

With its warm, late-spring sunshine, Mayis a great month to sit outside with a nicerefreshing drink. The Benelux and Francecertainly have plenty to offer in this re-gard. For delicate rosés and beautiful or-ganic wines, the Provence-Alpes-Côted’Azur is an ideal destination (see page

16). If beer is your beverage of choice, then put Ghent on youritinerary. Apart from being a very lively, culturally rich (and of-ten overlooked) city in Flanders, it is also a great place to havea local beer on one of its many outdoor terraces.

Speaking of which, Belgian beers have a fascinating history. Asthe climate is perfectly suited for beer production (far more sothan wine) its beer making tradition goes back centuries. Thefact that some Belgian beers have such a high alcohol contentis a more recent phenomenon, as I discovered during a beertasting evening organised by Visit Flanders.

Apparently, around the time of the start of the American pro-hibition in the 1920s, similar ideas were circulating in Europe.In Belgium, the problem of alcoholism was blamed on strongliquors rather than alcoholic drinks in general and new laws re-stricted the sale of spirits. Beer was still allowed and in re-sponse, brewers made their beers stronger, filling the gap in themarket.

Another interesting aspect of Belgian beer, and somethingthat is unique to the country, is their ‘spontaneous fermenta-tion’ production style. Instead of adding a yeast culture to startthe brewing process, the ingredients are exposed to the coolair outside. The microflora south west of Brussels, contain theperfect mix of wild yeast and bacteria for the spontaneous fer-mentation to happen.

This produces the somewhat acidic ‘lambic’ beers and can bemixed with fruit, like the well-known Kriek or cherry beer. If youwant to try out some of these beers, turn to page 54 and findour favourite bars and cafes in Ghent.

Myriam Gwynned Dijck,Editor

Discover Benelux & France

Issue 17, May 2015

Published 05.2015

ISSN 2054-7218

Published by

Scan Group

Print

Liquid Graphic Ltd.

Executive Editor

Thomas Winther

Creative Director

Mads E. Petersen

Editor

Myriam Gwynned Dijck

Copy Editor

Isa Hemphrey

Graphic Designer

Joseph J. Ewin

Contributors

Berthe van den Hurk

Bettina Guirkinger

Carole Edrich

Caroline Edwards

Cathy van Klaveren

Emmie Collinge

Janine Sterenborg

Josiah Fisk

Martin Pilkington

Matt Antoniak

Rosanne Roobeek

Rupert Parker

Simon Woolcot

Steve Flinders

Toyah Marondel

Cover Photo

Costa Communications / Junkie XL

Advertising

[email protected]

Sales & Key Account Managers

Mette Tonnesen

Yasmina Haddadi

Steven Ebbers

Laura Mirandi

Sarah Soussi

Sophie Plenert

Publisher:

Scan Group

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© All rights reserved. Material contained in thispublication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part,without prior permission of Scan Group – a trading nameof Scan Magazine Ltd.

This magazine contains advertorials/promotional articles.



Discover Benelux & France | Design | Fashion Picks

M A y F A S H I O N P I C K S

Vintage meets modern cuts May brings out the holiday feeling in most of us, but that doesn’t mean fashion needs to be all about flip-flops and

beachwear quite yet. Wear a chic vintage knit dress from Le Mont Saint Michel and spice it up with joyous colours. Mixthe new with the old in a perfect retro-blend.

TEXT: CAROLINE EDWARDS | PRESS PHOTOS

1: Country girl in the city

A cowboy dress always brings back a bit of

nostalgia, even in the best of us. So how

about being elegant in the city in this ‘Cham-

bray Dress?’ Legend has it that the chambray

material was first created by French weaver

Jean-Baptiste around 1300 and today it’s still

going strong.

lemontsaintmichel.fr

€200

2: An orange secret

Who said your wallet needs to blend in? With

this diagonal orange beauty from Dutch Basics,

you have the perfect place to keep your money

during a night out.

dutchbasics.nl

€70

1

2

6 | Issue 17 | May 2015


Discover Benelux & France | Design | Fashion Picks

3: White and vintage

Knitwear is much more than just a warm

sweater worn during the cold winters. This ‘Vin-

tage Knit Dress’ from Le Mont Saint Michel

proves the point. Combine it with a pair of

sneakers and step back in time, but with a mod-

ern twist.

lemontsaintmichel.fr

€250

4: Ready to go

These ‘Leila Slip-On Sneakers’ from the Dutch

brand SuperTrash are ready for a nice spring

day, are you too? Comfortable to wear and

bursting with exciting prints, they make the per-

fect footwear for a long walk around town dur-

ing the sunny days ahead.

www.supertrash.com

€100

3

5: Soft and elegant

This woven ‘Nessy W’ skirt from Eleven Paris

is made from 100 per cent viscose, a mate-

rial known for its softness and comfort. Wear-

ing it will not only make you look good, you

will feel good as well.

www.elevenparis.com

€70

4

5

Issue 17 | May 2015 | 7


8 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Discover Benelux & France | Design | Desirable Designs

A bench on wheels

The mobile ‘Wheelbench’ is as fun as it is trendy.

Dutch designer Rogier Martens has created a

piece of outdoor furniture you can take any-

where, just pick it up and move around to find

the best spots in your garden. €795

www.rogiermartens.nl

A green oasis

This green parasol, designed by Chris Kabel, of-

fers you the chance to integrate garden furniture

with the surrounding greenery. Allowing just a

touch of sun to shine through, the ‘Shady Lace’

parasol from Droog provides the perfect es-

cape from the hot midday sun. €250

www.droog.com

Soak in the sun

Merging the lounge feeling with contemporary

and natural shapes, this ‘Organic’ lounge chair

was carved to provide maximum comfort. The

slim lines created by the French designer Nico-

las de Nocher for Studio Paul fits perfectly in the

natural environment. €730

www.qui-est-paul.com

Bistro-style straight from France

Embrace spring the French way. These chic

‘Bistro’ chairs by Fermob, a patented design

since 1889, will certainly colour up your garden

even on the cloudiest of days. Just sit back

and sip a bit of wine with a good book and your

garden will be your new favourite hideout. €65

www.fermob.com

D E S I R A B L E D E S I G N S

Take back the gardenThe sun has finally fought its way through the clouds and what better way to celebrate it than in your own garden?Today, more and more designers are developing colourful and stylish furniture for the outdoors. Don’t just settle for a

spot on the lawn, reclaim your garden in style.

TEXT: CAROLINE EDWARDS | PRESS PHOTOS

Outdoor Belgian luxury

The round table from ‘Discus’ is available in

various materials, styles and colours, making it

the perfect choice for those wanting to put their

own mark on things. Enjoy a meal with your

family in the garden. Price upon request.

www.royalbotania.com


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 9

Although Roetz-Bikes is set up in Amster-dam, Groot Wassink says it’s not bound tothe city. “We can deliver anywhere. And wedo, for instance in Germany where wehave a growing amount of dealers. Dutchpeople are known to thoughtlessly taketheir bike to do the shopping, but,” hesays, “if Germans get on a bike, they makea conscious decision and having a stylishbike is more important.”

The bicycles are not typical looking, withdark colours, dark tyres and loads of ac-cessories. Instead, they’re bright with lighttyres, have handles made from cork andthe fenders are made from beech wood.Groot Wassink says it’s the only bike madefrom as much as 70 per cent used mate-

rials. They provide three models each formen and women and the retro-feel andbright colours make it a casual but also anadventurous bike.

So why Roetz? “Roetz refers to ‘roots’,we need to get back to the basics if wewant to make conscious decisions,” GrootWassink says. “And it’s a reference to ‘roet-sjen’, a Dutch word meaning riding a bikeis fun.”

Four years ago Groot Wassink and hiscompanion Tiemen ter Hoeven startedRoetz-Bikes. “Did you know that every yeara million bikes are thrown away in theNetherlands? And another million bikes arepurchased? That’s why we made an

agreement with municipalities to use thebikes they collect at railway stations andfrom the canals and so on. We carefullypick out bicycles and pull them apart. If theframe’s good, we can make a Roetz bike.”

Most of these frames, Groot Wassink says,were made ten to thirty years ago, but theywere created to last a lifetime. “We clean it,coat it, make imperfections go away andwe put the thing together. We also hirepeople who have difficulty getting a job.They are the ones who make the Roetz-Bikes.” If that isn’t sustainability, we don’tknow what is.

www.roetz-bikes.com

Sometimes it is the down-to-earth kind of man who makes people think: why don’t we all just use better materials,better foods, better everything to sustain and maintain a better earth? The man with this vision is Mark Groot Wassink,

one of the founders of Roetz-Bikes, based in the country famous for its cyclists: The Netherlands.

TEXT: CATHy VAN KLAVEREN | PHOTOS: ROETz-BIKES

‘We need to get back to the Roetz’

Discover Benelux & France | Design | Roetz-Bikes


10 | Issue 17 | May 2015

TUUCI was set up 18 years ago byDougan Clarke in Miami, Florida, in theUnited States. He built the first parasols ina small boat workshop and this heritage isstill visible. With his roots as a marine rig-ger, Clarke used the expertise of the shipbuilding industry in the designs. All TUUCIproducts are made from high quality out-door materials, such as anodised alu-minium, stainless steel and polymers thatdo not oxidise.

Rob Planken, director for the Europe, Mid-dle East and Africa division of TUCCI, says:“The truly unique aspect of our products isthe combination of quality, functionality,

durability and stylish and timeless designs.Using high quality materials means ourproducts will have a high performancewherever in the world they are used. More-over, they are lightweight, simple to useand each component is easy to replace.”

Inspired by natureTo this day, every new TUUCI product isstill designed by Clarke and produced inMiami. Their silhouettes are often inspiredby the raw beauty of the natural world andlife on the ocean. The company aims tocreate shapes that are in harmony with thesurroundings while making a style state-ment at the same time.

“Take for example the zero Horizon, amodel designed to have minimal impact onthe view but provide maximum shade. Orour Manta, which is inspired by the gra-cious movements of the giant manta ray.Thanks to our enormous collection of dif-ferent colours, sizes, shapes and designs,there is always a product that will fit seam-lessly in the surroundings and suit yourstyle,” Planken explains.

TUUCI also maintains a close relationshipwith the natural world in another way, as itsemployees support many environmentalcauses and conservation organisations.Love and respect for the environment are

Calling TUUCI an umbrella design company shoots far short of the mark. From its minimalist parasols to classic pavilions, colourful outdoor lounges and exotic cabanas,

TUUCI’s spectacular products can only be described as ‘shade architecture’.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: TUUCI, KLAUS JORDAN

A touch of the sunshine state wherever you are

Discover Benelux & France | Outdoor Design | TUUCI

Ocean Master Classic


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 11

Discover Benelux & France | Outdoor Design | TUUCI

key for the company. “Everything we do is100 per cent related to enjoying the out-doors,” Planken continues. “TUUCI doesall it can do to minimise its footprint duringthe production process in Miami. We un-derstand that everything we do today willhave an effect on the world tomorrow.”

A global brandThanks to its innovative designs and ap-proach to shade architecture, TUUCI hasexperienced a steady growth. At the mo-ment, TUUCI counts over 300 members ofstaff worldwide, and its products are sup-plied to almost every country in the world.Planken says: “This happens from ourheadquarters in Miami or, since 12 yearsago, from our Oisterwijk branch in theNetherlands, responsible for Europe, theMiddle East and Africa. you could say weembarked on a unique journey around the

globe to supplement and enhance theshade that nature provides us with.”

He concludes: “It is our dream to continueto grow worldwide as the go-to specialistin the field of shade architecture. We wantto achieve this by continued investments innew designs, innovations and quality de-velopment and by delivering a top servicefrom the very start when we advise (fu-ture) clients about the perfect product forthem.”

www.TUUCI.com

TOP LEFT: Mercury LoungeMIDDLE LEFT: Plantation MAX ClassicBOTTOM LEFT: Plantation MAX CantileverBELOW: Plantation MAX Dual CantileverBOTTOM RIGHT: Ocean Master MAX CantileverBOTTOM LEFT: Plantation MAX Cantilever


12 | Issue 17 | May 2015

You’re currently in the middle of yourLeft Tokyo Right tour, how it is going?

Good, we had a pre-release tour in Japanwith two shows, which was of course quitespecial. We will play in both large philhar-monic halls to little jazz clubs. This is thecool thing about being a jazz musician,you can play for 80 people, and for over a1000 people in a totally different setting,but with the same music.

Let’s go back to the start, what got youinto playing jazz?

While studying classical percussion, I wasmost attracted by mallet instruments, likethe vibraphone and the marimba. They al-ways had a strong connection to jazz andI thought the jazz musicians were thecoolest ones playing these instruments. Istarted listening to them and I fell in lovewith what they did, which was jazz.

How would you describe your music?

Jazz had a really great period in the ‘50sand the ‘60s, but this is not the music Iplay. We work with jazz labels and oftenplay at jazz clubs, but my music has noth-ing to do with the jazz when it was big.Currently there are the ‘real’ jazz players,the purists, who think jazz has to reallyswing. But me being from Luxembourg, Idon’t have that American heritage. I playmy own music and some people call itjazz.

So, what would you call it?

I try to let go of all the genre limitations andplay what I call regular music, full of ele-ments of many different things such asjazz, pop and symphonic music. It is a verynatural cocktail of ingredients of my current2015 life and I try to use these ingredientsin a responsible way.

Tell us about your new album, LeftTokyo Right. You visited Japan for thefirst time in 2012, what was it like?

I definitely fell in love with it immediately, theculture and the people, but it was not myfirst thought that my next album would beabout Japan. I was offered an artist resi-dency in Tokyo. I was there for three and ahalf weeks, so I was more in touch with thecity, although still quite far from under-standing it fully.

The album title refers to the contrasts inTokyo – ‘right’ is the old, traditionalAsakusa district and ‘left’ are Tokyo’ssuper-modern Akihabara and Shibuyadistricts, the ‘new’ Japan. How did youexpress this in the music?

The title track, Left Tokyo Right, starts withmy version of what could have been a Eu-ropean jazz quartet playing j-pop. Then

Jazz percussionist and vibraphone virtuoso Pascal Schumacher recently released a new album, Left Tokyo Right, his first solo record. Currently on tour, we caught up with the Luxembourg national to tell us about his music.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: ILLAN WEISS

I N T R O D U C I N G

Pascal Schumacher

Discover Benelux & France | Introducing | Pascal Schumacher


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 13

during the second part, everything breaksaway and it gets more spatial and spiritualand I use different effects. This is one of thesongs where I combine two differentworlds, but not all tracks have this. Thereis also a disco song, which is more mod-ern, and there is a track called Wabi-Sabi,a Japanese term that describes the beautyof something imperfect.

Have you used any oriental influenceson the album?

I never wanted to copy anything Japanesebecause I am a responsible musician fromEurope. I used elements of Japanese cul-ture and how these reflected on me whilewas there, how it made me feel. I also re-fused the request from the record com-pany to do a song with only Japanese mu-sicians. I know that would have been abad idea, it would not get what I am andwhat I want to be.

You’ve done several albums under thename Pascal Schumacher Quartet aswell as various collaborations. This be-ing your first solo album, how is it dif-ferent from your previous work?

I started my very first album when I was stilla student and the following records camevery fast after another. Now I have had athree year break from releasing new al-bums and this helped me to find myselfmuch more. As it’s only Pascal Schu-macher, it brings it more to me as a personand I think this makes it a stronger con-cept. Also, maybe making it was a little lessdemocratic, but we all know democracyhas its limits, so maybe it’s good to bring indifferent things.

Talking about different things, you’veincluded some interesting instrumentson the album. There is Aliénor Mancepon harp, Magic Malik who plays the

flute, saxophonist Sylvain Rifflet andtrumpet player Verneri Pohjola. Why didyou chose these musicians?

I used the harp in two symphony pieces Ihad written before, and I very much like thecombination of the harp and the vibra-phone. For the other instruments, I choseMalik because I like his way of making mu-sic, this goes as well for Verneri and Syl-vain. I was looking for musically strong per-sonalities who had made an impact on mebefore. I wanted to put these guys togetherto see what would happen.

Discover Benelux & France | Introducing | Pascal Schumacher

See Pascal Schumacher live:

14 May, Jazz sous les Pommiers, Coutances (France)

16 May, Like A Jazzmachine, Dudelange (Luxembourg)

29 May,Gretchen, Berlin (Germany)

30 May, ELBJAzz (two shows), Hamburg (Germany)

See www.pascalschumacher.com for information and

more dates.


14 | Issue 17 | May 2015

“We want to create a family atmosphereand combine luxurious elements such asmahogany panelling and crystal chande-liers with personal touches such as colour-ful wallpaper and cosy, woollen carpetsand lots of plants and spectacular freshflowers,” says Arjan Janssen, who works atHotel Estheréa.

Going against the trend of using the cleanand minimalist interior designs of many in-ternational hotel chains, Estheréa com-bines a cosy, vibrant interior with a per-sonal and friendly service. Every detail istaken care of at the hotel, from the luxuri-ous fabrics, to the exquisite tableware andelegant paintings and portraits in Maria’sbar (named after the hotel’s founder).

Each room has a unique colour schemewith matching chandeliers and bed linen.To add to the distinctive interior, the hotelhas lush patio gardens with a koi pond, alibrary and a cosy lounge. Furthermore, itsbar is open 24 hours a day and servesdelicious cocktails in the evenings.

“We continually improve and update our in-terior to keep it interesting and fresh for ourguests. The one thing that never changesis our attention to detail and homely, wel-coming approach with a nod to the past toencompass the history of the hotel,”Janssen adds.

The hotel was set up in 1942 by MariaFlieger-Gruyters after the death of her hus-

band. The initial guesthouse counted 12rooms, but over the years she acquiredseveral of the other neighbouring houses.Estheréa, a combination of the names ofher three daughters, Esther, Elly and Ria, isstill in family hands and is currently run bythe third generation.

Janssen says: “In the nearly 75 years of ourexistence the initial simple guesthouse wastransformed into a unique boutique hotel.By now, it consists of eight connectedbuildings all built in the 17th century.”

Adding a rare element to the hotel experi-ence is the fact that every guest receivesa tablet to use in the hotel during theirstay. Via the hotel’s app, guests can find

Located along one of Amsterdam’s picturesque canals and at a stone’s throw away from the bustling city centre,the boutique Hotel Estheréa is the perfect starting point to discovering the Dutch capital. With its colourful and stylish

decoration and welcoming interior, the hotel will instantly feel like a second home.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: HOTEL ESTHERéA

Discover Benelux & France | Hotel of the Month | The Netherlands

H O T E L O F T H E M O N T H , T H E N E T H E R L A N D S

An unforgettable welcome awaits


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 15

recommended restaurants nearby, get thelatest weather forecasts and find out aboutevents in the city.

“We have had this for a while now, but asfar as I know, we are one of the very fewhotels in Amsterdam who offer this. Ourapp gives up to date information and ismore flexible and timely than printed flyers.It also helps to get rid of all the paperworkthat guests may read once and throwaway,” Janssen explains.

Around the corner from Hotel Estheréa,guests can find the lively Negen Straatjes(The Nine Little Streets). This group of nineintersecting streets in between several ofAmsterdam’s main canals is the ideal place

to find a special souvenir in the manyshops, boutiques and vintage outlets. Thenarrow streets also offer plenty of optionsfor a relaxing coffee break in the cafes.

The four-star Hotel Estheréa is located onthe Singel in Amsterdam. Visit their websitefor bookings and more information.

www.estherea.nl

An extra welcoming stayHotel Estheréa offers special benefits forreturning guests who book directly via es-therea.nl, this includes a late check-out anda free breakfast.

Discover Benelux & France | Hotel of the Month | The Netherlands


Photo: M. Raynaud

Photo: C. Chillio

Photo: C. Chillio Photo: P. Carrese


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 17

It was the dreamy lavender fields and thesophistication of the French Riviera thatfirst captivated the imagination of artistssuch Van Gogh, Picasso and Peter Mayle.They contributed to shed light on its sheerbeauty and enchantment, and turned itinto a major tourist attraction as early asthe 1920s.

NatureApart from being the third most populatedand third richest region of France, it alsohas one of the most unique natural featuresof the territory. One of them is the majes-tic Gorges du Verdon - Europe’s largestcanyon made of an immense ensemble oflimestone cliffs reaching up to 700 metresin height and overlooking large turquoiselakes. Further north in the Alps are thebreathtakingly beautiful Mercantour andécrins national parks, where you can findsome of the richest fauna and flora in Eu-rope. In the South West area, the Rhônedelta supports a vast ecosystem ofmarshes and lagoons known as the Ca-margue, home to colonies of flamingosand wild horses. With six natural parks

spreading around the region, nature-loverswill find their fill of hikes, bike paths andhorse riding circuits.

Cities worth a detourColonised in 46 B.C. by Julius Caesar him-self, the picturesque city of Arles is themeeting point of photography enthusiastsat the yearly international summer gather-ing hosted among the Roman ruins. With allmonuments dating from the Roman Empireclassified as part of the UNESCO WorldHeritage list, there are more than enoughmemories to catch on film at sunset.

The first French port and a historical bag-gage of 26 centuries of existence, Mar-seilles stays true to its traditions of com-merce and sun-gorging terraces. Famousfor its old port, the city offers a stark con-trast between the hustle and bustle of itsinner city centre with the quiet charm of itsold neighbourhoods.

Avignon, the unmissable historical town,home to the Palace of the Popes, me-dieval battlements and birthplace of an

iconic bridge that has been sung about bygenerations of French children for cen-turies. Avignon also offers delectable winetasting of its finest bottles such asChâteauneuf-du-Pape or the Côtes-du-Rhône.

The French RivieraWhile St Tropez is probably the ever-fash-ionable meeting point for celebrities andmillionaires, beyond the glitter of its night-clubs, yacht-packed shores and luxury vil-las, it offers seducing walks among se-cluded beaches and windswept cliffs. Asfor Nice, its historic quarters, Russian basil-ica and beautiful sea front stretch knownas ‘la Promenade des Anglais’, make it acompulsory stop along the French coast.Also, don’t miss the world famous CannesFilm Festival, which will be celebrating its68th edition from 13 to 24 May this year.

For this Mini Theme - PACA: A Land ofWonders we have hand-picked businessesthat make some of the best products theregion has the offer: exquisite wines. Turnto the next pages to find out more.

Bordered by the Mediterranean shores and comprising of six different departments in southeastern France, theProvence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region is an exceptional land appreciated for the beauty of its landscapes and the

quality of its lifestyle. Blue skies, hilltop villages, lavender scents, vineyards as far as the eye can see and a mostremarkable historical heritage, these qualities make it a truly idyllic holiday destination.

TEXT: BETTINA GUIRKINGER | PHOTOS: COMITE REGIONAL DE TOURISME

Discover Benelux & France | Mini Theme | PACA: A Land of Wonders

M I N I T H E M E : P R O V E N C E - A L P E S - C Ô T E D ' A z U R

A land of wonders


18 | Issue 17 | May 2015

The best place to evaluate the hopes andambitions of a winery is in its cellars. Awalk around Château Font du Broc’svaulted cave tells a story. Sylvain Massa,the man behind the arrival of Château Fontdu Broc on the wine scene, is no dabblinghobbyist. The vast space was built with an-cient stones in a style reminiscent of theCistercian monasteries, that will still standwhen most of this century’s monumentshave tumbled. It’s a legacy, not a project.The vineyard’s owner, who also makes hishome at the property, summarises his phi-losophy about the wine: “May my vines beraised with endless care, my wine lookedafter with infinite attention. Never shouldthere be any resort to short-cuts or shady

strategies on the road to quality. That’s mycommitment.”

Short history, long viewMassa bought the land in the hills, that area 25-minute drive from the coast, in 1979.It was originally dedicated to his primarypassion, a stud farm raising horses thatfeatured in competitions around the world,including the Olympics. But when a fireravaged the region in 1988 he saw the op-portunity to create something new out ofthe ashes, a vineyard in true Provençalstyle.

“The vines we grow were chosen as beingtypical of the region, and thus suited to the

‘terroir’ here and our excellent climate,”says Matthias Buissé, the château’s com-mercial manager: “And as is frequently thecase in this area we grow quite a range ofgrapes to produce red, white and roséwines. Our whites use only Rolle grapes, alocal favourite that makes a wonderfullyrefreshing wine.”

In 2013 the property achieved organic cer-tification, which was no easy task. “Wedecided this was the right option for sev-eral reasons,” explains Buissé. “It respectsthe land of course, and it has to be saidthat there’s great interest in organic winesfrom connoisseurs. But it also fits what wewant to do in a wider way: Monsieur

Château Font du Broc is paradoxical: its intriguing wines and stunning architecture are deeply rooted in Provençaltradition, yet both are of relatively recent vintage. In a single generation one man’s vision has created something that

feels like a millennium in the making.

TEXT: MARTIN PILKINGTON | PHOTOS: COURTESy OF CHâTEAU FONT DU BROC

Back to the (delicious) future



Issue 17 | May 2015 | 19

Massa is passionate about the naturalworld, so we have ponds and olive grovesand gardens, not just endless vines here.”He continues: “Adapting to organic wine-making has also brought the taste of thewines nearer now to the traditional styles ofthe area, with the negligible use of sul-phites for example, allowing the fruityflavours of our reds to come through bet-ter; and the way the vines are tended is inpart a return to the methods of severalgenerations ago. The wines are refined instyle, with very marked varietal character-istics.”

A warm and civilised welcomeAbove the cellars and their huge oak bar-rels stands the Château, its pink-tiled roofemblematic of the region, the honeyed-stone walls as warm as a June day here. Itbelongs to the country. Accordingly thewhole domaine feels at ease and welcom-ing, characteristics not arrived at acciden-tally, but certainly enjoyed by the weddingparties and business gatherings hostednow at the Château.

“Everything has been built using the rightmaterials, the best materials, old stone,weathered beams, terracotta tiles that fitthe region and the terroir, just like ourwines,” says Buissé. “We decided to in-corporate into the plans created with ourarchitects the idea that the space could beused for receptions and meetings, so wecan for example accommodate up to 450people for a meal in the covered space thatis at other times the covered manège. Ad-ditionally there’s a room that takes 200people, ideal for weddings, with fine Frenchgardens in front. We work with about tentraiteurs so couples marrying have achoice of top quality suppliers in tune withthe area and with whom we’ve built upgood working relationships.”

Location, location, locationWith St Tropez and Saint-Maxime a halfan-hour drive away and beautiful historicvillages far closer, the Château’s locationhelps in attracting business meetings, butthe prospect of sampling some Font duBroc wine may also exert a little influence:

“Along with the meeting there will usuallybe a meal catered by one of the traiteurswe recommend, so it’s a social thing, notjust business,” says Buissé. “Very oftenthere’ll be a wine tasting arranged as partof the day too. you can see people who’vebeen in tough talks visibly relax with a glassor two of our wines. For some reason it’s aparticularly popular part of the experience!”

www.chateau-fontdubroc.com


20 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Château les Crostes has built links with theBenelux countries over decades, exportingits wines to high-end outlets like Brasserie lePhare in Knokke, the Sart Tilman Royal GolfClub and Mamy Louise in Brussels. Butwhen the owner’s daughter Claire marriedPrince Félix of Luxembourg two years ago,those links became markedly closer, thecouple opting to make the domaine theirhome and to take a hand in its running.

It’s easy to understand that choice. Theproperty is beautiful in itself, surrounded byvast forests and a stroll away from the me-dieval town of Lorgues, with Tourtour,Provence’s celebrated ‘village in the skies’nearby too, and the Mediterranean coasthalf-an-hour by car. And then there’s thewine.

The wine business here dates from the mid-dle of the last century. When a severe frostdecimated its olive groves, the previousowner opted to replace most with vines.

“Since then the wine has established anexcellent reputation,” says sales directorLinda Schaller-Gallet. “Our main offering isthe Côte de Provence rosé. Delicate, veryelegant, easy drinking wines perfect asaperitifs and through lighter meals. Theyshow the expected regional qualities buthave a character special to the domaine:fruity but not overly so, and some fine min-eral notes.”

Developing wines with characters uniqueto the property has been helped by thecontinuity provided by Ted Garin, the headoenologist who has worked there for 21years, and Schaller-Gallet, present for justfive years fewer. Les Crostes also producesred and white wines, the latter with the Rollegrapes, a much favoured variety in the area:“And we make a small quantity of méthodetraditionnelle sparkling rosé, Cuvée Claire,named for the owner’s daughter, who isnow Princess Claire and the chatelainehere,” says Schaller-Gallet.

A formidable list of Luxembourg restau-rants stock the results of Garin’s skills. Itwould be hard to imagine a more apt wayfor their patrons to have celebrated themarriage of Prince Félix than with a glass ofChâteau les Crostes rosé, especially per-haps of Cuvée Claire.

www.chateau-les-crostes.eu

The wines, the land and the architecture of Château les Crostes are all very true to local tradition, but the domain is now home to members of Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal family.

TEXT: MARTIN PILKINGTON | PHOTOS: CHATEAU LES CROSTES

Rosé wines and blue blood





Issue 17 | May 2015 | 23

Discover Benelux & France | Cover Feature | Junkie XL

Scoring blockbuster films, creating a worldwide hit and working with Hollywood’s top composers; there is nothingmulti-instrumentalist Junkie XL cannot do. After a successful run as an artist, he has now turned to the world of film,

where his career as a film composer is taking rapid flight.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: COSTA COMMUNICATIONS / JUNKIE XL

Music has been a major part of Junkie XL’slife (real name, Tom Holkenborg), hismother was a music teacher and violinistand his father was a talented harmonicaplayer. As a child growing up in Lichtenvo-orde, the Netherlands, he started playingthe piano and the drum set when he wasvery young. He played in various schoolbands and took a job in a music store bythe time he was 16. “Many synthesizersand music computers hit the market in theperiod of 1984-1985. From that moment Ifully dove into the world of music,” he re-calls. By the late 1980s he landed his firstinternational record deal and started tour-ing the world. In 1997 he released his firstJunkie XL album. “By the mid ‘90s I got re-ally interested in music for video gamesand films, and I slowly tried to see what itwould be like to do this.”

It wasn’t until 2002, after his hit A LittleLess Conversation came out, that he reallyturned to the film industry. The Elvis remixbecame a number one song in 27 coun-tries and was a turning point in Junkie XL’scareer, as well as in his personal life. “Thiswas a very emotional time for me, I lostboth my mother and my sister that sameyear. It was very intense. I decided to dosomething radically different, and moved toLos Angeles.”

Entering HollywoodIn Los Angeles, Junkie XL made the con-

scious decision not to use his fame as anartist to pitch himself as a fully-fledgedcomposer. With much still to learn aboutthe trade, he made the choice to start atthe very bottom of the ladder. “I worked asan assistant for a well-known composerand slowly I learned everything and I stud-ied a lot. At the same time I was still busywith my Junkie XL career,” he says, remi-niscing the strange double life he had from2002 to 2006. “During that period I had anumber one hit, a Grammy nomination anddid a song with Madonna, but at the sametime I was a composer’s assistant. It wasnot glamorous at all, but I did learn a lot.”

His tenacity certainly wasn’t in vain. Aroundfive years ago, Oscar-winning composerHans zimmer, (famous for films such asThe Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean,Inception and The Lion King) called JunkieXL out of the blue. “When he called hesaid, ‘everyone says I need to meet youbut I have no idea who you are!’ So I cameround to his house and we connected im-mediately,” he remembers.

Starting by doing small assignments forzimmer, the collaboration grew and turnedinto a very fruitful partnership. In 2013, onMan of Steel, they did the score in full col-laboration. “We worked very closely to-gether for two years and then my career asa film composer really took off,” he says.Currently, Junkie XL and zimmer are work-

ing on the highly anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movie, due tobe released in 2016.

The artist and the composerWhile Junkie XL feels he has more cre-ative freedom as a composer, it is also amuch more demanding job. “There is a lotof music that I made for films that if I’d putthem on a record, people would think I’mnuts or wouldn’t listen to it, but in the filmsthey have a beautiful role,” he says, but ex-plains that being a film composer is not foreveryone, even if you are very talented.“The pressure and stress is enormous, andthe days are very long. Sometimes I work16 hours a day, at months on end, includ-ing weekends.”

But thanks to his long career in music andextensive experience, Junkie XL has founda way to manage the workload. “Manytimes in my life I thought to myself, ‘I workso hard I don’t think I can handle it anymore’. When I look back now, 15 yearslater, I think 'boy, did I have an easy ride'.It was just in my head that I couldn’t han-dle it,” he says. “It gets much easier whenyou’ve done it many times, and age alsohelps. you don’t really see film composersof 22 years old in LA, they don’t exist.”

His fame in the music scene also helpedhim to land jobs, or set up meetings withdirectors because they knew of him

J U N K I E X L

Hollywood’s new musical genius


24 | Issue 17 | May 2015

through his music. But it also had a down-side. “you get a stigma of what kind of mu-sician you are: ‘isn’t that the guy that makesclub music? We don’t need that for this film,we want a string orchestra’,” he says. “I’vehad to fight against this for 20 years now,and I still hit this problem now and again.But I’ve built up a big network here and Ijust did six big movies, so now I’m knownto everyone as Tom, the serious composerthat you can ask for anything.”

Scoring a movieHaving recently finished Hollywood block-busters such as 300: Rise of an Empire, Di-vergent and Run All Night, his career is cer-tainly taken a leap. But big movies byfamous directors is not the thing he looksfor in a project and variety is also important.“I love films with very strong characters thatappeal to my imagination,” he reveals. “Ifyou look at the films I did in the last fiveyears, they are all over the spectrum; fromMan of Steel, a DC Comic, big action movieto the Dutch drama, De Gelukkige

Huisvrouw and I just finished a British satir-ical comedy called Kill Your Friends, basedon the book, and now Mad Max will be re-leased, a sort of rock opera.”

Junkie XL explains that for a film composerthere are two different types of project, onewhere the film is nearly finished and the di-rector knows exactly what they want, andone where the composer is involved at avery early stage. He says: “This is when adirector wants to discuss ideas with you.you develop musical concepts that he candeliberate on and sometimes even play it tothe actors, to show: this is the kind of mu-sic we have in mind during this scene.”

Close contact with the director is very im-portant to eventually come up with a scorethat will convince them, which takes a lot ofback and forth communication. “First yousearch for the right feeling in the music,then you put it under a scene and thenyou see how it works with the dialogue andthe setting,” he says. “Also you need to

look at the suspension arc in the movie;and how much do you show musically atthe start and how do you end it. you try totell a whole story via music.”

Curiosity and inspirationDespite his long portfolio, inspiration fornew music is never hard to find; from doingnew things, to reading the script or simplyhearing a film title. “When I was initiallyasked if I was interested in Mad Max, im-mediately, all kinds of things exploded in myhead, and I didn’t even know the story-line,” he recalls. “I’m naturally very curious.I often buy new instruments and try to learnto play them and always look for new thingsto try out. This urge keeps me fresh.”

This also includes changing up his everydaylife now and then. “I always look for thingsthat are different, that place me in a newsetting. I’m also someone who needs mystudio, where I work, to be changed everyyear, so it feels like I’m somewhere newagain.”


Finding novel sounds is also an importantsource of inspiration, and Junkie XL is notafraid to create some instruments of hisown. “For 300: Rise of an Empire, webought an old piano and cut away the en-tire casing with an axe. What is left is a sortof piano harp; a metal contraption withstrings. We placed this in a new casing andturned it into a sort of giant guitar. I con-nected it to amplifiers with guitar effectsand played it with timpani sticks or with myhands,” he explains.

The crazy world of Mad MaxGeorge Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road is oneof Junkie XL’s recent projects, which will hitthe international cinema scene this May.The film is set in an apocalyptic future world,where parts of the Earth are turned intoscorching deserts and it's chaos that rulesthe population. Protagonist Max (TomHardy) and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) enteron an explosive and dangerous journey torestore order.

To fit these fiery visuals and volatile story-lines, Junkie XL decided to pull out all thestops. “I literally used every single instrumentI had at my disposal in the score. Fromdrums to world music, to strings to a hugechoir to woodwinds and synthesisers,sound designs, guitars, bass, sitars, youname it.” To make the sounds even granderhe used a 26-strong brass section and a68-strong string section, far bigger thanyou’d see in any orchestra. “Because it is sotheatrical, the music had to compete withthe violent visuals. you just can’t get awaywith a simple string quartet or a flute and aharp. you have to think over the top, andthat is what we did.”

Finally, we ask him if there is anything on hisprofessional bucket list that he hasn’t al-ready done. “I would love to do a cool sci-fi movie, like 2001: A Space Odyssey or StarWars, that would be incredible,” he muses.J.J. Abrams, are you listening?

Discover Benelux & France | Cover Feature | Junkie XL

Mad Max: Fury Road is released

globally on 14 May.

Issue 17 | May 2015 | 25

RIGHT: Mad Max: Fury Road with Tom Hardy. Photos: Jasin

Boland © 2015 Village Roadshow Films (Bvi) Limited


Discover Benelux & France | Special Theme | Interior Design Solutions


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 27


The demand for well-functioning interiorsolutions is greater than ever. Modern tech-nology and progress has given way to anew generation of innovative solutionswithin the field of interior design, givingmore people the opportunity to purchasetop-quality products. Starting with yourhome and moving onto something as cru-cial as bedding and radiant lamp designs,the Dutch truly live up to their reputation ina field that never stands still. From identity-creating designs to top-notch furniture andunique oriental tearooms, practicalitymeets playfulness in an energising blend.

Pioneering strategies are being put for-ward. It’s the Dutch way of doing things,and it’s working. Feeling at ease in theplaces where we live and work is vital,not just for our bodies but for our mindsas well. Interiors need to tick all theboxes and beauty can no longer standalone. As this Special Theme will prove,these companies are not only innova-

tors when it comes to finding the rightdesign solutions, they are also on theforefront when it comes to selling theirproducts. Why do things the old way,when there is a better and more efficientmethod available?

When you combine the perks of moderntechnology with a fresh, cutting-edge atti-tude, you have a Dutch interior designcompany. The Netherlands certainly has alot to add to the international design scene.Read on to find out why.

S P E C I A L T H E M E

Dutch interior design solutions

Interior design is thriving all over the world, but if there is one place that demands our immediate attention, it’s theNetherlands. Here, innovative minds combine pure artistry with functionality and comfort, leaving no customer’s wishesunfulfilled. This Special Theme highlights some of the most mind-bending interiors and modern solutions, companies

that are not just following the current path, they are creating one of their own.

By CAROLINE EDWARDS | PRESS PHOTOS


28 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Do you know the feeling of returning home,slinging the keys down and plonking thepost on the kitchen table? We all knowthat dumping our possessions haphaz-ardly around our homes isn’t productive,but we do little to resolve the issue,prompting shouts of ‘where are my keys?’and ‘what did you do with yesterday’spost?’ Fortunately, there are solutions tothis disorganised chaos, you just need a lit-tle direction.

Get more out of existing spaceThis is where Sven van Buuren enters thescene. The knowledgeable 35-year old in-terior architect founded Interior Issues in2010 as a response to the growing de-mand for home improvements. People de-cided to renovate, extend, or refurnish, he

explains, and this is where his substantialexpertise slots in perfectly. “People oftenbelieve that an extension is the answer totheir spatial problems, complaining theirhouse is cramped. But there’s usually areason behind this alleged lack of spaceand I intend to find it. There’s nothing I en-joy more than providing solutions.”

Adhering to the popular American time-management system of ‘getting thingsdone’, Van Buuren recognises the value oftidiness and the positive influences thishas on an individual’s approach to life andwork. “Having specific places for items inthe home, whether it’s when you’re homefrom work and emptying your pockets, ortidying up the kids’ toys as they go to bed,the visual impact of the tidiness frees your

mind and guarantees that the followingday will have one less stress factor,” he ex-plains. His solution: wisely crafted furni-ture, plenty of handy but stylish toy boxesand smart hallway storage solutions toname but a few. But, he adds, every pro -jects is different and no two solutions areever the same.

Expert in interiorsAfter graduating in 2007, Van Buuren im-mediately found work at a prominent Dutchinterior design firm, Bullhorst ArchitectenStedenbouwers, which was followed by alengthy stint at Keijsers Interior Projects.These experiences not only enriched hisportfolio and introduced him to various ap-proaches to residential interior design andhospitality design (a further field of expert-

Creating efficient and intuitive homes is the objective of the innovative Rotterdam-based Interior Issues. Its principlenotion of ‘practicality and functionality first, followed by the designer’s artistry’ results in interiors of any scale that are

agreeable, relaxing and more than fitting for the user.

TEXT: EMMIE COLLINGE | PHOTOS: INTERIOR ISSUES

An exercise in interior design


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 29


ise), but also built up a network of contactsand fine-tuned his skills, developing ahighly considered way of working and be-coming known for his refined and sophis-ticated style.

Designing custom-made smart furniture or(re)moving walls excites Van Buuren, andhe’s got a veritable wealth of professionalswithin the interior design world with whomhe collaborates on projects. Testament tohis vast network, Van Buuren also headsone of the world’s largest interior designgroups on LinkedIn connecting over 60,000professionals. Subsequently, the result ofeach project that Interior Issues undertakesis unique, drawing on the particular aes-thetic of both its users and their immediatesurroundings for design inspiration.

The focal pointFor the Rotterdam-based designer, practi-cality is the first priority, closely followed bybeauty. “Think about what’s in your visionat eye level when you’re on the sofa, or at

the dining room table. What do you see?Every function you perform in your house,be it sitting, eating or relaxing, needs itsown focal point, whether it’s the view, a ver-tical garden, the fireplace or even the tele-vision. We’re often overloaded and thiscan be stressful. Introducing one singularfocal point is a potential stress-reducer.”

On the website of Interior Issues, Van Bu-uren encourages potential clients to down-load the free ‘WoonAnalyse’, a step-by-step guide in either Dutch or English thatprompts you to analyse your living spacefrom various perspectives. “Often this isenough to spark clients to undertake theirown changes, inspiring them to alter theposition of furniture or change the layout ofa room,” continues Van Buuren. “What’sthe best way to get from the front door tothe kitchen when you’re laden down withshopping?”

Such simple actions can spark noticeableimprovements, but often the solution re-

quires an expert touch. “After the Woon-Analyse, I arrange an ‘Interior Scan’ withthe client, discussing the most suitable ap-proach. It varies from a gentle nudge to anentire renovation.” Getting to the root of theclient’s wishes remains at the core, and abrief glance at Van Buuren’s completedprojects to date is testament to the factthat this is one designer who really listensto his clients.

Not confined to trends or fleeting styles,Van Buuren is a logical thinker, one whocreates space in otherwise clutteredhomes and one who creates areas of re-laxation where once stress reigned. Thecompany name does it a disservice in fact,as Interior Issues has the potential to im-prove far more than just the visual aes-thetics of your home.

www.interior-issues.nl/discover

Photo: Venuez Magazine


30 | Issue 17 | May 2015

SNURK’s bedding stands out for its highquality cotton, unique photographic printsand clean designs. “We aim for the best ofthe best in every possible aspect,” explainsco-founder Peggy van Neer. This is visibleand tangible: the fabric is strong, yet softand the designs are one of a kind.

Every print on the beddings originated froman idea of Van Neer. “I could never find abedding to my taste,” she explains. “Mostbedding prints included flowers and stripes.Quite boring, if you ask me!” SNURK’s de-signs are mainly white and are alwaysserene and playful. “The designs we makefor kids are like that as well. The most com-mon designs for kids are uneasy and filledup with bright colours, they have no char-acter.” SNURK's approach is different. “We

take the way children experience the worldmore seriously by focusing on their dreams.To become an astronaut, for instance. Plus,our designs fit in a stylish home.”

All prints involve more work than you canimagine. “For every design I conduct a lotof research and I am always looking for col-laborations to attain the highest attainablestandard, by connecting with excellentpartners.” The ballerina design for instance,was made with help from the Dutch Na-tional Ballet. “They helped me select a tutuand a ballerina from the ballet who posedfor the photographic print.” It is clear: onlythe best is good enough for SNURK.

SNURK came into life in 2007, when VanNeer’s partner Erik van Loo had the chance

to help execute the first of Van Neer’s manyideas: a sheet with cardboard box print. “Itbecame a big success. We collaboratedwith a foundation for homeless youth thatgets part of the profit.” When conductingthis project, Van Neer and Van Loo no-ticed a high demand for high quality bed-ding with a playful look, so they continuedwith more designs. “SNURK beddings arefun, playful, sturdy and down to earth.That’s who we are and what we stand for!”

SNURK ships all over the world, the de-signs are available in many different sizes,and besides beddings, SNURK also de-signs cushions, in SNURK style of course!

www.snurkbeddengoed.nl

SNURK’s beddings are playful, elegant, sturdy and fit in modern homes perfectly

Diving into your bed and indulging in soft and beautiful high quality bedding. Who wouldn’t want to do that each night? SNURK designs playful yet elegant beddings for many different bed sizes.

TEXT: JANINE STERENBORG | PHOTOS: TIM STET

Elegant and playful



THE FUTURE IS NOW

MORE DESIGN - MORE RANGEMORE POWER - MORE CONNECTIVITY

stromerbike.com


32 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Over the years SchilderScholte haveshown the logical coherence between thedisciplines of architecture, interior designand furniture design. They see themselvesas translating designers. SchilderScholteArchitects always wants to create an envi-ronment that shows who the client is.Schilder: “The final product must be pleas-ant, comfortable and useful. It must be-come an experience. This is essential toour interior designs. In our view, no as-signment or client is the same and thus themotive and starting point to the specifictask.”

“Architecture is made for functionality,”adds Scholte. “We start designing fromthe inside out. We encourage our clients to

not picture the outside first but share theirdream of the interior. For us functionalitybegins inside the building.” Schilder-Scholte’s work focuses especially on spa-tial experience and emotion in which inno-vation, functionality and durability play asignificant role. Scholte: “Each translationof the client's brief into a unique and refineddesign is a wonderful challenge.”

Zens showroomThe translating design skills are clearly vis-ible at the zens showroom in Amsterdam.The award winning Chinese high-end de-sign brand zens Oriental Lifestyle Designwanted to expand their market to Europe.Their product line of ceramics and glass-ware products is a reflection of oriental cul-

ture with contemporary sensibilities. Thisyear the brand received a prestigious RedDot Award for a travel tea set designed forBMW. zens asked SchilderScholte Archi-tects to create their first European zensshowroom.

Hundreds of soft green-blue wooden barsalong the walls and ceiling embrace thevisitor in this modest yet very stylish show-room. SchilderScholte architects designeda sacral-like atmosphere as a reflection ofthe sophisticated collection of this Asiandesign brand. Scholte: “It became a trendyplace in the city center, a display for beau-tiful things. The shop does not necessarilyexist for sale only; it is an actual show-room. zens Lifestyle wants the visitor to

In our surroundings, the places where we live and work, there is a need to feel good and at ease. At the same time they have to be functional and practical. According to Gerrit Schilder and Hill Scholte, founding partners ofSchilderScholte Architects, this is achieved in their designs by listening carefully to their clients so that they get

the question behind the question.

TEXT: BERTHE VAN DEN HURK | PHOTOS: RONALD TILLEMAN (zENS), KWIKzILVER (OFFICE)

Translating design


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 33


feel and experience something special andexceptional; reflecting the brand’s philoso-phy. In only 32 square meters we createdsuch an experience.” Schilder and Scholtetranslated and combined the Chinese teaculture with western design. The architectsinitiated a special feature, a mural (by artistRoger Cremers) painted with differentstrengths of Chinese tea. Schilder: “Chi-nese and European retail concepts mergein this store. It should move you.”

Pani community centreAnother project close to the hearts ofSchilder and Scholte is their pro bonoproject Pani community centre in Rajarhat,Bangladesh. Scholte: “The starting pointfor this project was: ‘What can we learnfrom another culture?’ Together with onlylocal craftsmen and materials (as well asclose to zero electricity), we’ve realised aregional vocational school. The buildinghas everything; classrooms, a workshopwith a store, collective lavatories with acourtyard and a water pump for the localpeople.”

She continues: “Everything is placed underone large corrugated iron roof supportedby a bamboo frame. The final design hasonly a western nuance. It’s like a largehouse composed out of separate build-ings. Children can play and locals cangather and shelter from the rain and sun forexample. It’s hyper-functional, but a publicfriendly building for the whole area.” Thedesign of the Pani community centre is a fi-nalist for the 2015 Az Award in Toronto,Canada.

Design without finerySchilderScholte Architects designs from ahuman functional vision. A purposeful dia-logue with the client or user is indispensa-ble. Orientation, well-being, material ex-pression and colours have an importantrole in their work. “‘Ordinary’ can also be‘particularly,’” says Scholte. “Less truly ismore sometimes. We want to create won-derful places for the user(s), places thatmakes someone happy and proud. Notso long ago, we were asked to create theinterior of a vastly growing communica-tions company in Rotterdam. They wantedthe office to be industrial as well as homey.We came up with the plan to create a hugeroom divider (32 metres long, 3.2 metreshigh), constructed from several hundredIkea Lack tables. With these simple squaretables we were able to divide the space fordifferent uses, without losing the spaciousfeeling, and still keep the corporate identityin the design.”

Besides the special room divider they alsocreated an exceptional floor pattern. Thecarpeting throughout the office representsthe Rotterdam skyline. Schilder: “Theremust be recognition. As a result we believeour designs should achieve a sense ofhappiness and meets the need. All we re-ally want is making our client happy.”

www.schilderscholte.comwww.zenslifestyle.com

Gerrit Schilder and Hill Scholte

Award winning design by zens


34 | Issue 17 | May 2015

What makes Made.com unique is the factthat it doesn’t hold any unnecessary inven-tory. All orders are sent to the factories oncea week where the items are made as re-quested. Julien Callede, co-founder andchief operations officer, says: “Having noinventory keeps cost down because wedon’t need large warehouses for storage. Itis also more sustainable, if a product does-n’t sell then we’re not left with hundreds ofchairs that then become wastage.”

This dynamic production strategy meansMade.com can continuously update itsproduct range, adding new collections everyweek, at a low risk. Popular items will remainavailable and less popular ones are eventu-ally phased out. “We add two completelynew collections to the site every week. Thiskeeps the range fresh and attracts newcustomers to our brand,” Callede says.

Working closely together with factories lo-cated all over the world, Made.com has theentire supply chain in their own hands. “Wecan operate with very reduced marginsbecause we cut out the middle men, thetraders and agents. This is why we are onaverage 50 per cent cheaper than highstreet stores but we don’t have to com-promise on quality and design,” Calledeadds.

While Made.com has recently opened anew flagship showroom in London, allproducts are bought directly from the web-site. Therefore Callede and his team makesure the online images do the productsjustice. “We invest a lot in our photographymaking sure we don’t undersell or oversellan item. Moreover, we offer customers freefabric samples so they can feel the textureand see the colour in real life,” he says.

“We actually get very few items returned tous.”

After starting five years ago with just twoproducts, a table and a chair, theMade.com catalogue now counts over athousand items. It recently also launched inItaly, France, Germany and the Nether-lands.

www.made.com

Made.com is taking the furniture industry by storm. With their innovative way of selling stylish and high quality designer products at low prices online, it is little wonder orders are going through the roof.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: MADE.COM

Quality designer furniture made accessible

Thinking outside the boxMade.com just launched a new platform in theUnited Kingdom called ‘Unboxed’. Here, customers can upload photos of the product theybought to show how it fits in their homes and toinspire others. The feature will soon also be avail-able in mainland Europe.

www.made.com/unboxed


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 35

Made By Hand acquired the originallighting designs of the ‘50s, reinvigo-rating them with modern quality pro-duction methods. In the same way, Lim-ited Edition creates luxury carpetscombining Belgian craftsmanship withglobal influences. Rather than decora-tive accessories, these rugs and lightingdesigns are the vital creators of yourown special space.

For Ann Debosschere, starting the Designjuice label was a natural evolution.She came into contact with Made By Handduring the ten years she worked for LimitedEdition. It enabled her to design productsfor both companies, offering a contempo-rary portfolio of tried and tested excellencein Danish lighting and innovative Belgiancarpets.

It is clear from speaking to Debosschere,director of Designjuice, that she stands for

the quality of her products. “In my idealhome, of course, I would love to have mostof the pieces by Designjuice and I do havesome because they are so unique. Choos-ing just one of each is hard nonetheless thecopper Workshop Lamp is my favourite.Originally created by A. Wedel-Madsen in1951, it is a real classic and the coppergives it a nice warmth. My favourite rug isthe Pinto Quality, it is an exclusive cus-tom-made leather rug which comes insquare patterns.”

Designjuice’s clients come from all areasof business and Debosschere believes it isimportant that they choose the right car-pets and lighting for their environment.Limited Edition carpets need just a singleglance to attract attention, but that is onlybecause they are the result of hours,sometimes even days, of intensive manualwork. While the leather rugs are perfectfor residential use, boutique shops and

hotels can also use them; not just onfloors but also on walls or to cover doorsand panels. Global brands such as HugoBoss, IWC and Burberry are some exam-ples of the many companies that workwith Limited Edition. A woven rug, suchas one from the Extreme or Groove col-lections, is made from luxurious and lav-ishly woven PVC broadloom, which worksperfectly in commercial environments.

The right lighting and carpets really finish aroom or other interior spaces. Once you’veselected your sofa and other furniture, it isthe rug and the lighting that creates a par-ticular atmosphere. Designjuice’s care todetail, belief in the importance of luxuryand its product range of technically beau-tiful designs can help you achieve this.

www.designjuice.nl

TEXT: CAROLE EDRICH | PHOTOS: DESIGNJUICE

Bespoke rugs and radiant lamp designs



36 | Issue 17 | May 2015

The Workshop of Wonders is a high-endshop, integrated with their interior designstudio in Utrecht, just south of Amster-dam. The shop showcases internationaltop designers and brands seldom seenelsewhere.

Translating identities to interior Identity has been a central theme in pri-vate and professional modern life and alsoin the creations by Workshop of Won-

ders. From the company's founding in1993, Vos and his team have put creat-ing and translating a fitting identity cen-tral to their interior and furniture designs.

“Our residential clients, as well as ourbusiness clients, are individuals in theirhopes, dreams and character. They wanttheir surroundings to say somethingabout themselves and their activities,”says Vos. By studying their private and

professional identity thoroughly, Vos cre-ates ways to translate their uniquenessinto the physical spaces they occupy.

“The end-user is the focus of our studio.Where architects have their focus on thestructural part and façade of buildings, itis the mission of an interior architect tofocus on the person or community whowill eventually make use of the space,”he adds. “It is our job to get under the

WOW is not only the abbreviation of the Workshop of Wonders; it is also the reaction the owners want to evoke in their audience. By highlighting interior identity, owners Gerrit Vos and Jennemieke van der Schoot have managed to

create a unique form of architecture and furnishing.

TEXT: ROSANNE ROOBEEK | PHOTOS: : KASIA GATKOWSKA, JR IMAGEWORKS, CONDEPT AND MARUNI

Interior design with a WOW effect


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 37

skin of our clients and to discover theirDNA.”

Vos explains how they tell spatial narra-tives, next to creating innovative office en-vironments. Their projects for Nike for ex-ample focused on sport, competition andsporting equipment. Also heritage, like thehistory of Nike’s co-founder Bill Bower-man, gives them a great deal of material todesign the new central ‘eat and meet’ areaat Nike's European Headquarters in Hil-versum.

Themed showroom Every three months, the Workshop ofWonders transforms their showroombased on a themed exhibit.

Their current show Northern Delights, whichcan be seen till 31 May 2015, features newcreations from Northern Europe, includingDenmark’s Noergaard-Kechays, Stefan Diezof Germany and the Netherlands (eQ+,Jacco Maris and NotOnlyWhite). But withthe Grand Départ of the Tour de Francetaking place in Utrecht this summer, theduo promises that the next showroom willhave a completely French character.

Making use of the numerous brands anddesigners that contribute to their furnish-

ing collection, every show presents differ-ent aspects of the fascinating field of fur-niture and lighting design by telling storiesof how the objects came to be designed,produced and from which sources theywere made.

Uniqueness of Workshop of WondersWhat makes Workshop of Wonders dis-tinctive is that their showroom is also usedas their design studio. “Working in thegallery itself makes you get to know theins and outs of the pieces much better,”says Van der Schoot.

“Instead of ordering stock, we’d ratherinvest in our partners and their brands viathe different shows. you can see ourshowroom as a 3D business card,” Vander Schoot adds.

In their collection they have great clas-sics from Danish designer Hans Wegnerfrom the ‘50s and the newest creations bythe French Bouroullec brothers.

Workshop of Wonders is also the onlydealer in the Netherlands to sell the ex-clusive brand Maruni Wood Industry fromJapan. “Maruni offers a contemporarytranslation of pieces from the ‘50s and‘60s. It is thrilling to see that these new

Japanese craft products find their roots ina Scandinavian tradition. Like in our inte-riors, it is a mix between the classics andinnovative design and technology,” Vossays.

Creating memories Workshop of Wonders is about creatingmemories and designing experiences. In-terior architecture and furniture designform the medium to express a part of theemotions that people feel, a tool to con-nect with the wants and necessities ofliving. Workshop of Wonders is a studiothat desires to translate immaterial mat-ters as directly as possible into a tangibleenvironment. “We want to see the char-acter of the users reflected in our spaces,”Vos says.

The duo does not limit itself to residentialand office environments for their clients. Itis also active in the space in between.They will also remain focused on hospi-tality in the future, in which they can ex-press their love for the good life. There-fore, we can expect wonderful hotels,restaurants and spas, all with a specialWOW effect.

www.workshopofwonders.nl

Located at the heart of Utrecht, Workshop of Wonders creates a unique form of architecture and furnishing by highlighting interior identity and mixing traditional classicswith innovative design and technology.



38 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Discover Benelux & France | Architecture | Atelier DCCP

Founded in 2011 by two ambitious youngwomen, Pauline Cabouret and CarolineDelolmo, Atelier DCCP Architectes standsout for its multidisciplinary approach toevery project it undertakes. Based inParis, the duo has built on their nationaland international experience bringing cre-ative solutions to new challenges, andthey are on the lookout for more.

With the breadth of projects ranging fromrenovation and urban planning to privateconstructions, Atelier DCCP puts its cre-ative energy into bringing to life a structurethat is tailored to the client’s needs. Frominitial sketches to the end result, Cabouretand Delolmo aim to engage their clients ina dynamic architectural adventure of co-creation. Their expertise is expressedthrough building a space that fits its envi-ronment, bringing together simple and au-thentic materials which remains timeless.

From graduating at the architectural schoolof Versailles in France, the complementary

nature of the duo was the reason thatbrought them to establish Atelier DCCPafter extensive experience on different pro -jects spread over France, Colombia, Italyand Spain. Joining forces, they demon-strated their capabilities when they wonthe competition to work on the expansionof the Buenos Aires Museum of Contem-porary Arts. Playing with light and shadow,a wooden structure was put into place totake visitors into an indoor/outdoor envi-ronment that guarantees a comfortabletemperature throughout the year, mixinggardens and exhibits.

As for the project ‘Maison V’, it turned a for-mer stable into a modern living space. Risingto the challenge, the team put emphasis onkeeping the soul of the space alive throughincorporating original elements into the newdécor: the horse feeders were turned intobathroom sinks and the saddle holders be-came the separation between the bedroomand the bathroom. An elegant and simpleway to keep the authenticity of the space.

The resources and creativity of AtelierDCCP do not end there. The duo is cur-rently building 60 living spaces in Rouen,as well as collaborating with Frenchcraftsmen to produce a new line of designfurniture.

Eager to expand their breadth of activitiesand evolve towards new markets, AtelierDCCP is available for new innovative ven-tures and can be contacted directly ontheir website.

www.atelierdccp.com

Multidisciplinarity with a French touchTEXT: BETTINA GUIRKINGER | PHOTOS: ATELIER DCCP ARCHITECTES


Starting out as naive young men who firmly believed they would make it in the overcrowded music industry, Kensingtonhas grown to become one of the most popular new bands in the Netherlands. Their catchy, up-tempo indie pop with

heavy guitars stormed the Dutch music charts and stole the hearts of music-loving youngsters.

TEXT: JANINE STERENBORG | PHOTOS: PABLO DELFOS

K E N S I N G T O N

Constantly raising their standards


40 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Discover Benelux & France | Interview | Kensington

Thanks to the hit songs Streets and War,Kensington’s critically acclaimed albumRivals received platinum status in theNetherlands. Earlier this year the bandtoured throughout Europe and in Novem-ber they will play at one of the largest mu-sic venues in the Netherlands. But first,the four will hit the European summer fes-tivals. It sounds like they cannot fit anymore in their schedule, but writing a newalbum is already on top of their minds aswell.

Europe-sized oil stainDuring their tour in February they visited asmany as eight countries, including Ger-many, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgiumand Hungary. Casper Starreveld, guitarplayer and second vocalist says: “It wasour first step in many of those countriesand we’re looking forward to going backthis summer. We’re spreading over Eu-rope like an oil stain!”

After spending nights in their van and ho-tels, Kensington is always happy to beback in their hometown of Utrecht. “Fansin Utrecht seem to be a tad more enthusi-astic during shows, because they’re proudwe hail from their city,” says Eloi youssef,singer and guitar player. Recently theyeven played in Utrecht’s main landmarkand centuries old Dom tower. youssef:“That place is the holy grail of Utrecht. Weplayed in a chapel of the tower at mid-night.” This certainly was a unique oppor-tunity, he describes: “The atmosphere wasmysterious and intimate. And our musicwas supported by strings for the first time.It fitted very well and judging from the au-dience’s response, it created a very mov-ing sound.”

Slow and steady growStarting in 2005, the band was confidentthey carried gold, a confidence they nowlook back on with a slight sense embar-rassment. youssef: “I recently listenedback to some old recordings. It is actuallynot that good. But we were naive, we al-ways said we’d make it and didn’t care forprobabilities.” In the last ten years, Kens-ington emerged from a local talent to theNetherlands' new favourite band. Thisslow and steady grow was good for their

development. Starreveld: “This way wehad the chance to create a steady foun-dation for our music.”

Kensington’s upcoming show in the ziggoDome in November sold out within a fewhours. The venue in Amsterdam is a hugeconcert hall with a central stage that canhost a crowd of 17,000 people. “We weresurprised it went so quickly. It didn’t makesense to us!” Starreveld recalls. “Then weadded an extra show. It sold out withintwo days. We’re looking forward to playingthere. Usually the crowd is in front of us,but at the ziggo Dome they are all around.It’s very exciting. But we will keep playingsmaller stages, because we like the alter-nation.”

Indie pop to dance toRivals is Kensington’s third and latest al-bum released in late 2014. Despite con-stantly being compared to Britpop androck bands such as Kings of Leon, U2,Editors and The Killers, Kensington foundtheir own sound on this record; indie popwith a positive vibe, catchy lyrics andstrong guitar riffs, that are also perfect todance to at a summer festival.

The album is also a reflection of whereKensington is now. “It’s definitely our bestalbum so far,” says Starreveld. “Its prede-cessor Vultures has a few flaws, like a toospread out bridge. On Rivals, the produc-tion and mixing all fell into place. Theprocess went very smoothly as well and itwas the most fun album to write. We gaveeach other space to fill in our own musicalterritories.”

Raising the ceilingWith milestones like a platinum album andplaying at the revered ziggo Dome, youmight think Kensington has reached theirtop. But for this band there is always moreto discover. “We feel we can always raiseour ceiling," says Starreveld. "AcrossDutch borders is a big area to explore. Iwould love to go on a night-liner tourthrough Europe some time. I love the dis-placed feeling of getting out of the bus andnot knowing where I am.” Bass player JanHaker adds: “Touring is physically ex-hausting, but it’s also what being in a band

is about. It’s the most fun period and itgenerates the best memories.” Starreveld:“I don’t like knowing what I’ll be doingnext week on Wednesday morning. I lovethe unexpected.”

Soon, Kensington will start writing a newalbum. We asked if this was somethingthey look forward to. “It’s always exciting,”says youssef, who continues a tad inse-cure. “Maybe the next one will flop, younever know.” Focussing back on theband’s goals, he knows exactly what hewants: “We want to renew ourselves. Notjust for us, but for our fans too. And weaim to reach more and more people.”

Photo: Rutger van der Bent

Upcoming tour dates:

2 May, Gothardusfest, Gotha

5 May, Bevrijdingsfestival Wageningen,Den Haag and Flevoland, Almere

14 May, Dauwpop, Hellendoorn and Oerrock,Ureterp

29 May, Muziekweekend Pesse, Pesse

See www.kensingtonband.com for tickets and more dates.


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 41

Discover Benelux & France | Interview | Kensington


42 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Discover Benelux & France | Special Theme | Successful Women in Entrepreneurship

The bad news is that every year approxi-mately 260,000 women die of cervicalcancer. This is only the tip of the iceberg.In developing countries, where often noscreening facilities are available, cervicalcancer is a silent killer as there are nosymptoms up to the stage when it is oftentoo late for treatment. Due to the lack ofknowledge and awareness, skilled staff, fi-nancial resources, health care infrastruc-ture, medicines and good nutrition, mostof the victims live in developing countries.In the more developed world screeningprogrammes are available and affordable,like pap-smear tests and prevention byvaccination. Even if a women is diagnosedwith cervical cancer, effective treatment isstill available. yet women living in less for-tunate areas don’t have access to thesetreatment facilities and they die of this ter-rible disease. These women are oftenyoung mothers, who play a crucial role intheir families, or within the local communi-ties and the local economy. The goodnews? With a simple and affordablemethod we can keep these womenhealthy.

Screening with vinegar For less than ten euros the Female CancerFoundation screens women with vinegarand, if necessary, treats them by freezingthe precancerous cells. This is called the‘see and treat’ method, which is recom-mended by the World Health Organisa-tion for low resource settings. Electricity isnot required as the vinegar solution andliquid nitrogen for freezing are sufficient.The beauty of it is that the screening andtreatment can be done in a single visit and90 per cent of the women who are treatedare said to have recovered in threemonths.

Female Cancer FoundationProf. Dr. Lex Peters, a gynaecologist fromthe Netherlands, founded the Female Can-cer Foundation to reduce the high deathrate among young women. While workingas a tropical physician in Kenya, Peterswitnessed the situation and realised theneed for help. The Female Cancer Foun-dation derives from a collaboration withthe Leiden University Medical Center, anexpertise centre on cervical cancer in theNetherlands. Since 2004 he has been im-plementing the ‘see and treat’ programmein developing countries.

What is educated and investigated lastsTransferring knowledge and skills to highincidence regions is vital to create a lastingimpact. The Female Cancer Foundationpromotes research and education on cer-vical cancer prevention. Strong partner-ships with local universities and institutionsare established in Indonesia, Bangladeshand in six countries in Africa from wherethe local teams are working on raisingawareness, screening, treatment, educa-tion and research. “What people have beentaught or what they have been researchingwill leave a lasting impression,” Peterssays. “If men would have been prone tothis illness, this disease would already be-long to the past in every country on theglobe. Women and their families deserve aworld without cervical cancer.”www.femalecancerfoundation.com

All over the world women are at risk of dying unnecessarily of cervical cancer. This can be caused by infections such as the sexually transmissible human papilloma virus (HPV) as well as other factors.

We can prevent this by screening with vinegar.

TEXT & PHOTOS: FEMALE CANCER FOUNDATION

How to create a world without cervical cancer

BELOW: Midwives on a mission in Nepal is the nextproject. The ambition is to reduce cervical cancer toa rare disease in Nepal. With your help we can keepthe Nepalese women healthy.


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 43

Market research company Ruigrok |NetPanel is at the forefront of innova-tion in its field. Using the latest tech-nologies, the company, lead by Dutchentrepreneur Marja Ruigrok, offersqualitative, in-depth surveys as well ascomprehensive, quantitative research,both online and offline.

Its services range from online communi-ties, face-to-face research such as in-depth interviews or focus groups and on-line customer questionnaires, tools suchas ‘tag-it’ (see fact box) and many more.Ruigrok | NetPanel continuously looks fornew ways to compile information to helpother organisations improve their commu-nication, products and services. This pio-neering approach was established earlyon as founder Marja Ruigrok explains: “In1995 we were the first market researchagency to assemble an online panel forweb surveys. Ruigrok founded the com-pany when she was just 25 years old.Now, over two decades later, it employs a

team of 20 full time staff. “At the time, I hadlittle to lose so I didn’t see it as a risky de-cision. I first set up in a small attic roomand slowly started to build up the com-pany.”

For a long time, Ruigrok was the soleowner, but a few years ago she decided tochange this. In 2008, she offered her staffthe opportunity to buy company shares ofup to almost five per cent. “This way I canmake sure the company, as it is today, willcontinue to exist in the future; independ-ent, with our own business culture andfast and innovative approach,” she says.Atthe moment, five senior members of staffhave each bought a nine per cent share.“I’m very proud that I have such a dedi-cated team that was keen to invest in thecompany they work for. In the future ashared responsibility and ownership willmean continuity for the company andmore security for our customers. I believethis is a perfect alternative to selling to aninternational firm.”

www.ruigroknetpanel.nl

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: PIMPERNEL VISUALS, RUIGROK | NETPANEL

The pioneers of market research

Tag-it – the digital post-itsTag-it is one of Ruigrok | NetPanel’s newqual/quant online research methods. Using acustom interface, participants can drag and dropcoloured emoticons over a document, for exam-ple a newsletter or an advert. The colours (green,yellow and red) correspond with emotions(happy, neutral or unhappy). Participants can in-stantly pin point what they think about a certainsection, and add a comment to elaborate.Ruigrok: “This makes it fun and easy to give spe-cific, in-depth feedback, and gives our clients aninstant overview of the results.”

From left to right: Martijn van der Veen, Marja Ruigrok, Kjell Massen, Barbara Tan, Hans Onkenhout, Marit Klooster.


44 | Issue 17 | May 2015

The unique service that Vatfree.com pro-vides stands out by being comprehensiveand hassle-free and customers get a greatreturn. “We process all your VAT tax returnclaims in one go, from products bought inthe Netherlands as well as other Euro-pean countries,” says company founderand director Joni Smeenk.

Tourist and business travellers are two keygroups for the company, but also interna-tional students, diplomats and military per-sonnel (when stationed abroad) can claimtheir tax back. Smeenk explains: “The rea-son behind it is that VAT is a usage tax. Ifyou actually use the product abroad, out-

side of Europe, you shouldn’t pay this levy.That’s why you can, and should, get itback.”

Easy and comprehensiveMost claims received by Vatfree.com arepaid out within eight weeks. By process-ing multiple receipts at the same timeand paying directly into the customers’accounts, it also keeps transaction costsdown. Smeenk adds: “While there arefaster alternatives, such as Global Blueand Premier Taxfree, they are also moreexpensive as they charge a handling feeper receipt, sometimes as high as halfthe VAT amount. We, on the other hand,

only charge a one-time service fee cal-culated over your total gross spent, start-ing at one per cent with a maximum ofseven per cent. We take the fuss out ofgetting your money back and you re-ceive the highest refund.”

It is not just individuals who benefit;shops do so as well. BecauseVatfree.com collects receipts and sendsthem off in bulk, processing the refundsis much more convenient for shop own-ers. “We maintain excellent relationshipswith the shop and with some of themthe refund will be paid out automatically.If you go to our service desk at Schiphol

Every year, up to two billion euros of tax refunds are left unclaimed in Europe. Vatfree.com is trying to change this, by making it easier and more convenient for travellers to rightfully claim back their VAT when they leave Europe.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: VATFREE.COM

Travelling VAT free


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 45


Airport, we can sometimes give cash inreturn for a validated receipt,” Smeenksays.

From contest to companySmeenk came up with the idea during anentrepreneurial contest just after she fin-ished her Master’s degree. During theweek-long challenge she had to write abusiness plan for which she took inspi-ration from her uncle, who was living inTanzania. During his visits back to theNetherlands, it turned out to be a realhassle to claim back the VAT he wasowed over the products he purchasedand took back to Tanzania.

Smeenk: “It involved individual chequesfor each rubber stamped loose receipt,so I thought there must be an easier,digitalised way to do this. While tax is nota very ‘sexy’ subject, I decided to lookinto it and came up with a plan.”

This didn’t just land her the title of youngEntrepreneur of the year, but also be-came the foundation for Vatfree.com.“We operate in a growth market becausean increasing amount of people travel in-ternationally and across continents.Moreover, around 70 per cent of trav-

ellers don’t know they can reclaim theirVAT and added to that, globally, VATrates are the highest in Europe. So thereis a lot to be gained,” she says.

A digitalised futureAt the moment Smeenk and her teamare working on an app that will belaunched after the summer. With it, cus-tomers can get an instant overview ofthe money they can claim back over theirpurchases, and it allows shopkeepers topromote their products. But Smeenk isalso looking at the long-term future:“Currently we still require customers tosend us physical stamped receipts, butwe are developing a way to do every-thing digitally. This would make it evenmore convenient, so watch this space!”

www.vatfree.com

How vatfree.com works:

Thanks to Vatfree.com, it is now a lot easier toclaim back your VAT after you leave Europe. Toget the money you are owed, you need to followa few simple steps:

- Collect all the receipts you have ofpurchased goods you are takingwith you abroad (including onlinebuys) that are above the thresh-old amount for the country*.

- Before you check in at the airport,visit the Tax Free Validation officeto validate your receipts and getthem stamped.

- Register your receipts online at Vatfree.com or visit the Vat-free.com desk in terminal three atSchiphol Airport. Vatfree.com willcontact the shops to collect theVAT and then automatically payback your tax into your account.

* Many countries apply a threshold for the mini-mum amount of money spent in one shop: forexample €50 in the Netherlands and €125.01in Belgium.

For more information please call +31 88 828 3733 (+31 88 VAT FREE) or visit www.vatfree.com.


46 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Care Company prides itself on its ability todeploy care swiftly and keeping a singlecontact person throughout the entireprocess. Founder and CEO Dianne Luykxsays: “Because we are a private companywe are fast and flexible. If needed, we canoffer care within hours of a phone call.”

Luykx started the company in 1991 whenshe worked as a certified nurse. She feltthat some patients were moved to carehomes prematurely while they could havea happier life with the right homecare.Now, 24 years later, Care Company em-ploys a dozen full-time office staff butLuykx never lost track of her initial goal.“We try to enable our clients to continuetheir normal lifestyle for as long as possi-ble, at home. We always talk to friendsand family to find out about their habits,characteristics and routines. This way we

can match them with a nurse who fits theirpersonality, as well as their care needs,”she says.

One service in particular that Luykx is ea-ger to point out is their international care.“On one hand, we offer holiday care, whensomeone will come along on a trip offeringsupport where needed, to any destinationin the world. The other service we offer isaimed at expats particularly in England,France, Belgium and Portugal. We findthat clients prefer to receive homecare intheir native language and we can provide.”

Another area Care Company recentlystarted to specialise in is blanket care atresidencies. Comprising care and supportas well as housekeeping, the companyuses its expertise to offer a top service forall the residents.

In order to keep their carefully screenednurses and care support staff up to date,Care Company offers regular courses incollaboration with V&VN and Calibris. Withconstant development in the areas ofmedicine, support equipment (like pumpsand lifts) and patient care, training is es-sential to continue to offer the best servicepossible. “Our staff has to be aware ofnew developments. Each year we offerseveral courses and everyone has to par-take in two of them,” Luykx adds.

Care Company is part of industry bodyBTN (Branchebelang Thuiszorg Neder-land) and is certified by HKz, requiring allprocesses to be listed and verified.

www.carecompany.nl

Small specialised teams, comprehensive care and aftercare and a personal approach; this is what makes Care Company unique. The Dutch private homecare provider offers services across the board,

from uncertified support, to specialised and terminal care.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: CARE COMPANy

Specialised and personal: care that is as unique as you are



Issue 17 | May 2015 | 47


RLVNT doesn’t take a message or productas a starting point for their client’s cam-paigns, instead it starts with people andtheir actions. Plandsoen explains: “We lookat behavioural data and combine this withopinions by actively involving people in theprocess, this way we know what they aremost susceptible to and when they aremost susceptible. This way, the campaignsbecome truly relevant.”

Through a team of 35 creative and mediaspecialists, RLVNT uses people’s feedbackto test and improve its marketing cam-paigns. “We call this ‘magic and logic’,”says Plandsoen. “Take for example ourcampaign to promote a merger betweentwo firms. The goal was to create a broadsupport base among employees for themerger, so we gave every member of staff

an active role to show how they wouldcreate added value for the new company.Synergising multiple online and offline me-dia channels, this resulted in a very inspir-ing and engaging campaign that perfectlyencapsulated the aspirations of the newcompany but which were created by theemployees themselves.”

Being innovative is in Plandsoen’s blood. In1995, when the internet was still in its in-fancy, she was part of designing adverts forone of the Netherlands’ major newspa-pers, the Volkskrant, focused on viewingsrather than millimetre spaces. In 1999 shefounded .bone, the first online advertisingagency in the Dutch market, and last yearshe started RLVNT. She says: “We live inthe ‘age of abundance’, so pushing a mes-sage out to the public and hoping for a re-

sponse just doesn’t work anymore. Beinginteractive and data driven is now part ofour nature. We can create marketingstrategies that deliver the messages at theright time in the right format.

But there is more to RLVNT than just inno-vative marketing. As a more general mis-sion, the company wants to make peoplemore aware of the value of personal datathat modern life leaves behind. Plandsoenconcludes: “Nowadays, everything is dig-italised. Many people don’t realise that wecreate a trail of data about us wherever wego. This data is worth something and it’stime people get control over this privatedata.”

www.rlvnt.nl

The age of one-directional advertising pushed to the unengaged consumer is over, at least if it was up to RensPlandsoen. She is the founder and director of strategic marketing collective RLVNT. With its progressive, data-driven

approach to communicating with the public, it certainly is a new kind of agency.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: RLVNT

Revolutionising the world of marketing


48 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Rochdale was founded in 1903 to buildgood and sturdy houses for people withlow incomes in the Amsterdam region. In2008, a national newspaper reported thatone of the board members was driving anItalian car. The brand of the car (Maserati)did not suit the image of a social housingcorporation.

After investigations, more details came tolight and he was prosecuted for taking andpaying bribes, committing forgery, tax eva-sion and money laundering. Obviously, allof this does not fit the social housing pic-ture and the Dutch were outraged. Due tothis, Rochdale became the national trade-mark for bad and corrupt corporations. After an interim-CEO put things in order,

Van Buren was appointed to continue therecovery plan for Rochdale in 2010. VanBuren: “The reconstruction was heavy, andit took longer than I’ve hoped for. We hadto go back to the basics and reset somegoals. There were a lot of good things go-ing on, but we had to eliminate the bad el-ements first.”

Living in a glass cageWhile Rochdale became the face of cor-rupt (semi-public) businesses, many othercompanies underwent the same kind ofreorganisation. Van Buren: “Initially, the pri-mary tasks of the organisations were forthe citizens. Ever since the ‘90s, when themarket philosophy changed and up scalingbecame important, many organisations

grew and became more autonomous. Ithas brought a lot of good at the beginning;these originations became more business-like and more efficient. But during the lastseveral years things went wrong.”

She continues: “Instead of quality, organi-sations were often judged by quantitativetargets, like universities delivering as manygraduates or doctors doing as many op-erations as possible.”

Social media is also something to bereckoned with; people gratefully expresstheir dissatisfaction with products or serv-ices, and in many cases the reactionsare understandable. We live in a glasscage where everything becomes public

Imagine becoming the head of a company that once stood as a symbol for all that is wrong with Dutch company boards; a regional business embroiled in a national scandal. It definitely does not sound like an easy job. Nevertheless,

Hester van Buren took on the challenge and became one of the three directors of the social housing corporation Rochdale.

TEXT: BERTHE VAN DEN HURK | PHOTOS: ROCHDALE

R E B U I L D I N G R O C H D A L E

Trust is everything


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 49


eventually. This development should beconsidered by everyone, but especiallyCEOs. Only sending a message is nolonger possible, businesses and organi-sations have to be involved. They onlysurvive when they are sufficiently pre-pared to listen and identify the issue.

Van Buren: “If we do not act in a properand correct way, or when we show some-thing different from what we say, it leads todissatisfaction, confusion, misunderstand-ing and a lack of trust. And when you losethe trust, you become implausible.”

Be the eye witness Regaining public trust is one of the mostdifficult things to do. According to VanBuren you have to be vulnerable, realisticand honest. “As a leader, you are a mem-ber of a team. It is not your own company,but a temporary honour. We are all hu-

man, things do go wrong sometimes. Justadmitting it and sharing it with the outsideworld, creates the necessary trust. Do notbrag, just show what you do. you musthave a sense of identity, organise and ac-cept criticism and be involved with theemployees and the customers.”

The current Rochdale board consists ofthree people. Van Buren: “We create timefor self-reflection and ensure that we holdeach other accountable for our behaviour.We are three very different personalitiesand complement each other because ofthis. Our variety of backgrounds also pre-vents tunnel vision in the decision makingprocess.”

Being involved also means taking intern-ships within the company, speaking withthe residents and employees, and reallylistening what they have to say. In other

words: be the eye witness of what is goingon. Van Buren: “Also very important: do notmake any promises you cannot keep. Itdoes mean that I have to say ‘no’ to peo-ple, a lot. Especially in my first years as aleader we had to remediate, only nowa-days we are financially able to makechoices and, for example, protect thepoorest of rent increase.”

Present trustVan Buren is pleased of where Rochdalestands these days: “Employees and resi-dents are proud and have faith again.There are still always people who make re-marks about the former administration.The difference is that nowadays there arealso always people who stand up forRochdale, telling them that it is not the re-ality anymore.”

www.rochdale.nl

Rochdale at a glance- Rochdale is one of the ten largest social hous-

ing associations in the Netherlands.

- Its mission is to provide affordable housing ofadequate quality in safe and liveable neighbor-hoods for people with low incomes in the areaof Amsterdam.

- Rochdale has over 40,000 homes and 2,000commercial properties.

- Board of Directors: René Grotendorst, NicoOverdevest and Hester van Buren.

In July 2015 Hester van Buren will become chairof the Board of Directors.


50 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Van Trojen was facing a re-occurring prob-lem that many women know too well: Whatshall I wear today? How can I resolve thedesk-to-dance floor dilemma? Thus theDutch businesswoman came up with theconcept for LaDress, a label that is de-signing flattering and easy to wear dresses,the ultimate look for any occasion, 365days a year. Van Trojen’s vision was to de-velop a business plan for timeless and age-less clothing with only minor stylingneeded. Even though she didn’t have abackground in fashion, Van Trojen beganher entrepreneurial journey with a strongbusiness perspective and worked on a de-tailed concept for ten months. She be-

came so successful that nowadays she isselling her creations on the internationalmarket.

LaDress offers 300 different styles andevery week the label launches two newvariations of dresses, almost all made fromItalian fabrics. “I consulted good advisers.Effective advisory definitely plays an im-portant part in pursuing your businessgoals,” Van Trojen states. “The companyflourished and grew over time and at somestage I needed some help to run the busi-ness. Since 2012 I also work with a chiefoperating officer. I started selling thedresses via a webshop because online

shopping is easy and accessible for al-most anyone.”

Currently women can purchase thedresses in high-end shopping centres likeDe Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, Breuningerin Germany or Brown Thomas in Ireland.The dresses are made in different ateliers inRomania, Poland and the Netherlands. VanTrojen wears each new design herself tomake sure it is absolutely perfect in everyway before it is officially launched.

“LaDress empowers women by givingthem fashion that enhances their femininefeatures, regardless of figure or age. And

Simone Van Trojen, founder and CEO of the Dutch luxury brand LaDress, says the most important aspect while setting up a business is to have a clear focus. The mother of two, with a law degree, started to contemplate about her

future endeavours in 2006, while she was working as corporate executive and raising two babies.

TEXT: TOyAH MARONDEL | PHOTOS: LADRESS

Designing a dream


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 51

when a woman understands her beauty,she has the courage to do whatever needsto be done,” the head of design notes.Van Trojen said she had no preconcep-tions about what she could achieve.

“Flexibility is a necessary trait not only tothe start-up environment, but to life in gen-eral,” she says. “When I’m on vacationwith my family, I usually get up very early inthe morning to do some work and I con-tinue working when my children are going

to bed. It is all a matter of organisation.”Van Trojen combines motherhood, mar-riage, social life and LaDress all into one.“It’s very important to stay in balance.When I’m with my children, I try to fullyconcentrate on motherhood and not thinkof work.”

Most successful entrepreneurs are inspiredby other successful entrepreneurs. How-ever Van Trojen’s role models are womenthat are timeless icons such as Brigitte

Bardot, Sophia Loren and CatherineDeneuve as well as more contemporaryicons such as Angelina Jolie, Julia Robertsand Kate Moss. “I admire strong and in-dependent women that express femininityin a classy and fabulous way,” she states.“But also the wonderful people I’m sur-rounded by inspire me: My family, friendsand my mother. LaDress is not about me,it is about us.” She also takes inspirationfrom La Dolce Vita and places like Saint-Tropez, the island of Capri and Portofinoare powerful influences for the design ofher collection.

“The key is to make sure you are in an en-vironment where you can succeed. A sup-portive team at work will champion yoursuccess and help fuel your creativity,” shesays. “My vision is that you are good theway you are.” LaDress is currently workingwith 80 team members. The company’s vi-sion is simple and clear: accept and em-brace who you really are and you will feelempowered and be able to get thingsdone.

This March, Van Trojen launched theLaDress Girls. A collection for girls from theage of four that is based on the existingLaDress designs. Lise, is one of the amaz-ing creations, named after her daughter.Van Trojen’s website also offers a handystyling section with inspirational moodboards on how to best complement yourdream dress.

www.LaDress.com



52 | Issue 17 | May 2015

yes, it’s a bit inconvenient with less moneyto distribute and the demands becomingharder. “However,” says Henriëtte Post,director since 2013. “When applicationshave a solid argumentation, there’s no rea-son for the fund to deny the request.”

An advisory board filled with specialists re-garding the subject look at the applica-tion. Festivals, music performances bychoirs and orchestras, concerts and the-atre productions can all try to make theirway to the public easier by getting helpfrom the fund. “We also give applicantshelp when they want to go abroad,” Postsays. “It’s not just here where we have todeal with lesser resources, but everywhere.

But we try to make contacts abroad andmake it possible for applicants to gothere.” It looks like there’s a need for it. Forexample the famous Matthäus Passion,held every year on Good Friday in theGrote Kerk at Naarden, and the Nether-lands Bach Society, who gets help fromthe fund, leads that performance. It’s alsoa way to make it accessible for people,most projects use the funds to keep theticket price affordable.

“Of course we look at how much the per-formance can move people, if they will findit interesting. We give a lot of associationsthe chance to apply for funding, and if theydo, we do our best to help them in every

single way. But they need to show us thatthey can make it work. Funding alone cannever be the only source of budget. Asso-ciations mostly have to get sponsored, orbe crowdfunded, and often times they thenhave a solid budget.” Mostly there are a lotmore applicants than there is money for,but that only means the best ones makethe cut.

On the website the multiple kinds of fund-ing are displayed and show clear deadlinesfor the cultural applicants. “To apply maybefeels as a bit of a hassle, but it’s reallyworth it,” says Post.

www.fondspodiumkunsten.nl

The last couple of years have been a bumpy road for the cultural sector. Cuts in funding have been made which make it harder for cultural events and for the people behind the scenes to make their mark in this sector. For

Performing Arts Fund NL in The Hague, a fund who aims to put the spotlight on performances and stages, it’s not a reason to keep their head down.

TEXT: CATHy VAN KLAVEREN | PHOTOS: COCO DUIVENVOORDE

Funding creativity

Photo: Carly Wollaert

Photo: Simon Van Boxtel


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 53

“The strength of the Westergasfabriek isnot about the historical buildings. One ofour biggest strengths is the cultural andevent programming,” says Maya Meijer-Bergmans, owner of the Westergasfabriek.“We always keep the concept in mind, andaccordingly adjust the programming.”

Making a profit is not the main purpose ofthe Westergasfabriek; they aim for a sus-tainable and cultural use. Any additionalprofits will benefit the WestergasfabriekBV and Stichting Westergasfabriek, andthus to the development of the entire or-ganisation. Meijer-Bergmans: “I’m not hereto ‘pimp’ locations and sell it with a hugeprofit. I strive for a long-term partnership.”

Businesswoman at heartWhile she closely follows the ins and outs

of the Westergasfabriek, Meijer-Bergmansis also involved in many other social andcultural institutes; she is a member of sev-eral boards, fundraising committees andmany more organisations and foundations.“I started as an art historian,” says Meijer-Bergmans. “And so my interests are in cul-tural affairs. Doing business in culturalevents is a lot of fun. I like it that my busi-nesses have a creative coating. But it doesnot mean I don’t have to make difficult andhard decisions.”

WestergasfabriekThe Westergasfabriek was completed in1885 and the gas was initially used for ur-ban lighting. In the 1960s production de-creased more and more until eventuallythe factory was closed. A heavily pollutedarea was left behind, but the land was

cleaned up and since 1992 the buildingshave been used for creative and culturalactivities.

Since the year 2000 the Westergasfabriekexploits the spaces for creative, culturaland innovative entrepreneurs. They want tooffer a wide audience inspiration and re-laxation in an adventurous, sustainable andfriendly environment. Locally, nationally andinternationally the Westergasfabriek is ameeting place for enterprising people withinnovative ideas. Meijer-Bergmans: “Nomatter how much of a cliché it is, biggeststrength of all is the team. Without them itwould be so much harder to achieve all ofthis.”

www.westergasfabriek.nl

What once was a polluted area in Amsterdam is now a beautiful, green, city park bursting with creativity and culture.The Westergasfabriek has become a place to meet people, work and relax. The historic factory buildings serve for large

and small events, various restaurants, a movie theater and exhibition venues.

TEXT: BERTHE VAN DEN HURK | PHOTO: ARJEN VELDT

From breathing gases to breathing culture



Discover Benelux & France | City Feature | Ghent


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 55

Ghent is the second biggest city of thecountry, after Antwerp, with around250,000 inhabitants. With several univer-sities, it also has the highest population ofstudents, making it a lively, bustling place.The University of Ghent, called ‘UGent’ bystudents, has the most applicants and isranked as the best university in the coun-try. It was created at the beginning of the19th century to educate the southernparts of Holland (what would later be-come Belgium). It was a bilingual institu-tion after Belgium gained independence in1830, giving lessons in Dutch and French.But in 1930 it became the first university incountry to teach exclusively in Dutch.

Two rivers in Ghent, the Leie and theScheldt, converge as one to create an is-land. This became the heart of Ghent,commonly referred to as ‘de Kuip vanGent’ (the tub of Ghent), because of its lo-cation. At around 630, Ghent was knownas Ganda, meaning ‘convergence’. Othersources state it was named Gond, a Celticname that refers to water. From here on theGermanic form ‘Gand’ was formed. Ghentbecame known for its cotton and flax andthe city thrived. From roughly 1000 to1550, Ghent was one of the biggest citiesof Europe, at one point second only toParis in terms of the number of inhabi-tants.

We started our trip at the Gravensteen, orthe Castle of the Counts, the only medievalcastle in Flanders with an almost com-pletely intact defensive system. The currentstructure was largely built by count Philip ofAlsace, who greatly expanded the stonecastle in 1180 after it was hit by a fire. Atthe time many wealthy and respected peo-ple such as aristocrats, jurists and doctorssettled in the surrounding area called Pa-tershol, the oldest neighbourhood ofGhent. With their houses becoming biggerand more extravagant, Philips used thecastle to emphasise his dominance.

In medieval times the Gravensteen wasused as a justice court and was the seat ofthe Count of Flanders. In the 18th centurythe castle largely lost its function and partswere publicly sold and used to house fac-tories. Due to new safety regulations, in-dustries had to move out in the mid-19thcentury and plans were made to demolishthe desolate castle, but they never wentahead. Instead, the castle was restoredand opened in 1907 as a museum thatfeatures weapons throughout the centuriesand torture techniques used by the countsfor criminals who were kept in Graven-steen’s infamous dungeons.

Nearby the Gravensteen, in Patershol, wefind many cosy restaurants and cafes that

give the area a buzzing atmosphere, es-pecially in the evenings. In the 1960s and1970s, a home in Patershol didn’t costmuch and many labourers lived in the area.Now, thanks to the many restaurants andspecial cafes that have emerged, it hasbecome one of the most desirable areas inthe city. The winding streets with their highwalls make it feel like you’re in a maze, andPatershol is the perfect setting to get lostamong the bars and have an unforgettablenight out in Ghent.

We decided the leave Patershol behindand headed to the Kraanlei, where wefound Julie’s House. This small bakery isknown throughout the country for its ex-quisite cupcakes and sweet tarts, that areserved with coffee. It is so popular, peoplesometimes line up outside to get theirhands on some of the baked goods.Owner Julie Stampaert uses the simplestingredients and she has a way of making ittaste like magic, like her delicious tarts thatmainly consist of sugar. Only Julie knowshow to make them taste the way they do.Make sure you plan your visit, becauseJulie’s House is closed on Mondays andTuesdays.

For other treats, you can find many ven-dors in the city centre who sell the typicalGentse neuzen or cuberdons, a very

When you think of Belgium, you think of Antwerp and its modern architecture. Or Brussels, the heart of political Europe,with its distinctive multilingual inhabitants. Or Bruges with its medieval sights. However Ghent, Belgium’s hidden gem,

is also certainly worth exploring. So let’s go on a tour and give Ghent the appreciation it deserves.

TEXT: CATHy VAN KLAVEREN | MAIN PHOTO: VISIT FLANDERS | PHOTOS: MILO-PROOFI.BE

D I S C O V E R B E L G I U M

Uncovering a hidden gem: Ghent



56 | Issue 17 | May 2015


sweet, cone-shaped, purple candy filledwith forest fruit jam. But it is the smell ofwaffles that really sparked our interest andwe spotted dozens of waffle shops. In factthe waffle house Max, on the Gouden-leeuwplein is credited as the birth place ofthe Belgian waffle. For generations Maxhas been run by the same family and stilluses the same waffle irons as they didwhen they first began. Last year, it cele-brated its 175th anniversary.

Refuelled by the delicious waffles, we con-tinued to the Korenlei town square markingthe beginning of Ghent’s shopping districtand the biggest pedestrianised shoppingarea in Belgium. Peeking into the nearbyVeldstraat, we saw many fashionable out-lets including the biggest brands. It is notvery common in Belgium for shops to openoutside of business hours and Saturdays,but there are plans for Ghent to openshops on Sundays too.

Coming to the end of the Korenlei we arerewarded with a magnificent view. Lookingto the left we see Ghent’s three towers, theSint-Niklaaskerk, the Belfry tower and theSint-Baafskathedraal. The 91-metre highBelfry tower, the highest of the three, canbe climbed for some impressive panora-mas of Ghent. At the latter, also known asthe Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, we view TheAdoration of the Mystic Lamb by the VanEyck brothers. The altar piece, made in1432, consists of twelve panels, each de-picting a common Christian theme, like thedove of the Holy Spirit. In 1934, two pan-els were stolen, one of them was returnedbut the other is still lost to this day. It is oneof the most infamous art thefts in Belgianhistory and this is why the piece can onlybe viewed behind glass now.

The Sint-Niklaaskerk, built in the 12th cen-tury, is dedicated to Nicolaas van Myra, thesaint who inspired the Sinterklaasfeest(Saint Nicolas celebration), a typical festiveday for children in Belgium, the Nether-lands and parts of Germany in December.The church is free to visit, but it also offerstours. At the church’s shop we saw manyexamples of Ghent’s iconic nooses. The in-habitants, or Gentenaars, are known asthe ‘stroppendragers’ (noose bearers).

St. Bavo’s Cathedral Photo: Cathy van Klaveren

Julie’s House. Photo: Joost Joossen

The Gravensteen medieval castle


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 57


The noose signifies the resistance of theGentenaars in 1540. They didn’t want tolive under the harsh rule of Emperor CharlesV so there was a revolt. Charles humiliatedthe arrested resistance leaders by forcingthem to walk around town with a noose tiedaround their neck. It now symbolises thecourageousness of the Ghent peopleagainst misplaced authority.

Crossing the bridge, we arrived at theGroentenmarkt to visit the Dreupelkot bar, afavourite among locals. It serves hundreds ofkinds of gin, and as music is only playedsparingly, people are encouraged to talk toeach other. If it’s Belgian beers you’re look-ing for, then go to the Waterhuis aan deBierkant. Ghent has a way of making beer alittle more special by combining flavours, forexample with Gentsestrop. This local spe-cialty, blonde beer, has a hint of fruit and asubtle taste of hop and is served throughoutthe city. On the other side of the street is 'tGalgenhuisje, the smallest café of Ghentwith only five tables, seating 27 guests. Italso is the oldest café in Ghent, opening in1776. Before that, it used to be a tripe shop,as it is situated next to the Groot Vleeshuisor meat house, where intestines couldn’t be

sold because of hygiene standards. Itsname, the gallows’ house, refers to the factthat convicts would line up behind it beforebeing hung at the gallows at the back. Theterrace outside ‘t Galgenhuisje is bigger thanthe inside, so luckily we didn’t have to missthe chance to have one of the 18 differentbeers served here before coming to the endof our journey.

There was hardly enough time to see allthat Ghent has to offer in one day. But cer-tainly don’t forget to sit, look and listen toreally take in the atmosphere of this re-markable city. And of course, finish with adrink as you can’t leave Ghent withouthaving one.

EVENTS IN GHENT

Gentse Feesten

17 July to 26 July

During this free, ten-day festival, podiums arebuilt throughout the city to host a whole varietyof acts and music. Singers, street performers andshows for children are all part of the event. Thisyear, the Gentse Feesten will be held from 17 Julyto 26 July.

Ghent Light Festival

Every year from late January

Next year, Ghent will organise this lightshow forthe fourth time, when most of the major buildingsare lit up. It is a way for artists to bring attention toexisting architecture and express their work as anartist. This year it was held from 29 January until1 February and a record of 640,000 people sawthe lights.

Photo: Joost Joossen

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58 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Creating systems which enable digitaltelevision definitely does not seem like anexhilarating job. But as soon as HansKornmann, owner of independent sys-tems integrator Divitel, starts talkingabout his company, there is nothing elseto do but share his enthusiasm. “We pro-vide tailor-made solutions from contentto screen. Watching digital televisionmust be as self-evident as getting waterfrom the tap,” says Kornmann. “The mar-ket of digital television develops and

changes rapidly, and we have to keep upwith those changes to provide the ab-solute best to our customers.”

The world of television has become moreand more interactive and personal. Ele-ments such as hyper-targeted advertisingand linking with social media are commonpractices these days. Divitel is able to re-spond quickly to the customer needs; de-sign, build and deliver high-tech televisionplatforms in a short time-to-value. The spe-

cific technical knowledge and its inde-pendence of products and suppliers cre-ated a very special leading position for Divitel in Europe. With a reach of morethan 200 million people on a daily basis, itis safe to say Divitel has succeeded so far.

A steady revolutionKornmann: “Before internet became ac-cessible to everyone, I knew that digitaltelevision would be the future. At that pe-riod in time not many people shared my

When we switch on the television or watch clips on our tablets or phones, we do not realise that there is a highly complex infrastructure needed for the video. We have become accustomed to be

able to watch high quality television anytime and anywhere.

TEXT: BERTHE VAN DEN HURK | PHOTOS: DIVITEL

The geniuses behind the screen

Discover Benelux & France | Business | Divitel


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 59

Discover Benelux & France | Business | Divitel

vision; the world of digital television hadyet to be developed. It took more timethan I hoped for the world to get the sameview on digital television.” Kornmann per-sisted and successfully started Divitel al-most 20 years ago.

One of the strengths is that the companydoes not go along with hypes. Because ofthis, Divitel is able to grow and expandcalmly but steadily. Regardless of this, atthis moment they are one of the fastestgrowing companies in Europe. Kornmann:“In 2008 we launched a growth scenario,exactly when the worldwide economic cri-sis hit us. We have carefully thought aboutit and implemented it with precision. Don’tdo anything too fast, you have to growsteady.”

Business of knowledgeTo become the best video solutionsprovider of Europe, Kornmann believesone has to be able to take good care ofhis employees. “Some people think it’ssomething extraordinary and exceptional,but to me it is really important to takecare of my employees. We are a busi-ness of knowledge. I need their brains, sothey have to feel good about their workand life.” Divitel has no middle manage-ment, the company therefore has a flatcorporate structure to make things easierand more humane.

“We have a Human Development Depart-ment, instead of a Human Resources De-partment. Most of our workers are highlyeducated, but foremost ambitious people,”says Kornmann. “We want to provide thebest circumstances for them to work. Letthem grow and the company grows. ”

Centre of Excellence for New MediaTechnologiesIn search for new top talents, and to ac-celerate the developments of advancedexpertise, Divitel became the initiator anddriving force for the Centre of Excellence;a place where students or young profes-sionals get a chance to prove themselvesas the next best thing, and at the sametime create new solutions. The concept,supported by VNO-NCW (the Dutch fore-most employers’ organisation), assumes

broad co-operation, not only with the worldof teaching and education, but with well-established international businesses aswell.

Kornmann: “The centre organises eventssuch as hackathons. Which are perfectopportunities for people to prove to usthat we need them. It is a great chance foryoung people to go international at thebeginning of their career.” The programmeis extra special because the initiative didnot come from governmental or educa-tional circles, as most similar programmesare. Kornmann: “The goal of the initiativeis to accelerate the development of ad-vanced expertise by sharing knowledge. Alesson learned from Silicon Valley: sharingknowledge means innovation and innova-tion leads to economic growth.”

The Engineers behind the ScreenDivitel is a high-tech knowledge companythat enables digital, interactive televisionin the Netherlands and far abroad. Diviteldelivers services and systems to cablecompanies, internet providers, radio andtelevision broadcasters and the hospitalityindustry. Without Divitel there is no on-the-spot video, which makes them the ge-niuses behind the screen.

www.divitel.com

An overview of Divitel- Divitel was established in 1996 and provides

television solutions for any business scenario.

- It was the first Dutch company to realise adigital video connection.

- Divitel created the interactive video connectionsfor the Big Brother television programme.

- Creators of: liveTV on your iPad, (un)managedtelevision platforms and advanced, multi-screen video solutions.

- Its customers include ziggo (Netherlands), zDF(Germany) and Telesur (Suriname).

- Nominated for innovative television platforms;MKB Innovatie Top 100 and won the FDGazellen Award twice.


60 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Launched late April, the crowdfundingcampaign is now in full swing. When wespoke to Mutsaerts it was too early to pre-dict whether it will be successful, but he isnot worried about failure. “If we don’t gen-erate enough interest and we don’t haveenough money to buy the island, then thatwould mean it’s just not a very good ideaand we probably shouldn’t do it anyway.I’m actually more concerned there will betoo much interest, and that we will have tosay ‘no’ to people. In which case we mightlook at other islands to buy in the future.”

A unique communityThe idea behind the pioneering venture isto create a community of entrepreneurial

professionals and innovative creatives whowant to escape their busy lives for a while.The island will be their personal getaway torelax, reconnect with nature, recharge andmeet new people. “We want everyone toget to know each other and form a realcommunity. This is why we have a limit of100 members, enough to get to the targetamount of money but not too many so itbecomes anonymous. This number is alsowell within the limit of 150 people, whichaccording to the philosophy of Robin Dun-bar, is the maximum amount of personalrelationships you can form,” he says.

The inspiration came from a fellow globe-trotting entrepreneur, Ben Keene from Eng-

land. He is the founder of Tribe Wanted,which offers off-grid experiences that em-power local communities around the world.Mutsaerts: “Ben started an online com-munity and brought them together, physi-cally, on an island that he leased in Fiji. Ithought that was really inspiring, so I cameup with the idea to buy an island. It is quiteinnovative, it will be the first crowdfundedisland in the world.”

The choice fell on a small island in northernSweden called Stor Grötholmen, newlychristened ‘Böhemia’, which combines abohemian spirit with ö, the Swedish wordfor island. Mutsaerts: “This was the bestchoice, in terms of accessibility, price and

Owning a private island is no longer just for the rich and famous. Dutch entrepreneur Jasper Mutsaerts is currently running a campaign to crowdfund the purchase of an island in Sweden, which will become a hub for a

new international community of like-minded people.

TEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: BOHEMIAN BIRDS, RICHARD MOUW

Discover Benelux & France | Business | Bohemian Birds

Escaping to your own, private island


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 61

location. you can get there within a dayfrom anywhere in Europe, but it is still veryfar away from normal life. It’s the perfectplace to go back to basics.”

If successful, they aim to open the 2.5hectares island to its members in Augustthis year. Campaign manager RolienSandelowsky adds: “The facilities on the is-land are very primitive, there are only twolog cabins with no electricity and no run-ning water. So there is still some work to bedone, but we are very excited. We are nottrying to make a profit, we want to build acommunity and inspire people.”

Uniting global travellersBöhemia is a sister project of the globaltravel society Bohemian Birds, founded byMutsaerts in 2013. It is aimed at ‘curiousminds’, international globetrotters with azest for life and an appetite for the un-known. Targeting busy professionals be-

tween 25 and 45 years old who look for aunique experience, Bohemian Birds offersunusual trips to off-the-beaten-track des-tinations around the world.

Combining a theme with an exceptionallocation, their experiences include a roadtrip through Iceland, (heli)skiing in the Cau-casus, visiting North Korea during the fa-mous Victory Day military parades, sailingacross the Atlantic and traveling throughthe Californian High Sierra. The mission ofBohemian Birds is to help people emptytheir bucket lists. With Böhemia, they willmake the dream of owning your own islanda reality

By bringing international groups of like-minded individuals together, they also wantto inspire and help people follow their pas-sions. Mutsaerts: "We don’t have any evi-dence yet that we really changed people’slives, but one girl who joined us on one of

our trips said she always wanted to be aClini Clown. After coming back, she actu-ally did it, and made the job switch. That’swhat we’re about, to offer something farmore interesting than a normal holiday andto help people find the spark to achievetheir dreams.”

Discover Benelux & France | Business | Bohemian Birds

Buy a slice of paradiseBohemian Birds are looking for 100 crowdfun-ders to each pay 2,000 euros towards the pur-chase of the island. Being part of Böhemiameans co-owning and getting access to yourown private island in Sweden. Because the is-land has limited facilities, a maximum of 18users can stay at there at one time for a max-imum of 35 days spread out over the year. Ifthe target amount of 200,000 euros isn’tachieved, all participants get their moneyback.

The crowdfunding campaign is now live onLeapfunder and will close on 1 June 2015.

www.notes.bohemianbirds.com

Jasper Mutsaerts (left), Joost van Schie (right), owners Bohemian birds and Rolien Sandelowsky (middle) project leader Böhemia.


62 | Issue 17 | May 2015

“The translation of the message must com-municate as good as the original,” saysFrank ter Reehorst, director of ScriptwareTranslations. “If you want to conquer for-eign markets and want to be taken seri-ously, you must ensure the translations areperfect.” Scriptware is a leading player inthe translation industry because of their25 years of experience and insightful use ofinnovative technology. With local teams inmany countries, Scriptware is always closeby, highly accessible and has a short time-to-market. Ter Reehorst: “We use transla-tion memories and deploy terminology toensure consistency, reuse previous trans-lations and save time. The heart of every in-dustry is terminology. We always makesure that each text is translated and re-viewed by local, native speakers andwhenever possible involve (local) customerproof readers.”

Translations for a brochure or advertise-ments are very different from translating a

manual or a contract. Marketing texts donot need accurate representations of thesource text. Ter Reehorst: “In marketing,texts, metaphors or even colloquialismsare used to trigger the reader. A literaltranslation can cause very peculiar sen-tences; therefore the translator needs tounderstand the reader and the specifictone-of-voice.”

Well translated and creative content is vitalfor a website. The translation is not simplydone by replacing one language with an-other. There are wonderful content man-agement systems (CMS) to ensure thatyour website looks slick and features ad-vanced functionality. However, some lan-guages are ‘longer’ than others, whichmeans that the web designer has to cus-tomise the website for each language. Notso effective when you want your websitetranslated into multiple languages. yetScriptware knows how to handle such is-sues, and with expertise in simple HTML

editors to advanced CMS systems, thetranslation agency project managers knowhow to overcome any obstacle.

www.scriptwaretranslations.com

As we are able to translate any language online in a matter of seconds, it seems translation agencies are no longer necessary. But nothing could be further from the truth. Many websites frequently provide

literal translations which are often just not good enough.

TEXT: BERTHE VAN DEN HURK | PHOTOS: SCRIPTWARE

The heart of every industry

Scriptware is based in an old recording studio once opened by world-famous soprano Maria Callas (see image below). According to Frank ter Reehorst, the unique office

façade almost resonances his beating of the language drums.

Discover Benelux & France | Business | Scriptware


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 63

Discover Benelux & France | Business | Columns

Why words should never challenge visuals toa tug-of-war.

As my colleague and I left the café in Libra-mont, Belgium, he grabbed the handle to pullthe door open. The door didn’t budge.“POUSSEz,” I said, reading from the large signon the door.

My colleague is no idiot. His reading skills aretop-notch and his vision is perfect. He’s been touniversity, run successful businesses and raisedthree amazing kids. He can beat every one ofyou at pétanque (the addictive French version ofbocce) and his first language is French, so therewas no language barrier involved.

So what was involved, exactly?Very simply, it is a battle between a word and

a visual cue. When we humans see a handle, weinstinctively want to grab it. In fact, that’s noteven limited to humans. Some other primateshave the same instinct. It’s a handle. If we’re notsupposed to grab it, why is it there?

Sometimes, of course, it’s there so we canpush rather than pull. But a sign has never beeninvented that can reliably overcome the power ofa visual cue as strong as what a handle sends.

So many failures of communication are fail-ures exactly because they take on a challengelike the one that fell to the unfortunate

“POUSSEz” sign. It’s very much an uphill battle.In essence, it’s the battle of the higher mentalfunctions versus the more primal ones. We allknow how that battle is supposed to end, andwe all know how often it doesn’t end that way.

Called upon to solve this type of problem, it’seasy to start thinking along the lines of bettersign placement, bigger type, brighter coloursand other efforts to get the sign to 'yell louder'.

But a reliable answer doesn’t lie in that di-rection. The only solution that will work 100 percent of the time is to swap out the handle witha flat brass plate. There’s only one thing you cando with the plate: push it. And our brains get themessage so quickly and reliably we hardly evennotice.

So next time you pull when the sign sayspush, don’t feel stupid. your brain is only tellingyou what millions of years of evolution havetaught it: handles are for pulling.

Even a monkey knows that.

What communicates?TEXT & ILLUSTRATION: JOSIAH FISK

My coaching client has had an awful sixmonths at work. It’s sorted now and part of thesolution is for him to reduce to working fourdays a week. “What are you going to do withthe extra free time?” I asked, expecting him tosay something about writing a novel or learningto skydive. But he said: “I’ve thought about thisa lot and first of all I’m going to declutter.”

This might have passed me by if the sameevening a dinner guest hadn’t mentioned thatsomeone she knew had recently become adeclutterer. There’s even a professional asso-ciation for them, she said (I checked, there is).Intrigued, I googled ‘declutter’ and straightaway found myself in one of those parallel uni-verses which makes surfing such weird fun. Idiscovered organising consultant Marie Kondo,the Japanese author of the best-selling TheLife-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Not onlydoes Marie tell us how to fold our socks, she

advises us to put our possessions out on thefloor and ask of each one: “Does this sparkjoy?” If it doesn’t, she says to get rid of it. Onereader disposed of her husband this way.

That may be taking it a bit far but I can seethe seriousness of the intention. Modern con-sumerism creates material clutter in our pri-vate lives and modern global communicationscreate clutter in our electronic in-trays. Trydeleting old emails with your eyes closed, it canbe quite thrilling and very satisfying.

So why declutter? Getting rid of stuff cangive you greater physical space which allowsyou more mental space as well. Take it furtherand it’s the difference between the infinity of theEurasian Steppe, with that huge sense of liber-ation and lack of constraint, and the claustro-phobia of the broom cupboard. Unloading pos-sessions (and thinking twice before acquiringmore) at home and at work can have a positive

impact on our lives psychologically as well asbeing good for the environment and your localcharity shops.

Try coaching your-self to come upwith simple rulesfor Kondo-ing (yes,she’s been turnedinto a verb). As MsKondo says her-self, it’s all aboutletting go.

Declutter!TEXT & PHOTO: STEVE FLINDERS

Josiah Fisk

Steve Flinders

Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, consultant, writerand coach who helps people develop their communi-cation skills for working internationally. He’s also a mem-ber of the steering group of Coaching York whichaspires to make York the coaching capital of the UK(www.coachingyork.co.uk): [email protected]

Josiah Fisk is the head of More Carrot LLC, aclear communications company with offices inBoston and Luxembourg.


64 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Discover Benelux & France | Business | Calendar

Business CalendarTEXT: CAROLINE EDWARDS | PHOTOS: VISIT.BRUSSELS - ERIC DANHIER

Foire de Paris Paris, France, 29 April – 10 MayAlways different, always innovative. For111 years, Foire de Paris has been show-casing the very latest products and serv-ices to help you improve and enhance youreveryday life. Once again this year, you’ll besurprised by unexpected finds and ever-in-creasing numbers of exhibitors. With morethan 3,500 brands represented, this one-of-a-kind visitor experience in Europe offersyou a chance to discover, test and com-pare all the new products and serviceswhich can brighten up your daily life in oneplace.en.foiredeparis.fr

EAS Pioneers of ChangeBrussels, Belgium, 5-7 May Now in its third year, the European Asso-ciation Summit has established itself asthe annual peer-to-peer education and net-working forum for international associationexecutives and senior staff. Building on the

success of the first two editions, the EAS2015 explores further the pioneering roleand innovative services and practiceswhich leading international associationsare developing to the benefit of theirmembers.www.easummit.eu

IT and Technology Trade FairLuxembourg City, Luxembourg, 19-20 MayJoin ICT Spring Europe’s major two-daybusiness fair in Luxembourg, a trade eventpromoting the latest technologies and so-lutions. Digital technology and scientificadvancement plays a big part in enhancingour global industry and lifestyle, and ICTSpring Europe is ready to facilitate a plat-form where visitors can explore the manyinnovations on the market. 10times.com/ict-spring-europe

Business and Climate SummitParis, France, 20-21 MayCreating economic growth and a healthy

climate is on the programme at the busi-ness initiated Climate Summit in Paris. Thisis a unique forum for government and busi-ness leaders to adopt forward lookingstrategies and policies to combat climatechange. Network, learn from experts in thefield and get ready to be inspired.www.businessclimatesummit.com

The Solar Future Netherlands Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 27 MayThe Dutch solar market is booming, sowhat’s next? Attend the leading solar strat-egy conference in the Netherlands and getsome of your questions answered. TheSolar Future event will provide a compre-hensive overview of the latest trends on thesolar market, visionary insights and will beyour unique opportunity to meet industryexperts, new and existing customers, part-ners and colleagues, all gathered at thesame event.www.thesolarfuturenl.com

Photo: Solar Future Event Netherlands


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 65

Discover Benelux & France | Special Feature | Sir Albert Hotel

Crafting an atmosphere of a deluxe pri-vate mansion, the Sir Albert Hotel putsthe sophisticated boutique experienceat their guests’ disposal. The staff striveto offer everyone a level of service that’sboth personal and faultlessly profes-sional, going above and beyond theirguests’ expectations.

Sir Albert is styled as a home, a desirableplace belonging to a unique host, a ‘mod-ern aristocrat’. He is part of a new kind ofelite, those with all the trappings of aristoc-racy but none of the pretensions. They areworldly, well-travelled and uber-stylish. Bystepping onto the premises of the Sir AlbertHotel, guests become part of this world.

The stylish look of the hotel was createdby the award-winning, Israel-based de-signers of BK Architecture. The majority ofthe hotel is built using energy-efficienttechnology, a great example of green lux-ury at its best.

The hotel is housed in a former diamondfactory. The ambience and design aes-thetic pay homage to the building’s her-itage, retaining its regal elegance throughthe high ceilings and large, original frontwindows. Facing north, these windows fillthe rooms with the luminous and captivat-ing northern light, formerly used by the di-amond polishers to carry out their craft.

Sir Albert recently opened the doors of the‘Creative Space’, a perfect venue for smallgatherings, product launches, photoshoots, receptions and meetings. Bathedin natural daylight, Sir Albert’s 'CreativeSpace' is both mysterious and familiar, styl-

ish and homely. In this space, ‘the newestthink tank in the city’, doers, makers andthinkers can generate ideas, have brain-storm sessions and can manifest all otherkinds of concepts.

Located in De Pijp, Amsterdam’s famedepicentre of urban chic, Sir Albert is juststeps away from a myriad of restaurants,cafes and boutiques and sights such asthe Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, gal-leries and theatres.

Imagine yourself as a modern aristocrat inone of Sir Albert’s 90 luxury rooms andsuites and don’t miss a chance to discoverthe exquisite dishes served at IzAKAyAAsian Kitchen & Bar, a Japanese pub-stylerestaurant with an outdoor terrace. Sir Albertis a member of Design Hotels and also partof SIR Hotels, a European boutique lifestylebrand, founded in Amsterdam in 2011.

www.siralberthotel.com

Enter a world of royal luxuryTEXT: MyRIAM GWyNNED DIJCK | PHOTOS: EWOUT HUIBERS


66 | Issue 17 | May 2015

Discover Benelux & France | Art Feature | Rubens in Private

The 17th century old master, Peter PaulRubens, single-handedly transformedthe artistic life of the city of Antwerp.Without him, it wouldn’t have becomethe intellectual and cultural focal point ofthe Southern Low countries. He gaveBelgium a unique cultural identity. Aswell as a painter he was a philosopher,architect, draftsman, company director,diplomat and even a spy. He was also apassionate lover until an advanced age.

Ironically he was not born in Belgium but inSiegen, near Cologne in Germany, but hisfamily left the city to escape persecution bythe Catholics. After the death of his father,Jan Rubens, his mother Maria returned toAntwerp with her children when Rubens

was just 15 years old. Several years later, in1600, he left to study in Italy, living in Venice,Mantua, Genoa and Rome. Fired up bynew ideas, he returned to Antwerp in 1609and began to make his mark. What hebrought with him was an entirely new style,centred on the Flemish tradition, but in-spired by antiquity and the Italian renais-sance.

Back home, he bought an old house onWapper Square and spent seven years ex-panding and rebuilding it to create aRubens ‘headquarters’. He added a semi-circular extension to display his extensiveart collection and, on the other side of thecourtyard, he built his studio. The two wereconnected by an impressive three-arched

portico, topped with sculptures of Mercuryand Minerva, with words from Juvenalcarved into the stone. Here he painted hismasterpieces including mythologicalscenes and portraits for major clients, in-cluding Maria de' Medici and the Archdukeof Austria. After his death, the housepassed through various owners but wasbought by the city in 1937 and restored toits former glory.

The new temporary exhibition Rubens inPrivate is a high profile family reunion, dis-playing the master’s personal portraits of hisrelatives. Dozens of paintings and artworksby Rubens and his contemporaries were in-stalled in the rooms, as well as period fur-niture. During his lifetime, they were hung in

R U B E N S I N P R I V A T E

The master portrays his familyTEXT & MAIN IMAGE: RUPERT PARKER


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 67


private areas of the house and were notmeant for public use. On his death, theywere scattered all over the world but now,for the first time, 50 of these masterpieceshave been returned to their rightful home,lent by major international museums in-cluding the Musée du Louvre, Paris and theHermitage, St Petersburg.

They show Rubens as a loving sibling, hus-band and father and allow us to feel the af-fection he had for his first and secondwives, his brother and his children. Theyalso include his self-portraits, the last por-traying him just before his death in 1640.Standout pictures include a beautiful, med-

itative portrait of his elder brother Philip,who died in early 1611. This portrait waspainted shortly afterwards, and it probablydecorated his tomb in the church of StMichael’s Abbey in Antwerp.

His first wife Isabella Brant, who died rela-tively young, was Rubens’ great love andcompanion for 17 years. In her portrait shelooks relaxed with a knowing twinkle in hereye, as though they’re both sharing a pri-vate joke. Four years after her deathRubens married 16-year old Hélèna Four-ment, known as “the most beautiful girl inAntwerp”, and the portraits certainly do herjustice. We see her in her wedding dress

but also with their two children, Clara-Jo-hanna and Franciscus, in a happy domes-tic scene.

The study of his eldest daughter Clara Ser-ena, from his first marriage, is one of thehighlights of the exhibition. Her head andshoulders fill the frame and it shows her ather sweetest, around five years old, butsadly she died at 12. Scientific researchhas just added another portrait of Clara,probably painted after her death, previouslyattributed to a follower of Rubens, ratherthan the man himself. Analysis of the panelshows that the wood comes from a treethat was felled between 1608 and 1615,

TOP LEFT: Peter Paul Rubens, Philip Rubens, 1611-1612, oil on panel, 68.5 x 54 cm Detroit, Detroit Insti-tute of Arts, inv.no. 26385. © Detroit Institute of Arts,USA, Gift of William E. Scripps in memory of his son,James E. Scripps II / Bridgeman ImagesTOP MIDDLE: Peter Paul Rubens, Self-portrait, ap-prox. 1611-1614, oil on panel, 78 x 61 cmFlorence, Galeria degli Uffizi, inv.no. 1890. © ArtothekTOP RIGHT: Peter Paul Rubens, Self-portrait, approx.1630, oil on panel, 61.5 x 45 cmAntwerp, Rubens House, inv.no. RH.S.180.© Beeldarchief Collectie AntwerpenBOTTOM LEFT: Peter Paul Rubens, Portrait of IsabellaBrant, approx. 1620-1625, oil on panel, 53 x 46 cmCleveland, The Cleveland Museum of Art, inv.no.1947.207BOTTOM RIGHT: Peter Paul Rubens, Clara SerenaRubens, 1618, oil on canvas, 37 x 37 cmVienna, Liechtenstein Museum, inv.no. GE105LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz–Vienna


68 | Issue 17 | May 2015


when Rubens was active. Also the preciseway in which her eyelashes and the light inher eyes have been painted show the un-mistakeable sign of the master.

What’s interesting is that even thoughRubens was a rich man, he painted thefamily pictures on small wooden panels,which were cheaper than larger ones.Some of the portraits are composed of fiveor more of these joined together and as aresult are so fragile that they cannot bemoved. His famous painting of his secondwife Hélèna Fourment, The Fur, showingher half-naked wrapped in a fur coat, which

once hung in their bedroom, has had tostay in Vienna but is here in reproduction.

Rubens died in 1640 and was buried in St.Jacob's Church, just round the corner fromhis house. This was his local parish churchwhere he married Hélèna Fourment, theirchildren were baptised and he celebratedmass every day. The church was in thewealthiest neighbourhood of Antwerp andhouses the crypts of the city’s leading fam-ilies. It was logical, therefore, that on hisdeath bed he agreed to the construction ofa funeral chapel in the most prestigiouspart of the church, right behind the choir.He choose one of his paintings for the altar,Madonna with the Saints, but his mau-soleum was only completed five years later.Hélèna Fourment is also buried in thechapel as well as 42 of his descendants.Like his house and the tomb, there aremany other tangible reminders of Rubens inAntwerp. So much so, that a special walkhas been designed so you can discover thesins and virtues of the great man and hiscontemporaries. It takes you to 14 locationsincluding, of course, the Rubens Houseand St. James Church but also the grandCathedral of Our Lady. This is home to fourof his masterpieces, including The Raisingof the Cross and The Descent of the Crossand above the high altar, The Assumptionof the Virgin. They’re certainly impressive,but if you want to learn more about the manwho painted these, we urge you to visitthe Rubens in Private exhibition.

TOP LEFT: Portrait of a young girl, (Clara Serena?), oilon panel. Private collection © Sotheby’s.TOP RIGHT: Helena Fourment with her children Frans,Clara-Johanna and Isabella-Helena, approx. 1636-1637, oil on panel. © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée duLouvre, Paris) / Hervé Lewandowski.BOTTOM LEFT: The Fur (‘Het Pelsken’), with HelenaFourment, approx. 1630, oil on panel. © Kunst -historisches Museum Wien (Vienna) / MVK and OETM,[Reproduction].BOTTOM RIGHT: Peter Paul Rubens (studio of), Helena Fourment, approx. 1630-1640, oil on panel.Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum.

The Rubens in Private exhibitionRubens in Private runs until 28 June at the Rubens House in Antwerp.

www.rubenshuis.be


Discover Benelux & France | Column | Lifestyle

David Altmejd’s sculptures are hard to de-scribe. Formally, it is hard to define whatthey are actually made of, for Altmejd is no-torious for using a myriad of materials tocreate his works. Expandable foam, epoxyclay, plaster, steel, mirrors, resin, glass,glitter and amethyst are all frequently usedin his creations. Alongside this, it is alsohard to describe what his sculptures de-pict. They are complex, figurative con-structions of the human form. Sometimesthey appear like archaeological relics, orcreatures from the depths of your night-mares, and sometimes humorous andchildish imaginings.

However, what Altmejd’s sculptures cer-tainly do is straddle a line between sciencefiction and reality which manages to take afantastical grip on your imagination. Loaded

with symbolic potentialand abstract references,the sculptures create anopen-ended narrative.We come across thesculptures like a snap-shot, a frozen momentin their ever-changingmeta morphosis.

In Flux we encounter some of Altmejd’smonumental works in the Great Hall ofMUDAM. These human sculptures riddledwith crystalline carbuncles and brokenmirrors are completely at home in thespace. The works dominate the room tosuch an extent that it starts to becomeunclear as to who is being inspected; thesculptures loom over the viewers and holdan other-worldly supremacy over us. They

refute all our interpretations, instead sim-ply standing proudly on their plinths.

Having previously been on display in Feb-ruary at the Musée d’Art Moderne de laVille de Paris, Flux is now on show atMUDAM in Luxembourg until the end ofMay. This is the last chance to see thisbody of work in Europe before it travels toMontreal.

S T A T E S O F A R T

Sculptures in fluxTEXT: MATT ANTONIAK | PHOTO: REMI VILLAGGI, MUDAM


With a buzzing art scene, French jazz tunes and the chance to relive history, this month brings uplifting and rather rare events to the Benelux and France. Why not slay a dragon in Belgium? Or spent a night in a French museum?

In May it all becomes possible.

TEXT: CAROLINE EDWARDS | MAIN PHOTOS: ILVy NJIOKIKTJIEN

Out & About

Discover Benelux & France | Culture | Out & About


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 71

Top Left Photo: Erik SmitsBottom Left Photo: Rijksmuseum Bottom Middle Photo: MHM Flugplatz Berlin-GatowTop Right Photo: Museum of RotterdamMiddle Right Photo: Ilvy Njiokiktjien Bottom Right Photo: Firi den Hoedt


The Royal Greenhouses of LaekenBrussels, Belgium, until 8 MayBuilt in 1873 by the architect AlphonseBalat at the request of Leopold II, this is areal town of glass and organics which tookmore than 20 years to grow in the areaaround the Royal Castle of Laeken. Thegreenhouses are open for three weeks ayear just when the azaleas are in full bloom.The place is magical, the setting enchant-ing and the fragrances captivating, espe-cially at night time. www.monarchie.be

The Late Rembrandt at the RijksmuseumAmsterdam, the Netherlands, until 17 MayDuring the final years of his life, Rembrandt

experimented with graphic and paintingtechniques, bringing an unprecedenteddepth to his work. It led to his most auda-cious, individualistic and intimate works.The Late Rembrandt is a unique exhibitionthat gives art lovers the opportunity to ex-perience over 100 paintings, drawings andsketches that Rembrandt produced in thefinal phase of his life. www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/late-rembrandt

The Attack ExhibitionHeijplaat, Rotterdam, 30 April – 25 October This year on 10 May it will be 75 yearssince Holland was invaded and becameembroiled in the Second World War. From10 to 14 May 1940, a relentless battle wasfought for the control over the city of Ro-

terdam, the incredible and largely untoldstory that preceded the bombing that leftthe city in ruin. This exhibition, The Attack– May 1940, five days battling for Rotter-dam highlights the days of battle for Rot-terdam.www.deaanval1940.nl

The Dutch Liberation DayThe Netherlands, 5 May Liberation Day marks the celebration offreedom and the end of the Second WorldWar for the Netherlands. Each year thePrime Minister lights the Liberation Daytorch at the Liberation Festival in zeelandand kickstarts the 14 festivals across thecountry that finish off in Amsterdam. Thecapital’s Liberation Festival (Bevrijdings-


72 | Issue 17 | May 2015


Top Right & Middle Photo: City of ypresTop Left Photo: Brugge PlusMiddle Left Photo: S.SantarelliBottom: Brugge Plus


Issue 17 | May 2015 | 73

festival) showcases talented musicians andis a festivity bursting with joviality andDutch flags which is mostly free to attend.www.bevrijdingsfestivals.nl

Jazz Festival in NormandyCoutances, France, 8-16 May The Jazz under the Apple Trees festivaltakes place every year in Coutances duringAscension week. Every year features lots ofunique experiences, creations, specialevenings, headliners, new discoveries andjazz in all its diversity, including percus-sionist Pascal Schumacher (see page 12).The eclectic line-up ranges from ‘New Or-leans’ jazz to electronic music. The festivaloffers eight days of music, with around400 professional musicians, spread acrossseven stages, around 60 paying concerts,six street performances, many activitiesand 35,000 spectators in the concert halls.www.jazzsouslespommiers.com

The Cat Parade Ypres, Belgium, 10 MayEver since 1955 the people of ypres, Bel-gium have devoted the second Sunday ofMay to the cat. However, if you thought itwas all about celebrating their cuteness youwere wrong. The parade is inspired by theMiddle Ages, a time when cats were asso-ciated with witchcraft and thrown out of thewindows. The real cats have been replacedby toys and no more witch burning takesplace, but the spectacular cat parade stillmaintains a bit of medieval spirit.www.kattenstoet.be

Dutch Flower MarketLeeuwarden, the Netherlands, 14 MayEvery year on Ascension Day, Leeuwardentraditionally organises the ‘Bloemetjesmarkt’.It is Holland’s longest market with a sea of

flowers as far as the eye can see, rightthrough the city’s centre on the Prins Hen-drikstraat, het Ruiterskwartier, de Wester-plantage, de Groeneweg and Nieuwestads.For those with green fingers, this is a must. www.leeuwarden.nl

Brussels Pride 20th AnniversaryBrussels, Belgium, 14-16 May Brussels Pride is celebrating its 20th an-niversary. To mark the milestone, the or-ganisers have decided to pull out all thestops with a full programme of activities,over its three days. The first day will focuson different approaches to gender andidentity. Day two will include a street partyon Rue Orts, followed by an eye-catchingparade on the third day. pride.be

European Museum NightFrance, 16 MayOver 1,300 French museums take part inthe European Museum Night, and 98 percent of them are open to the public free ofcharge between 6pm and midnight. Mostmuseums offer special activities for thisoriginal night, aimed at all audiences: a

storytelling tour, torch-lit tour, concert,workshops for children, screenings, fire-works. Children and adults, lovers of mu-sic, live performance, literature and art in amore general sense all gather here for aunique night.nuitdesmusees.culturecommunication.gouv.fr

An imaginary future in BrugesTriennial Bruges, Belgium, 20 May – 18 OctoberImagine if the five million people who visitBruges every year, suddenly decided tosettle there permanently. Artists from Eu-rope and Asia are invited to interpret thishypothetical question in their own way viaoutside installations, against the backdropof beautiful Bruges. All the installations willbe on display from until 18 October.www.triennalebrugge.be/en

Dragon slaying in MonsMons, Belgium, 31 MayFancy slaying a dragon? Well, you mightget what you want in Mons. Ducasse deMons (or Doudou) is a rather special festi-val that is passed on to future generationseach year, recognised as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Event. In an atmosphereboasting medieval superstition and reli-

Photo: City of ypres

Photo: Brugge Plus

Photo: S.Santerlli


Photo: Eric Danhier


gious rituals, Ducasse de Mons deliverssomething rather special, a chance to wit-ness exciting combat and beautiful pro-cessions. www.doudou.be

Brussels Half Marathon Brussels, Belgium, 31 MayThe 35th edition of Brussels’ half marathonhits Brussels on 31 May. The event knownas ‘The 20 Km’ is an important milestoneof the Belgian spring calendar. Boastingone of the greenest routes out of many ur-ban runs it offers a fun and challengingway to explore the capital. The first editiontook place in 1980 and has gained in-creasing popularity ever since. This year40,000 runners from all nationalities areexpected on the streets. Will you be one ofthem?www.20kmdebruxelles.be/en


74 | Issue 17 | May 2015


A common question asked by Dutch peo-ple is: "What do you think of Holland com-pared to your own hell-hole-of-a-country-that-is-not-the-Netherlands?" A charactertrait I admire in the Dutch is the willingnessnot to allow a complete and utter lack offacts get in the way of a good lecture of thepros and cons of a country someone hasnever lived in. Always reply how much youlove the Netherlands and how much betterthe quality of life is here. This will immedi-ately score you some brownie points de-spite being a foreigner.

Being smartly dressed, for example wear-ing black shoes, heels, make up, not wear-ing denim and taking care of one's ap-pearance is generally frowned upon. If youdress in a way that is outside the ‘Normenen Waarden’ (Norms and Values) of Dutchsociety, you will be labelled as someone

who thinks too highly of themselves. If youwant to get on, dress as if you are going topick up some plants from the local gardencentre. Do this and locals might even in-volve you in a conversation.

Another interesting conundrum for for-eigners: If you speak Dutch with a local theresponse will invariably be in English. How-ever, if you speak in English you'll be

asked: “How come you don't speakDutch?” Breaking this vicious cycle withoutcausing offence requires the delicate diplo-matic skills of a UN negotiator. If yourDutch is good enough, then politely insiston speaking Dutch as you wish to improveyour skills.

I've known fluent Dutch speakers whohave lived and worked here for years thatstill get spoken to in English by the locals.Be persistent and continue speakingDutch, this should hopefully wear themdown and have them speaking with you intheir language.

Follow these steps and you’ll make friendsin no time in the Netherlands.

amsterdamshallowman.com

How to make friends with the DutchTEXT: SIMON WOOLCOT | PHOTO: NBTC

Discover Benelux & France | Column | Lifestyle

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Documents

Discover Benelux & France | Issue 17 | May 2015