INTERVIEW - WTC Amsterdam › sites › default › files › wtc_today_juni...The first project...

E V E RY T H I N G W T C A M S T E R DA M - S P R I N G 2 0 1 6

NEWS ROUND UPA new house style, a new home for the expatcenter and the real green in the WTC

ON YOUR BIKEDitch the car to beat the jams in Zuidas this summer

WHAT’S ONEssential WTC diary dates for the next three months

INTERVIEW‘WTC tenants now have a voice,’ says AALT LEUSINK

N E W F A C E S I N W T C A M S T E R D A M

FIT20 QBIC HOTEL

Do you still keep using that old ‘no time’ excuse not to get fit?

The answer is here in the WTC. Fit 20 is intensive personal

training of 20 minutes a week.www.fit20.nl

An early-morning meeting or are you staying late at the office? The 82-room

Qbic Hotel in World Trade Center Amsterdam is the comfortable,

chic and smart overnight option. www.qbichotels.com

BRISTOL GLOBAL MOBILITY EUROPE Bristol Global Mobility manages customised global employee mobility projects for corporate clients and their staff. The company has a carefully sourced, selected and managed network of more than 1,000 BristolNet Partners in 150 countries to ensure a seamless global relocation process.

Tower C, Level 5Bristolglobal.com

SHAMROCK VASTGOEDShamrock Vastgoed BV acquires and sells investments in the Dutch, Belgium, British and German property markets - mainly non-residential - on behalf of international institutional and private clients. The company develops an individual assessment of where the best opportunities can be found.

Tower C, Level 5Shamrockvastgoed.nl

NEW TO THE WTC?There are currently 350 companies based in the WTC but new faces are moving in all the time. If your company has just leased space or if you have expanded your office and would like to let the rest of the complex know, please get in touch. Send an email to [email protected].

Tower B, Level 2, Central Hallwtcamsterdam.com

STELLA AGENCY Stella Agency is an international hostess agency which provides high-profile clients with talented front-office staff for short and long term assignments worldwide. These include reception services, exhibitions, congresses, company and sports events.

Tower A, Level 5Stella-agency.nl

LOBBY H/I

CORRIDOR

FACILITY SQUARE

CENTRAL HALL

1

1

22

W T C B U S I N E S S E S

2 WTC TODAY - SPRING 2016

THE WTC NEEDS YOU

While most of us will be heading off on a summer

holiday at some point over the next few weeks, we

hope those of you who are left behind will lend a hand

to help us with a couple of major calls to action in the

coming period.

The first project involves our new tenants’ association

which will give you, our tenants, a bigger voice in

how the WTC is run and how we, as a major Zuidas

player, act on your behalf in dealings with the

surrounding projects and city hall. All new tenants

will automatically become members of the association

when they sign the lease and existing tenants will

all be invited to join. We hope many of our tenants

will become actively involved and by setting up this

body we will be better able to serve you and represent

your views. The association will have a board and

an advisory panel with members from 20 different

companies covering a cross-section of WTC tenants.

You can read more about the association on page 8.

WTC NEWSArt, sport and going green

MOBILITYHow do you get to work on time?

ZUIDAS NEWSCelebrating bikes and music

OUT AND ABOUTWTC events

DIARY DATESWhat’s on at the WTC

LOYENS& LOEFF

OLYMPICPLAZA

RIETVELDACADEMIE

GEERT GROOTECOLLEGE

EN SCHOOL

TWEEDEOPEN-LUCHT

SCHOOL

UCZHANDELAMSTERDAM

BRITISHSCHOOL

ATRIUM

AKZO

STIBBE

AICSFRESHFIELDS STRAWINSKYHUIS

THOMASKERK

WINTERTHUR

ACTA

OZW

O|2

THE EDGE/DELOITTE

IKC RAVEL RESIDENCE

WERKTERREINSTIBBE ENAKZONOBEL

WERK-TERREINDE FRED

WERKTERREINTHE PAVILLIONWERKTERREIN

TELESTO

WERK-TERREINATRIUM

WERKTERREINRECHTBANK

EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

VAN

LEIJENB

ERGH

LAA

N

VAN

DER B

OEC

HO

RSTSTRAA

T

AM

STELVEENSEW

EG

JAC

HTH

AVEN

WEG

AM

STELVEENSEW

EG

NA

ALES

TRE

DLEV

NETI

UB

NA

ALES

TRE

DLEV

NETI

UB

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

STAD

ION

PLEIN

STADIONWEG

SKÜTSJESPAD

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

BEETHO

VENSTRA

AT

BEETH

OVEN

STRAA

T

WIELINGENSTRAAT

PRESIDENT KENNEDYLAAN

ROOSEVELTLAAN

SCHELDE-PLEIN

GUSTAV MAHLERLAANGUSTAV MAHLERLAAN

DE BOELELAAN

DE BOELELAAN

ARENT JANSZOON ERNSTSTRAAT

VAN NIJENRODEWEG

ARENT JANSZOON ERNSTSTRAAT ARENT JANSZOON ERNSTSTRAAT

VAN NIJENRODEWEG

VAN NIJENRODEWEG

DE BOELELAAN

PRINSES IRENESTRAAT

STRAWINSKYLAAN

ALBINO

NISTR.

BARBARA STROZZILAANANTONIO VIVALDISTRAAT

AN

TON

IO VIVA

LDISTRA

AT

DOMENICO SCARLATTILAAN

NOVOTEL

AFC

RAI

RAI

RAI

SPORTCLUBBUITENVELDERT

BEGRAAFPLAATSBUITENVELDERT

BEGRAAFPLAATSZORGVLIED

SYNAGOGE

STADSDEELKANTOOR

ZUID

HOLIDAYINN

ZEND-MAST

RECHT-BANK

WTC

OLYMPISCHSTADION

AMSTERDAM

GIJSBRECHT VAN AEMSTELPARK

GIJSBRECHT VAN AEMSTELPARK GIJSBRECHT VAN AEMSTELPARK

BEATRIXPARK

AMSTELPARK

AMSTEL

ZUIDER AMSTELKANAAL

P

P

P

P

P

A10

A10

A10

S108

S109

VUmc/ACTA

P2

P1 VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT

VUmc

SPOED-EISENDEHULP

VUmcPOLIKLINIEK

VUVU

P

P

DETOUR CYCLISTSAND PEDESTRIANS

CONSTRUCTION AREA 1DE BOELELAAN WEST(Intersection Van der Boechorststraat)

CONSTRUCTION AREA 2DE BOELELAAN OOST(From Beethovenstraat till Europaboulevard)

DIVERSION 2VUmc and Van der Boechorststraat (via s108)

DIVERSION 1Gustav Mahlerlaan and VUmc (via s108)

DIVERSION 3VU and Zuidas Centre (via s109)

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

4

14

6

12 15

ROAD MAPMajor road works this summer

10

Christiaan Huijg, Managing DirectorWorld Trade Center Amsterdam

S U M M E R

8

Among the new tenants in the WTC will be the pioneers

moving into the renovated I tower around the beginning

of next year. Work on the redevelopment starts mid-

September and is scheduled to take around 3.5 months.

I’m pleased to say that we’ve reached agreements with

a few new tenants and 5,000 square metres has already

been leased. We are in talks with potential tenants for a

further 3,000 square metres, so I hope that by the end of

the year, more than half of the tower will be rented out.

One thing we will be asking all our new and existing

tenants is to take part in a short survey in the coming

months to establish how the thousands of people employed

at the WTC actually get to work. The information, based

on your postcode, will be used to devise a strategy to make

sure the WTC and the rest of Zuidas remain accessible

during in the future and during the road works which

are due to start. For more on that, see page 10.

According to our quick-fire survey on page 6, the bike

is the most popular way of getting to the WTC. And

even though I live in Heerhugowaard, which is some

50 kilometres away by car, I’ve joined the ranks of the

bike commuters one day a week. Door to door it takes

me about two hours – because it involves a ferry crossing

– but I have to say I really enjoy it. You have to plan

properly – it’s not easy to carry a laptop on a racing bike

and you need to have clean clothes at the office – but I’m

really feeling the benefits. In the meantime, I wish you all

a very pleasant summer.

INTERVIEWAalt Leusink is one of

the faces in the new tenants association

WTC TODAY - SPRING 2016 3

C O N T E N T S

Summer sports seasonThere’s a great summer of sport ahead of us, not least of which is the European athletics champi-onships in Amsterdam from July 6 to 10. Dutch golden girl Dafne Schippers is hot favourite to take the 200m title and Business Club members are invited to see the race live as part of an even-

COPPERAND COLOURCentral hall is currently home to René Don-ders’ intriguing copper sculptures which hover between figurative and abstract art. Some of the works appear human, oth-ers animal or reptilian and many have a dream-like quality. Colour is an important part of the design and Donders uses oxida-tion and coloured lacquer to increase the intensity of the image. And if you have ever fancied turning a hand to sculpture your-self, Donders’ studio is in Tilburg where he also gives lessons. For more information WWW.RENEDONDERS.COM

ing VIP package. As an added bonus, the men’s 100m final is the last event of the night. And in September, it’s time to practice your swing for the traditional golf tournament between WTC Am-sterdam and WTC Schiphol. More information at WWW.WTCAMSTERDAMBUSINESSCLUB.COM

EXPATCENTER EXPANSIONSuch is the success of the Amsterdam expatcent-er, where international workers go to have their paperwork processed in a one-stop-shop, that the team have moved to a new location along central hall in D tower. ‘We were really cramped but now we have twice as much space and have been able to expand our services as well,’ says operations manager Sietske vanTuin. Last year the centre helped 10,000 new arrivals find their feet and this is set to go up by 20% in 2016. The expatcenter has also just started working with ACCESS, a volunteer network of expats providing advice for their peers. WWW.IAMSTERDAM.COM/EN/EXPATCENTER

4 WTC TODAY - SUMMER 2016

W T C N E W S

A STYLE MAKEOVER

Plant lifeThere are some 50 plants and trees in the WTC’s public places, ranging from the simple ficus to seven metre high Washingtonia palms. ‘Green-ery is very important in a business environment and has a positive impact on air quality and even the smell,’ says Wilco Boender, commercial man-ager at Verheij Integrale Groenzorg. ‘And it has been scientifically proven that plants have a posi-tive impact on people in an office as well.’ The amount of light is key in deciding where to place the plants, and they all have their own watering schedule. ‘But they are not fond of coffee,’ says Boender, pointedly. The company also offers a greenery service for individual offices, rang-ing from a small plant to a complete green wall. WWW.VERHEIJBV.NL

The new WTC Amsterdam website is up and running and you have probably noticed the new colour scheme and improved readability. But the website revamp is one part of a major overhaul of the WTC’s house style which will cover just about everything – from the signage on top of the building to brochures and the narrowcasting monitors. ‘The aim’, says Wijkje Stegen, Manager Marketing & Communications, ‘is to boost the WTC as a recognisable brand, both within the Netherlands and internationally.’

Car park capacityThis summer a number of major road projects start in the area around the WTC and it will be more complicated to access the WTC car park from junction S108 from the A10 ring road. How-ever, the RAI exhibition centre has come up with a company car pool system to maximise the use of its car park spaces on days when no big events are being staged. The car park can be accessed di-rectly from junction S109 and is an 11 minute walk across the Beatrix park to the WTC. For more in-formation, contact [email protected].

Use your voiceWTC tenants can now join the newly formed tenants’ association to have a greater voice in WTC affairs. Representatives of all the 350 com-panies in the WTC are invited to sign up. The aim is to create a streamlined, non-bureaucratic organisation which can get its teeth stuck into issues which affect everyone within the WTC complex. From the catering to the car parks – we’d like to know what you think. There is an in-terview with association member Aalt Leuskink on page 8. For more information, contact [email protected]

WTC TODAY - SUMMER 2016 5

W T C N E W S

Bike, metro, on foot, car?Several major road projects start up around the WTC this summer, which will make it more difficult to get to work if you come by car. We asked WTC workers for their tips on getting to the office on time.

LUC SPEE GEMEENTE AMSTERDAMI don’t have a car. I live in Zuidoost and it’s quicker to come by train but I like to cycle. It takes more or less half an hour. I get up at 7am and I leave home about 8.15am.

JOANA GONCALVES, PAULINE HULSHOF & LISETTE MEIJER HUDSON ADVISORS NETHERLANDS B.V.PAULINE: Do not go by car! That’s my tip.JOANA: Just get your bike, that’s the most effective and efficient way of getting around in Amsterdam, in general. PAULINE: Yeah, in general, but also here in Zuidas.LISETTE: I come by bike too. It’s definitely easier and it’s quick.

MARCO VERHEUL & TIM VERDRIET SHIRETIM: Travel by metro, the num-ber 51, and make sure you allow yourself one hour to get here. MARCO: My tip to get here on time? Go to work late to beat the rush hour. I arrived at around 12.


V O X P O P U L I

LOES VAN DOORMAAL ENI INTERNATIONALI come from Scheveningen so first I have to jump on my bike and then take the train. If everything goes well then I’m usually here twenty minutes early. So, yeah, set the alarm clock early. I’m someone who likes to take it slow, take my time eating, showering; so I’d rather get up a bit earlier.

WATARU IKEZAKI & HAJIME SUGAWARA EIKEN CHEMICALWATARU: I come by tram, from Amstelveen. I have a dog, so usually I take an early morning walk with him first. HAJIME: Me, I just skip breakfast, every day to get here on time.

TESSA VAN DER POL & OTMAR CAROLUS TCAM B.V.

TESSA: I took the train today. OTMAR: Just leave on time.

TESSA: Leave early!OTMAR: Try and take into

consideration that there might be traffic jams, that’s it.

MARCO SELLER KEMPEN & COI come to work by bike. My best piece of advice would be that you get out of bed as early as you can, and take all the time you need to have a decent breakfast; then you can be relaxed as you move towards getting on your bike and heading to the office.

DAVID DE VRIES LOGEX B.V.

I walk, I live around the corner. I just set, like, five alarms. I need it.

YORIYUKI HIRAYAMA TOYOTA MOTOR FINANCE (NETHERLANDS) B.V.I come on foot. I live about 30 minutes away. Some-

times I come by bus but never by bike. I go to the gym about twice a week - do some cycling and running -

that helps me be nice and clear-headed for work.

CHANTAL BLITS ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENTI come here by bicycle because I live in Amsterdam. It’s the best way because you never have to worry about traffic, which can slow you down.


PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNE LAKEMAN


I N T E R V I E W

Aalt Leusink WANTS TO HELP GIVE WTC TENANTS A VOICE

The WTC is like a lively village, says Aalt Leusink, who is set to join the board of a new WTC tenants’ association. ‘Now all it needs is the village council.’

It’s been a while in the planning but the final touches are now being put to the paperwork for a new WTC tenants’ association. The aim is to get tenants involved and give them a voice in WTC and Zuidas affairs in a positive way, without cre-ating a new bureaucracy. ‘The WTC is like a vil-lage under a single roof,’ says Aalt Leusink, who is associate director and head of general affairs at the finance division of MUFG Bank (Europe). ‘There is a liveliness about it which I thoroughly enjoy.’

OFFICIAL The WTC has had an informal tenants panel to talk about issues such as the building’s facilities for some time, but now the step is being taken to establish a more formal association with an offi-cial statute, a board and a regular scheme of four meetings a year. All new tenants will automatically become members when they sign their lease and current tenants are being invited to join as well. ‘The idea is to represent the tenants’ interests in dealing with our landlord, as well as exchange ideas and information and deal with practical is-sues,’ says Aalt, who is set to become one of sever-al board members. ‘Everyone is busy in their own offices but we don’t all need to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes individual tenants come up with a re-ally good idea which can benefit the rest of us. We

just need a more effective mechanism to share it.’In addition, the association will be able to act on behalf of tenants towards the outside world, such as the city council, which is of particular importance at the moment. ‘Obviously, tenants are a lot strong-er if there is a body which can say “we represent 350 WTC companies”,’ Aalt points out. ‘For example, we in the WTC may have a different idea to people south of the railway line about developments when it comes to car parking. It is important that the voices of as many people as possible are heard.’

LOBBYINGThat formal lobbying role is important to the WTC’s management who believe the new set-up will give much more weight, given the changes Zui-das is going through and will continue to go through for years to come. Unlike many of the buildings in Zuidas, the WTC is a multi-tenant complex. While some companies are represented by just one or two people, others employ over 100 staff. MUFG Bank, for example, has 140 members of staff. ‘I take a great deal of pleasure in being involved with people from so many different nationalities,’ says Aalt. ‘Our own staff come from all over the world but work together as a team, as colleagues. I would like to see that in the tenants’ association. Then we can create a real WTC feeling. After all,

as tenants, we are all in it together.’ Despite his fondness for the big city, Aalt is a vil-lage man. His trip from home in the east of the country takes up to two hours a day by train. He’s made the long daily journey for the past 10 years and has watched the way Zuidas has changed. ‘It’s busier and it’s better,’ he says. ‘It used to be dead after 6pm but now there are bars and cafes and of course people live here. People still think Zuidas is a sterile place full of offices and people rushing around being self-important. But it really isn’t. And I really appreciate the mix of people.’

LONG-TERMAs the WTC association begins to find its feet, Aalt expects the initial focus to be on more practi-cal, facility-orientated issues and he stresses that he and his fellow board members are not in the business of planning a revolution. ‘For me it is about continuous improvements and looking for ways to do things better,’ he said. ‘I am not about change for the sake of it, but change to improve the way we operate.’Take, for example, the annual emergency evacu-ation test. ‘Lots of people don’t have a clue what to do when the alarms sound, even though they’ve got all the information,’ he says. ‘And then some people simply ignore it. But if we work together as


tenants, we can make sure everyone knows what to do. It would also be good, for example, if the WTC offered specific training in emergency procedures.’Another area where peer pressure can play a role is in dealing with waste. ‘The WTC has made great strides in encouraging tenants to separate their waste properly, but there are still those who want to dump everything in one bag,’ he points out. ‘Perhaps, and I am speak-ing personally here, we could have a competi-tion to find out which company makes the most progress – who is the champion when it comes to cutting waste. After all, here in the WTC we run for good causes, so why not turn our rub-bish into a competition too?’

About the tenants’ association

All tenants are invited to join

There will be four meetings a year

The more members, the better

Tenants will have a voice

The association can lobby on behalf of WTC tenants

‘WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS TO

COMPANIES SOUTH OF THE RAILWAY’

LOYENS& LOEFF

OLYMPICPLAZA

RIETVELDACADEMIE

GEERT GROOTECOLLEGE

EN SCHOOL

TWEEDEOPEN-LUCHT

SCHOOL

UCZHANDELAMSTERDAM

BRITISHSCHOOL

ATRIUM

AKZO

STIBBE


THOMASKERK

WINTERTHUR

ACTA

OZW

O|2

THE EDGE/DELOITTE

IKC RAVEL RESIDENCE


WERK-TERREINDE FRED


TELESTO

WERK-TERREINATRIUM


EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

VAN

LEIJENB

ERGH

LAA

N

VAN

DER B

OEC

HO

RSTSTRAA

T

AM

STELVEENSEW

EG

JAC

HTH

AVEN

WEG

AM

STELVEENSEW

EG

NA

ALES

TRE

DLEV

NETI

UB

NA

ALES

TRE

DLEV

NETI

UB

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

STAD

ION

PLEIN

STADIONWEG

SKÜTSJESPAD

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

BEETHO

VENSTRA

AT

BEETH

OVEN

STRAA

T

WIELINGENSTRAAT


ROOSEVELTLAAN

SCHELDE-PLEIN


DE BOELELAAN

DE BOELELAAN


VAN NIJENRODEWEG


VAN NIJENRODEWEG

VAN NIJENRODEWEG

DE BOELELAAN

PRINSES IRENESTRAAT

STRAWINSKYLAAN

ALBINO

NISTR.


AN

TON

IO VIVA

LDISTRA

AT


NOVOTEL

AFC

RAI

RAI

RAI




SYNAGOGE

STADSDEELKANTOOR

ZUID

HOLIDAYINN

ZEND-MAST

RECHT-BANK

WTC

OLYMPISCHSTADION

AMSTERDAM



BEATRIXPARK

AMSTELPARK

AMSTEL

ZUIDER AMSTELKANAAL

P

P

P

P

P

A10

A10

A10

S108

S109

VUmc/ACTA

P2


VUmc

SPOED-EISENDEHULP

VUmcPOLIKLINIEK

VUVU

P

P







DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

E-bike experimentsThe WTC is currently involved in two initiatives to

reduce traffic congestion using electric bikes. One project involves e-bikes which can be borrowed from the WTC itself and returned to the same

location. The second is a Zuidas-wide experiment involving e-bikes which can be left elsewhere in the area. At press time, no decision had been

taken about which project, if either, should get the green light. More next issue.


W T C M O B I L I T Y I S S U E S

LOYENS& LOEFF

OLYMPICPLAZA

RIETVELDACADEMIE

GEERT GROOTECOLLEGE

EN SCHOOL

TWEEDEOPEN-LUCHT

SCHOOL

UCZHANDELAMSTERDAM

BRITISHSCHOOL

ATRIUM

AKZO

STIBBE


THOMASKERK

WINTERTHUR

ACTA

OZW

O|2

THE EDGE/DELOITTE

IKC RAVEL RESIDENCE


WERK-TERREINDE FRED


TELESTO

WERK-TERREINATRIUM


EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

EURO

PAB

OU

LEVARD

VAN

LEIJENB

ERGH

LAA

N

VAN

DER B

OEC

HO

RSTSTRAA

T

AM

STELVEENSEW

EG

JAC

HTH

AVEN

WEG

AM

STELVEENSEW

EG

NA

ALES

TRE

DLEV

NETI

UB

NA

ALES

TRE

DLEV

NETI

UB

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

STAD

ION

PLEIN

STADIONWEG

SKÜTSJESPAD

PARN

ASSU

SWEG

BEETHO

VENSTRA

AT

BEETH

OVEN

STRAA

T

WIELINGENSTRAAT


ROOSEVELTLAAN

SCHELDE-PLEIN


DE BOELELAAN

DE BOELELAAN


VAN NIJENRODEWEG


VAN NIJENRODEWEG

VAN NIJENRODEWEG

DE BOELELAAN

PRINSES IRENESTRAAT

STRAWINSKYLAAN

ALBINO

NISTR.


AN

TON

IO VIVA

LDISTRA

AT


NOVOTEL

AFC

RAI

RAI

RAI




SYNAGOGE

STADSDEELKANTOOR

ZUID

HOLIDAYINN

ZEND-MAST

RECHT-BANK

WTC

OLYMPISCHSTADION

AMSTERDAM



BEATRIXPARK

AMSTELPARK

AMSTEL

ZUIDER AMSTELKANAAL

P

P

P

P

P

A10

A10

A10

S108

S109

VUmc/ACTA

P2


VUmc

SPOED-EISENDEHULP

VUmcPOLIKLINIEK

VUVU

P

P







DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

DIVERSION

How to keep moving this summerSeveral major infrastructure projects hit Zuidas this summer, making it much more difficult to access the WTC by car. A number of diversions have been set up and the city council has promised extra measures to reduce congestion but delays will be inevitable. Here’s a round-up of the main issues.

THE STRAWINSKYLAANThe Strawinskylaan is being given a six month overhaul starting at the end of September. Much of the initial work will take part at night when the section between the Beethoven-straat and Strawinskyhuis will be closed to traffic. Later, public transport and road ac-cess will be disrupted. More next issue.

THE BOELELAAN WESTThe junction between the Boelelaan and the Van der Boechorststraat will close com-pletely to all but bike traffic from July 1 until August 29 while essential engineering work

is carried out on the cabling and drains. This means you won’t be able to access the WTC from the A10 ring road at junction S108.

TRAIN SERVICESThere will be no trains to and from Station Zuid from August 1 to August 9.

TRAM SERVICESTram 16 will operate for most of the summer but there will be no services in the weekend of July 2 and 3 and

from Saturday August 6 to Monday August 15.

Check www.gvb.nl for up to date information.

BUS SERVICESBuses will use detours involving the Van Nijenrodeweg and Buiten-veldertselaan and the Stadionweg

– Parnassusweg – Strawinskylaan while the junction is closed.

THE BOELELAAN EASTWork on overhauling this section of the Boelelaan started in March. In September, the road will be reduced from four lanes to two and diversions will be in operation.








W T C M O B I L I T Y I S S U E S

YOUR GOOD HEALTHWater infused with cucumber and green apples was among the refreshments on offer to WTC

Business Club members at March’s seminar on promoting good health at work. Some 75 mem-bers came along to listen to a range of experts

including Peter Kuijper, who talked about vitality and mindfulness trainer Robert Bridgeman.

ZUIDAS RUNThe WTC was once again a proud sponsor of the annual Zuidas Run. This year’s races raised €12,703 for the VU medical centre’s childhood cancer research project.

B U S I N E S S C L U B


AN ACE DAY OUTA select group of WTC Business Club

members got together with former world number one doubles player Jacco Eltingh and his coaching team for an afternoon

of tennis in May. In good tennis tradition, rain stopped play for a time and the even-

ing finished with a well-earned drink.

The first 10 runners to cross the finishing line in the 10 mile race will take

part in the Dam to Dam race in September as the Winners Team Zuidas Run. Follow

them via FACEBOOK.COM/ZUIDASRUN


E V E N T

Z U I D A S N E W S

Meet the real people of ZuidasZuidas today is as much about its residents and builders as big business and that is what city officials aim to highlight in a new series of photographs. And no, these pictures are not posed by models - they are the real people of Zuidas. The photos are part of a new communications strategy to make sure everyone is kept on top of the latest developments.

ZUIDAS SUSTAINABILITYThe fourth edition of the Zuidas Sustainability Report gives a breakdown of the broad spectrum of initiatives underway to make Zuidas a greener and more pleasant place for everyone who lives and works here. Next year’s tar-gets include a commitment to slash energy usage and focus on local gen-eration projects, further boost the use of bikes and public transport, reduce waste and develop pilot projects to cope with the effect of extreme rainfall. Ambitious young professionals are also being invited to take part in this year’s Green Business Challenge to set up a concrete sustainable project in Zuidas within a few months. WWW.GREENBUSINESSCHALLENGE.NL

SUMMER MUSIC CONCERTSIf you are not a classical music buff but you’ve wondered about Gustav Mahl-er’s music, you can find out more in August when the Gustav Mahlerplein hosts a late afternoon concert as part of the Grachtenfestival. Pelgrim Brass will perform music by Mahler himself, as well as Brahms and other com-posers from the period. There are three other Zuidas concerts taking place. On Tuesday, August 16, 10-piece brass and percussion ensemble Latoen will perform a lunchtime concert in the Beatrix park. On Tuesday, August 16, the Hello Zuidas orgaisation hosts a members’ only concert at Loyens & Loeff. On Wednesday, August 17, the Noota saxophone duo perform suitably sum-mery music at the Summertime residential complex. Full details on WWW.GRACHTENFESTIVAL.NL

A festival of bikesWork only started on the bike park under the Gustav Mahlerplein last year but in July it will be formally opened with three days of festivities. The park will have space for 3,000 bikes, including 200 which can be rented through the public transport OV-fiets scheme. The celebrations, which run at lunchtime from July 12 to 14, include a picnic on the Mahlerplein itself, charity fundraising, the chance to test out e-bikes and some amazing stunt bikes.


D A T E S F O R Y O U R D I A R YW T C E V E N T S

WTC TODAY is published quarterly by World Trade Center Amsterdam. You can also download WTC Today from the website www.wtcamsterdam.com. WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO WTC TODAY? Please email [email protected].

TEXT Zuidas Text and Translations PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY Anne Lakeman DESIGN Vindustries, Ouderkerk a/d Amstel

PRINT Drukkerij Aeroprint, Ouderkerk a/d Amstel. WTC Today is produced in a CO2 neutral production process and printed on 100% FSC certified paper.

CREDITS


TUESDAY, JULY 14

ZUIDAS CYCLESThe start of three days of festivities

to launch the new park for 3,000 bikes under the Gustav Mahlerplein

AUGUST 16-18

GRACHTENFESTIVALFour concerts are taking place in Zuidas as part of this year’s

Grachtenfestival music extravaganza

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

SUMMER SAILJoin other WTC tenants for an afternoon messing around in boats, followed by a barbecue

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

ZUIDAS SUMMER PARTY

Drinks, live music and lots of food to start off the summer

with a swing on Zuidplein

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

GREEN BUSINESS CHALLENGE

This year’s four-month campaign to make Zuidas greener kicks off with

a weekend of intensive training

THURSDAY, JULY 7

WTC BUSINESS CLUBA VIP visit to the European

Athletics championships, including (hopefully) Dafne Schippers

in the 200m final.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

WTC BUSINESS CLUBDefend the honour of WTC

Amsterdam in the traditional golf Ryder Cup tournament

against WTC Schiphol.

AUTUMN GLOWNEXT ISSUE: A new look for I tower, the latest on the roadworks and a new face for the business club

WTC TODAY IS OFFERED TO YOU BY

INTERVIEW - WTC Amsterdam › sites › default › files › wtc_today_juni...The first project...

Documents

Transcript of INTERVIEW - WTC Amsterdam › sites › default › files › wtc_today_juni...The first project...