All Bell ceremonies

The Netherlands Red Cross sounds gong for Africa

Floortje Dessing en Juriaan Lahr van het Rode Kruis luiden de gong voor Afrika. Een grote hongersnood dreigt hier voor minstens 42 miljoen mensen. Door het weerfenomeen El Niño is er al maanden extreme droogte in verschillende landen in het continent, met  grote water- en voedseltekorten tot gevolg.

Door het uitblijven van regen is de situatie in verschillende landen verergerd. Kinderen, zwangere vrouwen en vrouwen die borstvoeding geven zijn het meest kwetsbaar en hebben acuut hulp nodig. Bijvoorbeeld in Ethiopië waar het land op dit moment te maken heeft met de grootste droogteperiode in 50 jaar. Meer dan 10 miljoen mensen hebben hier voedselhulp nodig en bijna 6 miljoen mensen hebben niet genoeg water of sanitaire voorzieningen. In Oost- en Zuidelijk Afrika, hebben op dit moment zo'n 1 miljoen kinderen extra medische hulp nodig wegens ernstige uitdroging of ondervoeding.

Op de Internationale Dag van het Rode Kruis, 8 mei, wil de hulporganisatie aandacht vragen voor deze nijpende situatie en de nodige hulp.

Voor meer informatie: www.rodekruis.nl

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National Committee 4 and 5 May

National Committee 4 and 5 May visit Euronext

John Bakker, board member of the National Committee 4 and 5 May and a member of the National Fund 4 and 5 May, opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange on Liberation Day.

On 4 May we commemorate all war victims who died during and after World Way 2. On 5 May, we celebrate that we live in freedom for over 70 years. Freedom only becomes meaningful if you know what it means to not be free. That this freedom is fragile is apparent every day. Freedom needs more than silent nurturing. The preservation of a free society also requires responsibility. The organizations of all festivities is not possible without all business and volunteers who contribute to this both at national and local level.

A new memorial will be unveiled on Dam square in Amsterdam in the presence of Mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan. The memorial commemorates the 31 known victims who perished during the shooting on the Dam square on May 7th, 1945, two days after the German capitulation in the Netherlands. Intensive research into this event by Foundation Memorial 2015 for Dam Victims May 7th, 1945 led to the actual number and names of the victims.

For more information: www.4en5mei.nl

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Joep van Beurden new CEO Kendrion

New CEO Kendrion visits Amsterdam exchange

Joep van Beurden was recently appointed CEO of Kendrion (ticker symbol: KENDR). He sounds the gong together with Executive Board Member Frank Sonnemans and colleagues from the Kendrion head office in Zeist.

Kendrion published its first quarter results for 2016 and presented a new strategic plan for the next three years in Amsterdam on 3 May 2016.

Kendrion develops, manufactures and markets high-quality electromagnetic and mechatronic systems and components for industrial and automotive applications. For over a century, they have been engineering precision parts for the world's leading innovators in passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial applications. As a leading technology pioneer, Kendrion invents, designs and manufactures complex components and customised systems as well as local solutions on demand. They are committed to the engineering challenges of tomorrow, and taking responsibility for how they source, manufacture and conduct business is embedded into their culture of innovation.

Formore information: www.kendrion.com

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Natuurmonumenten - National Nature Quiz

Natuurmonumenten sounds gong ahead of National Nature Quiz

Financial director of Natuurmonumenten Coraline Bronsky opens the Amsterdam exchange together with rangers Hanne Tersmette and Frans Kapteijns on the occasion of the first National Nature Quiz which airs on 11 May at the VARA on NPO1.

For the National Nature Quiz, Chris Zegers explores nature in our own country, along with ranger Hanne Tersmette of Natuurmonumenten. He wanders through the caves of the St. Pietersberg in Maastricht and gets his feet wet in Overijssel. “The more you know, the more you will experience and enjoy. And also want to protect", said ranger Hanne Tersmette," You step out your front door and the nature is everywhere. "

Natuurmonumenten wants to share their love and fascination for nature. Natuurmonumenten protects nature areas, valuable landscapes and cultural heritage. Nature is preserved for future generations by purchasing land, managing nature reserves and making natural areas accessible for all. Their work is made possible by volunteers, members, benefactors and corporate sponsors. Partners of Nature include the Euronext-listed ING, DSM and PostNL.

For more information: www.natuurmonumenten.nl  

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Benfica SAD

Benfica SAD rings the closing bell

To celebrate the listing of €50 million in bonds, Benfica SAD management team rang the closing bell, along with the Euronext team. Bonds demand exceeded offer in 2.6 times. This bonds pay 4.25% in interest rate, and more than 6,800 investors purchased Benfica SAD 2016-2019 bonds.

DPA and De Nieuwe Zaak

DPA and De Nieuwe Zaak celebrate joint venture by sounding gong at Euronext

To mark the occasion of their new joint venture, DPA (ticker symbol: DPA) and De Nieuwe Zaak sounded the opening gong to usher in the new trading day on Euronext. These two companies have launched Digital Marketing Professionals B.V., which focuses on the (ongoing) training, and placement of young professionals and senior marketing specialists.

This initiative will contribute to the improved recruitment and promotion of online marketers. “We ensure that talented individuals acquire specific knowledge and experience, enabling them to immediately offer clients added value. This is especially useful for organizations that want to optimize their online marketing strategy and operations, or that want to design new online activities,” says Eric Winter, DPA’s CEO.

Johan Keurentjes, the Managing Director of De Nieuwe Zaak, points out that, in partnership with Windesheim University, the new company has developed a traineeship for college and university level students. “Our experienced specialists provide them with a wealth of knowledge on topics such as online advertising, SEO, social media and big data analytics. In addition to strategic, legal and technical modules, they will also take a training course in communication skills. They will then start work on appropriate projects, under the guidance of our clients. In this way, these young people develop into fully-fledged online marketing professionals in a very short space of time.”

For more information: www.dpa.nl

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World Wish Day

Make-A-Wish The Netherlands sounds gong on World Wish Day

Every year on the 29th of April Make-A-Wish celebrates World Wish Day all over the world. In 1980 the first wish was granted to the 7-years old Chris, he suffered from leukemia. The whole village contributed enthusiasm to fulfil his dearest wish: being a cop. Make-A-Wish The Netherlands is founded in 1989 and annually fulfills more than 500 dearest wishes of children between 3 and 18 years with a life-threatening illness. Fulfilling a wish means a world of difference for these children and provides them and their family with hope and strength for the future.

For more information: www.makeawishnederland.org

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DeGiro

DeGiro opens trading at Amsterdam exchange

DeGiro, market leader among Dutch Retail Brokers, opens trading at the Amsterdam exchange. Martijn Rehling of DeGiro sounds the gong.

‘’In all of our processes we make optimal use of technology resulting in efficient processes. We give all the benefits of our efficient approach to our customers through low costs. Technology allows us to offer a service in which our clients benefit fair rates. At the same time DeGiro is able to create a stable financial institution with solid results.’’, says Gijs Nagel, director DeGiro.

DeGiro was established in 2008 in The Netherlands. Their vision was to service the professional market as well as retail investors with a highly innovative and low-cost alternative to the existing range of brokerage platforms. Low prices combined with a secure, reliable and innovative trading platform has resulted in rapid growth.

For more information: www.degiro.nl

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King’s Day

Koninklijke Bond van Oranjeverenigingen sounds gong on King’s Day

On King’s Day many ‘Oranjeverenigingen’ are busy organizing a village or town festival. The KBOV is the national representative of all ‘Oranjeverenigingen’. They visit Beursplein 5 and sound the gong.

The KBOV helps ‘Oranjeverenigingen’ with advice and information and organizes meeting points for exchange of experiences and ideas. In addition, the KBOV want to make clear that this kingdom, which is not bound by party or group, will be present in the plural society for every Dutch citizen, regardless of origin, race or religion.

The KBOV stresses the importance of promoting and strengthening the bond between the Dutch population and the House of Orange. It seeks to achieve this by initiating and stimulating celebrations, churchal- and other commemorations to mark heyday in the House of Orange. Meanwhile, more than 320 local ‘Oranjeverenigingen’  are a member of the KBOV.

For more information: www.oranjebond.nl

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Eurovision Song Contest

Douwe Bob sounds the gong before Eurovision Song Contest

On May 10 the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals will be held in Stockholm. Douwe Bob will represent the Netherlands with the song ‘Slow Down’. Before he leaves for Stockholm he visits the Amsterdam exchange and sounds the gong.

Douwe Bob wrote the song to create an awareness that one occasionally may take things slower in life. "Slowdown is a protest song against myself, against the speed with which I live in Amsterdam." The Netherlands is 6th in line during the semi-finals and thus stands between two women from Croatia and Armenia. Douwe Bob will sing ‘Slow Down’ for all of Europe between the power-ballads of his contestants. 18 participants take part in the first semifinal.

Douwe Bob amassed fame by winning "Best Singer-Songwriter Netherlands' in 2012. After that yielded a successful collaboration with Anouk with their hit" Hold Me "and the album 'Pass It On' the earned the number one position in the Album Top 100. Douwe Bob’s new album, ‘Fool Bar’ will be released on May 6.

For more information: www.douwebob.nl

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ABN Amro and Singer Laren

ABN Amro and Singer Laren confirm collaboration by sounding gong

Last week, Johan van Hall, vice-Chairman and member of the Executive Board of the Euronext listed ABN AMRO (ticker symbol: ABN), and Evert van Os, Managing Director of Singer Laren Museum, signed the renewed main sponsor contract. This sealed their long-term partnership of over 25 years. To corroborate their collaboration once more they sound the gong to open trading at the Amsterdam exchange.

Evert van Os was very proud and pleased that the bank, the main sponsor of the museum since 1990, chose to renew its partnership with Singer Laren. The confidence that ABN AMRO expresses with its renewal in our exhibitions, theater productions, the construction of the new theater and other activities is fantastic for us as a subsidized cultural organization.

ABN AMRO and culture have gone hand in hand for a very long time. The bank's sponsoring ensures that art, music, design and theater reach a maximum audience. This long relationship goes beyond just sponsoring. The bank is truly Singer Laren Museum's partner, sharing its knowledge and network. This is why ABN AMRO is equally pleased to announce its renewal of its long-term partnership with Singer Laren Museum.

For more information: www.abnamro.nl 

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Mediawan

Listing of Mediawan

Pierre-Antoine Capton, CEO, Mediawan opens the European trading day in Paris.

Mediawan is an investment trust specializing in acquiring stakes in companies operating in the media and entertainment sectors.

Aimforthemoon

Aimforthemoon opens trading and brings entrepreneurs and corporates together

Aimforthemoon is a collective of entrepreneurs in Amsterdam and aims to bring together the different worlds of entrepreneurs and companies to jointly launch as new businesses. They visit Beursplein 5 and open trading.

Recently, Aimforthemoon organized the Skylab event. During this event entrepreneurs and corporate business were introduced to one another. The focus was on exploring how to join forces in order to build new businesses. ‘’Corporate Innovation the Startup Way!’’. Aimforthemoon works together with, among others, the following Euronext listed companies: Wolters Kluwer, Robeco, Randstad, PostNL, KPN and NN.

Aimforthemoon was founded early 2013 in Amsterdam and has grown into a like-minded and passionate community of entrepreneurs who love to kick start and scale new ventures together with corporate businesses. Their dream is to create a global community of entrepreneurs and innovative companies and stimulate and facilitate co-creation between those different worlds.

For more information: www.aimforthemoon.com

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Launch TALX magazine

Trading day opened by 3D printed robot for launch TALX magazine

Trading day at the Amsterdam exchange is opened by a fully 3D printed robotic arm. The Amsterdam Leadership Exchange (TALX) is an event on the impact of disruptive technology on various industries. The gong is sounded for the launch of TALX magazine.

A team of students from the Nova College developed the 3D printed robotic arm. TALX is an interactive inspirational platform for business leaders who want to be inspired by national and international experts from the world of innovation and technique. In active debate sessions, they discuss the future of the following sectors: Finance, Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, Smart Industries (3D printing, Internet of Things, Big Data), Data Security, Law, Recruitment, Smart Cities, Food, Media, Eduction and Energy. Partners of TALX are among others the Euronext Listed ING, Heineken, ABN AMRO and IBM, EY and NXP

For more information: www.talx.nl

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Agfa Gevaert in TECH40

Agfa Gevaert new entry in TECH40

EnterNext presents a new selection of the TECH40 label of the year 2016. The TECH40 covers the 40 leading, small and mid cap Tech companies listed on Euronext’s markets. These 40 companies were drawn up from the total of 320 listed Tech companies (digital companies, life sciences and eco-industry). A nine-member committee then made the final selection using qualitative and quantitative criteria.  This year, Agfa Gevaert is part if this selection and joins other Belgian companies  such as Ablynx, Barco, Celyad, Econocom, EVS and Zenitel

To consult the complete list of the TECH40 label composition: tech.euronext.com/en/our-tech-companies/tech-40-label

National Hennessy Hospitality Award

National Hennessy Hospitality Award winner visits Beursplein 5

The winner of the National Hennessy Hospitality Award (Nationale Hennessy Gastvrijheidsprijs), Moët Hennessy is part of the Euronext listed LVMH Group (ticker symbol: MC), visits Beursplein 5 to open trading.

The purpose of the annual competition is to put a spotlight on the hosts and hostesses in the hospitality industry and to promote knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic hospitality. Since 2012 the competition goes under the name of National Hennessy Hospitality Award. The original Alliance Hennessy Hospitality Award was initiated in 1999 by former president Jaap Klosse, honorary member of Alliance Gastronomique Néerlandaise (currently Alliance Gastronomique ) Hans Flink and the Hennessy Cognac House. Nowadays, the seven major culinary associations of the Netherlands - united in the G7 - participate in the initiative. These culinary associations are: Alliance Gastronomique, Chateaux et Residences gastronomiques, Fine Eastern Restaurants, Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe Netherlands Les Patrons Cuisiniers, Relais Restaurants and Selected Indonesian Restaurants.

The 2016 edition of the National Hennessy Hospitality Award was handed over to Thomy Kleijngeld of restaurant Wollerich in Sint-Oedenrode by Maurice Hennessy.

For more information: www.moethennessy.nl

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ING Starter of the month:QualityWash

ING Starter of the month April QualityWash sounds gong

QualityWash has been elected by the ING jury to be ING startup of the month April 2016. For this occasion they open trading at the Amsterdam exchange. Jordy Bakker, co-owner QualityWash, sounds the gong.

QualityWash offers a car wash service which is different from others. They do not use water,  make use of sustainable products and have a flexible service. QualityWash washes your car at any venue and without the use of water. They save approximately 100 liters per car doing so. On top of that, every wash provides extra protection for the car paint.

Every month ING Netherlands (ticker symbol: INGA) organizes the startup of the month election. Previous winners this year are Awareways and MedAngel

For more information: www.qualitywash.nl  

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Witbe

Listing of Witbe on Alternext

Marie-Véronique Lacaze, co-founder & President - Chief Executive Officer, Witbe and Jean-Michel Planche, co-founder & Senior  Vice President Innovations & Technologies, Witbe open the European trading day in Paris.

Witbe specializes in business monitoring services. The company offers solutions to manage Quality of Experience (QoE) of services delivered to any platform (enterprise application, website, IPTV servers, etc.) to any device (PC, tablet, smartphone, mobile phone, etc.) and to any type of network (fixed, mobile, etc.). Witbe provides testing and monitoring system designed to help enterprises and service providers keep their commitments to their end-users by proactively identifying service defects and producing accurate, yet relevant indicators.