INTERVIEW Think opportunities not hurdles, says LEONIQUE VAN HOUWELINGEN

E V E RY T H I N G W T C A M S T E R D A M - A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 INTERVIEW ‘Think opportunities not hurdles,’ says L EO N I QUE VAN HOUWE LI N G E ...
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E V E RY T H I N G W T C A M S T E R D A M - A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

INTERVIEW

‘Think opportunities not hurdles,’ says

L EO N I QUE VAN HOUWE LI N G E N

NEWS ROUND UP Robot colleagues, a golf challenge and beating the jams with an electric bike OUT AND ABOUT Sailing into the sunset and WTC Business goes for gold WHAT’S ON Essential WTC diary dates for the next three months

WTC BUSINESSES

HEALTH AND THERAPY CENTER

PHISAGE

1 LOBBY H/I

FACILITY SQUARE

2

CENTRAL HALL

1

2

Homeopathy and osteopathy in the heart of the WTC by

Phisage Beauty & Wellness is

CORRIDOR

an oasis of tranquility amid

experienced experts

the bustle of central hall

www.homeotherapycenter.nl

phisage.nl

www.yourosteopath.eu

NEW FACES IN WTC AMSTERDAM MASSIVE SPLASH

MTU MAINTENANCE LEASE SERVICES

Massive Splash is a global, innovative leader in creating and

MTU Maintenance Lease Services is a joint venture with

driving ROI solutions in digital performance marketing. The

Japanese Sumitomo Corporation and specialises in short to

company offers a full spectrum of specialised marketing service

medium term aircraft engine leases plus asset and material

covering brand and performance marketing, e-commerce and

management. The company is part of MTU Aero Engines,

providing tailored strategic insights.

Germany’s leading engine manufacturer.

Tower H, Level 19

Tower B, level 16

Massivesplash.com

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MAX FOUNDATION

CREDITACCESS ASIA

The mission of Max Foundation is to save as many children’s

CreditAccess Asia provides financial services in South and

lives in the most effective and sustainable way by ensuring easily

Southeast Asia focusing on individuals and small businesses,

preventable diseases are no longer a cause of child mortality. The

which traditionally do not have access to suitable and reliable

foundation focuses mainly on the provision of safe water supplies,

financial products. Founded in 2006, the company employs

adequate sanitation and better hygiene in southern Asia.

some 6,900 people, who serve over 1.6 million clients.

Tower A, level 5

Tower C, Level 10

Maxfoundation.org

Creditaccess.com

WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

CONTENTS STADIONKADE

WIELINGENST

RAAT

KADE

CORNELIS DOPPER

P

WILLEM KESSTRAAT

ANT. VE

RAAT

EVERT CORNELISST

C.VAN R

ENNESSTR.

BEETHOVENSTRAAT

MINERVALAAN

AAT PRINSES MARGRIETSTR

RHEIJSTR.

8 IN TE RV I EW

BEATRIXPARK

6

Leonique van Houwelingen

WTC NE WS

VO X P O P

glass ceilings

Art and music

RAAT Are you addict? IRENESTmedia SESsocial PRINa

4

W. LANDRÉSTR.

THOMASKERK

T PRINSES IRENESTRAA

NPL

does not believe in

RAI

SINT NICOLAAS LYCEUM

STRAWINSKYHUIS

P

STRAWINSKYLAAN

STIBBE

RAI

WTC

AKZO NOBEL

ZUIDPLEIN MATHIJS VERMEULENPAD

10 M OBI LI T Y

P

CHRISTIAN NEEFESTRAAT

A10

RAI Parkeergarage

12

14

15

O U T AND ABO UT

Z UID A S N E WS

D IA RY D AT ES

WTC events

Food bank collection

What’s on at the WTC

The roadworks continue SPOORSLAG

RAI

AUTUMN

GUSTAV MAHLERPLEIN

W E N EABNEAMRO D YOUR HELP

OV

H ET

IKC

RAVEL RESIDENCE

Christiaan Huijg, DManaging Director E BOE LELAA N World Trade Center Amsterdam KROOSWIJKHOF

AN

LA

ET

VLI

EN

HE

DE KLENCKE

roads at the busiest times. Think flexible office hours, MATENESSEHOF working at home and yes, even a long cycle ride. City officials estimate we’ve got toWEENAHOF get 1,500 cars off the roads during morning rush hour and again in the evening to SPANGENHOF stop the jams increasing. So we need your input. If you’ve got ideas to keep Zuidas moving, please do let me know. My door is always open.

T. ALBINONISTRAAT

T AA TR

S EN

P

IVALDISTRAAT ANTONIO V

AFC

BE

ROSY WERTHEIMSTRAAT

LEO SMITSTRAAT

The nights are now well and truly drawing in and there is that autumn chill in the air. I am still cycling AV MAHLERLAAN to work one day a week, even though it takes me two hours, but I am beginning to wonder how long I will last GUSTAV MAHLERwhen it P starts to get really cold and dark. But then weP PLEIN all have to change our ways a bit to make sure that the GEORGE GERSHWINLAAN WTC stays accessible. The ongoing roadworks – part GEORGE GERSHWINPLEIN of the Zuidasdok development plan – continue to cause problems and we all have to work together to minimize the impact. You can read more about the traffic DE BOELELAAN situation, and the implications for the Strawinskylaan in particular, on page 10. Please remember that one of our jobs is to keep a close eye on your interests when it comes to issues which are beyond our control so do keep us posted if you are experiencing particular problems. Here in the office we are currently working on a mobility plan which we hope will help point the way forward. Of course, we can’t force people to use public transport but we can come up with other ideas to get people off the

One scheme that we hope will help is our electric bike rental programme which is being launched in October. We’re proud to be among the Amsterdam pioneers with DOMENICO SCARLATTILAAN this project. You can find out more about how the scheme works on page four. You’ve probably noticed that workZENDhas now begun on the MAST refurbishment of I tower. We hope to finish the job by BARBARA STROZZILAAN January 1 and are doing our best to keep the nuisance to P us. So far, other tenants to a minimum. Please bear with we’ve rented out 8,000 m2 of the 14,500 m2 that I tower HOLIDAY has on offer. We may need what is left to temporarily INN house some of our D tower residents which is also in line to be refurbished and expanded. More on that in the next DE BOELELAAN issue. This autumn we’ll also be launching a survey to find out what you want from us in terms of social media messaging. Would you like us to make more use of LinkedIn and Facebook to keep you up-to-date with NOVOTEL DE KLENCKE everything going on at the WTC? We’d really appreciate your input here as well so please take part in the survey when it is circulated in the next few weeks. WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

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WTC NEWS

NEW WORLD MUSIC On November 23 central hall will be filled with music referring to the New World - America between 1880 and 1920. The programme includes compositions by Dvorak, Foote and Griffes that have been strongly influenced by Native American themes and Afro-American spirituals. This

programme was originally created by Maarten van Veen for his famous Hortus Festival last August and now the Hortus Ensemble string quartet bring it to WTC Amsterdam. For more information, WWW.MUSIXFORYOU.COM

Your new colleague

a robot? If you’ve ever wanted to know what robots and artificial intelligence could mean for your job, don’t miss the WTC Amsterdam Business Club’s autumn event – a lunchtime lecture by Gerard Smit, chief technology officer Benelux for IBM. Gerard is closely involved in the Watson project –a cognitive computing platform developed by IBM and based on the human brain. ‘Watson essentially learns from its mistakes and will disrupt the way many companies deal with repetitive work,’ says business club manager Godfried Schölvinck. ‘Artificial intelligence is going to have a major impact on Zuidas companies and the way they work. For example law firms won’t need paralegals to search for jurisprudence because robots will be doing their jobs.’ The event takes place on November 17 at midday and includes a traditional Dutch lunch. WWW.WTCAMSTERDAMBUSINESSCLUB.COM

A NEW LOOK FOR ABN AMRO The ABN Amro branch in the central hall has been given a make-over to better serve its growing international client base. ‘We needed to have more space so we could talk to clients privately,’ says branch manager Mark Veldman. ‘I’m very proud of both our new look and the entire team,

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WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

who were very flexible during the building work.’ The bank works closely with the Expatcenter which is also located in the WTC and, says Mark, is on target to welcome 5,000 new clients this year. The refurbished office was launched with a party at the beginning of September.

WTC NEWS

FAMILIAR OBJECTS IN CENTRAL HALL

On your bike The new art show in central hall, unveiled earlier this month by the artists themselves, is called Familiar Objects. Sander Buijk creates cartoonesque characters which are both robust and fragile at the same time, using the unusual combination of concrete and neon or polished aluminium. Herman Lamers, a widely commissioned sculptor, creates large, airy pieces which challenge the relationship between the object and space. WWW.SANDERBUIJK.NL | WWW.HERMANLAMERS.NL

WTC Amsterdam is extremely pleased to be part of a pioneering scheme to get tenants out of their cars and onto an electric bike. Mobility start-up Urbee is investing €2.1m on providing 1,500 electric bikes in Amsterdam and 20 of them will be stationed at the WTC – 10 at the Beethovenstraat entrance and 10 at Zuidplein. Some 80% of all car trips are for journeys of less than 20 kilometres – the perfect distance by e-bike, especially when you consider the traffic situation in Zuidas at the moment. You can reserve a bike in advance via a simple app and there will also be company subscription schemes on offer. For more information, contact [email protected]

Qbic hotel spruces up

You may well not be aware that there is an 82-room hotel housed within the walls of the WTC, but the Qbic has been an essential part of the complex for 10 years. The lobby and bathrooms have just undergone an upgrade with a smart new colour scheme and total restyling, and the breakfast buffet has also been

updated. ‘We now get fresh bread delivered every day and have increased the selection of organic food,’ says the hotel’s An Pegels. If you want to check the Qbic out for yourself, you are welcome to get in touch with An and make an appointment for lunch or a drink. ­Contact

Sinterklaas & Santa Claus An autumn chill is in the air and before we know it, Sinterklaas will be upon us. The WTC Amsterdam Sinterklaas party takes place on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 30, and the children of everyone who works in the complex are warmly invited to attend. There will be lots of fun-to-do activities and all the Sinterklaas traditions, including songs, pepernoten and Zwarte Piet! If you’d like to help out as a volunteer, contact [email protected]. The traditional Christmas market where you can stock up on gifts and goodies, takes place on December 15.

[email protected] WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

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Social media insights

HEIDI CROSSLEY & MANDY LUO REMARK INTERNATIONAL HEIDI At work it’s left to trust. Our firm is

MANDY I think I’m a

not a large company so you’re responsible for your own actions. I use social media for maybe half an hour, and maybe half an hour in the evenings looking at what my family is up to. I wouldn’t say it’s a big work tool for me.

medium user. If I combine Facebook and LinkedIN, I’m probably online about half an hour per day. I use LinkedIN for work and for networking.

KIMBERLY BOS & ANOUK VISSER WALTERS PEOPLE

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KIMBERLY I’m not

ANOUK You can use social media

addicted but I am on social media a lot: maybe an hour, 90 minutes spread out over the day. For work I use LinkedIN and Facebook. There are office rules for social media use but I’m not sure what they are.

for work, but only if it’s necessary. LinkedIN is the one we could use but the company doesn’t like it if you’re browsing on Facebook unless you really need to look at the profile of a person to get a better idea of what they’re like. For personal use I have Facebook and Instagram but I’m not really on it much.

WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

Any idea how long you spend on Facebook every day? Twitter? LinkedIN? And, why do you use it: for work, events, keeping in touch with family and friends? We asked WTC workers to share their social media habits with us.

AMIR ESKANDARI REACHLOCAL

I only use social media on my mobile and I only have Instagram and Snapchat not Facebook. I suppose I spend about an hour a day checking things up. I don’t get notifications either, it’s for friends, only friends. I’m an online marketing expert and I use LinkedIN a lot for work. So I’m actually online for longer, maybe five hours.

VOX POPULI

GIJS TER KVILE & INGE WOLFF MICHAEL PAGE GIJS I’m quite a ‘social media junkie’ but

INGE I use social media more

more business-wise than personal social media. I think I’m on it about three or four times a day, maybe for five or ten minutes – I try to keep it a bit efficient. I use LinkedIN, Facebook, Yammer - our internal network. You can use it as long as you like as long as you remember that you’re in a business environment.

at the weekends. I use it quite a lot actually, checking photos on Facebook and the like. During the week I check things before I head off to work or in the evenings. Privately I use Facebook or Instagram and the like. For work it’s LinkedIN.

LAURA ONDERWEEGS LOGEX

I deleted Facebook from my iPhone as I was going to it without really thinking why. But I am still a little bit of a ‘social media junkie’, especially LinkedIN. I check LinkedIN all day for work but also for outside interests - you see a nice article and then you check it out. I also use Peerby, that’s my new addiction. Peerby is a website where you can borrow something from your neighbours; a paintbrush, Rummikub, a disco ball, you name it.

DAVE SYRETT FREELANCING AT MUFG BANK (EUROPE)

On a day by day basis, I’m a light user. Maybe an hour a day for social use. I hardly use it for work at all. Most of my work comes to me directly via email.

BART VRIJBURG, DAAN VALK & RODERICK SCHRAA MICHAEL PAGE

AD LUIJKS VISTRA CORPORATE SERVICES

I have a Facebook profile but I don’t really use it. Of course I use LinkedIN for my business network. I don’t use it every day for work but my colleagues do, for HR etc. My younger colleagues are hired for that.

DAAN I’m not as proac-

BART There aren’t any specific

RODERICK Yeah,

tive as I should be. I will be more proactive with LinkedIN in future because that’s going to be our job, recruiting. I have Facebook for personal use.

company rules but of course you are representing the company so you need to be very professional. For personal use I’ll go to Facebook and Instagram, when I’m doing nothing, overall maybe an hour a day.

the same for me. ­Facebook for ­personal use and LinkedIN for work. I don’t post but I read other people’s stuff.

WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

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INTERVIEW

Leonique van Houwelingen DOES NOT BELIEVE IN GLASS CEILINGS There are many companies which want to invest in women, says Leonique van ­Houwelingen. ‘Women need to think in terms of opportunities, not hurdles.’ PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNE LAKEMAN

Leonique van Houwelingen is a career woman. A lawyer by profession, her official title today is a lengthy one - Business Head Continental Europe EMEA Asset Servicing and Executive Director BNYMellon SA/NV. It’s an impressive latest stage in a CV that saw her take on her first management role at ABN Amro just four years after graduating from Leiden University. ‘At first I wanted to be a lawyer but the firms I applied to were not really women-friendly,’ says Leonique in her glass-fronted office overlooking the WTC’s central hall. ‘There was a bit of an attitude and you had to be single and one of the lads to become a partner. I wanted to do something I could achieve in, so I decided to check out the corporate world. I applied to a telecom company and did not get accepted and a famous beer brewery rejected me with a letter saying “Dear Mr van Houwelingen”. So I wrote back and said they could have at least pretended they had read my letter. They then asked me to apply again and I said “no”.’ Next on the list was ABN Amro and in January 1995, Leonique started in the bank’s legal department. [She was soon seconded to Rotterdam] and after three years switched to investment banking. In her fourth year with the bank, she was given her first managerial role. ‘I did all the wrong things,’ she laughs. ‘I tried to be liked and please 8

WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

everyone, I got too involved with my staff’s private lives, but I learned a hell of a lot. And then I got pregnant.’ Leonique discussed the situation with her boss and they agreed that she would reduce her hours to four days a week after maternity leave and they would review how it was working after six months. ‘We never had that review,’ she says with a smile. NEGOTIATIONS Not long afterwards, Leonique was asked to negotiate the deal which led to the creation of a new joint company between ABN Amro and US asset servicing group Mellon. ‘My second child was born around the time we signed the contract,’ she says in a matter of fact way. Asked by the CEO of the

Leonique’s advice to young women  Don’t be shy Think about opportunities, not hurdles Get organised Don’t do things that make you unhappy Make sure you have great support

new company to switch sides, Leonique then made the decision to cross over and head up the legal risk and compliance department. ‘I was still working four days a week at that time, taking conference calls with a baby on my arm, but when my youngest went to school, I went back to work full time.’ Leonique stayed with the company throughout the ABN Amro rollercoaster in which ABN Amro divested its stake in the joint venture, followed by the merger between Bank of New York with Mellon Bank, which created BNYMellon in 2007. Today the company is a global investment company with almost $30 trillion in assets under custody and a further $1.7 trillion under management. Leonique leads teams across Europe, is travelling around two days a week. ‘It is diverse and complicated but a great job,’ she says. ‘Never a dull moment.’ Traveling all over Europe has made her very aware of cultural differences, Leonique says. ‘Take our Spanish team for example. They are very straightforward and open and tell you how they feel about things. The German team is much more hierarchical. In the US they are very direct and business-like and as for the English – you have to read between the lines. I really appreciate the international approach. If I had to work for a company that just focused on the Netherlands, I’d feel restricted.’

FACE TO FACE Just as attitudes to women in top jobs are changing, so are ways of working. ‘Some travel is being replaced by video conferencing, for example, although sometimes you have to meet face to face. We have so many tools nowadays to help us. The next generation’s way of working is catching on. That black and white difference between work and home is fading. The next generation wants to be able to work in the office and at home, they are committed but not in the traditional, old boys’ way. They do not believe that you are only at work when you are physically in the building.’ Leonique is not irritated by being asked questions about how she has coped with three kids and a career - questions which are unlikely to be thrown at a male counterpart. ‘It’s very simple,’ she says. ‘My husband is an entrepreneur and works from home a lot. He is the one who picks up the kids from school if they are sick and gets them to the sports club. It is essential to have that sort of support so you can clear your head for work. You need to be organised so you have the room to work. And that balance between work and family commitments should not be different for men. We’ve outsourced everything we can, the cleaning, the gardening, the ironing and that makes it possible to enjoy the family as well. I would feel very sorry for my kids if both of us were not around. And social media also makes it possible to keep up with the kids throughout the day and answer those questions that need answering.’ ENERGY Leonique puts much of her drive to succeed down to having enough energy, but says her mother was also a force majeur. ‘My mum pushed all her daughters to be independent. She wanted us to have the opportunities that were denied to her… When I started out in banking, there was a very traditional way of thinking. That has not vanished entirely of course but things are changing. Talented women who want to work hard have a lot of opportunities. I don’t believe there really is a glass ceiling although it may take women more effort to get there. But there are many companies which want to invest in women. And women need to think in terms of opportunities, not hurdles.’ What comes next in her career depends on what opportunities present themselves in the coming years. ‘All I know is that when I retire, I won’t stop working’, she says. ‘I’d be totally unhappy if every day looked the same.’

‘THE BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND FAMILY COMMITMENTS SHOULD NOT BE DIFFERENT FOR MEN’

WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

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PARNA EG SSUSW

WTC MOBILITY ISSUES

STADIO

Construction works update

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The major infrastructure works which started this summer are continuing into the autumn so it will be more difficult to reach the WTC by car. ZUIDER AMSTELKANhave AAL Diversions been set up but there will still be delays. Here’s a round-up of the latest difficulties. DE

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Work was due to start on overhauling the

Work started on upgrading the Boelelaan

Strawinskylaan to improve public transport

DE BOELELAAN in March this year and in September, the

facilities at the end of September and is set

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to continue into March next year. There will SPOED-

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MORE INFORMATION

Connexxion bus services will move temporarily

www.amsterdam.nl/zuidas

to the Gustav Mahlerplein for several months.

and www.zuidasdok.nl

WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

VAN DER BOECHORSTST

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are not affected but in mid-October all the

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BEETHOVENSTRAAT

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works, allowing them to park their cars a short walk from the WTC and avoid the diversions and BEATRIXPARK delays. The car park can be accessed directly from

ring road junction S109 and is an 11 minute walk

W. LANDRÉSTR.

RAI

across the Beatrix park from the WTC. For more

THOMASKERK

information, contact [email protected]

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WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

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BUSINESS CLUB

GOING FOR GOLD Members of WTC Business Club were treated to a thrilling afternoon of athletics at the European championships at the Olympic Stadium in July, followed by a buffet and networking in the VIP village. The highlight of the day’s programme was watching Dutch sprinter Churandy Martina winning gold in the men’s 100m. Photos Miryam Faken

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EVENT

MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS The WTC Amsterdam sailing event took place in September with lots of wind and warm weather. After an afternoon on the water, and some great racing, it was back to base for a barbecue. The race – and it was a tight finish – was won by Joop Barbier and Roeslaan Akperov of the Health and Therapy Centre, together with Emile Govaert and Sandra de la Rambelje from the WTC. Congratulations. Photos: Wendy Hereijgers

WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

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ZUIDAS NEWS

PALACE RUIN The Paleis voor Volksvlijt was a magnificent crystal palace, located on the site where the Dutch central bank now stands and was destroyed in a fire in 1929. Part of the ruin has been recreated on the Gustav Mahlerplein by artist James Beckett and has inspired a series of summer lectures on architecture, the built environment and decay. The programme concludes on October 7 with a panel discussion about the future of Zuidas and a live performance involving fire and temporal trickery by artist Riley Harmon and the DNK Ensemble.

The beautiful game Amsterdam’s oldest football club AFC is to get five new artificial grass pitches and a brand new clubhouse and grandstand in the heart of Zuidas, north of an extension to the Gustav Mahlerlaan. The club, founded in 1895, has been at its present home on the Boelelaan since 1962. Work on the complex will start next year with the underground car park and the entire project is set to complete in 2019. ‘We’ve had lengthy discussions with the city to make sure we come up with something great,’ said club chairman Ad Westerhof. ‘Now work can start and we hope that Zuidas will have the best sports ground in the Netherlands.’

Hello Zuidas has 200 members Hello Zuidas, the organisation founded at the beginning of 2012 to promote the district as a community, not just a business district, has signed up its 200th member – a nearby church. ‘We were delighted to welcome the Thomaskerk on the Prinses Irenestraat,’ says Hello Zuidas director Olivier Otten. ‘The church’s decision to join our foundation shows just how varied our community is becoming.’

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WTC TODAY - AUTUMN 2016

BANKING ON FOOD The Green Business Club Zuidas launches its annual week-long drive to collect produce for the Amsterdam Zuid food bank on October 10. The event, which begins at 15.30 and ends at 18.00, includes the traditional Danspaleis on the Gustav Mahlerplein if you feel like practising your dance moves. You can pick up the crates to fill at the WTC Servicepoint at of the start of the campaign. When they are full, return them to the WTC Servicepoint where they will be collected by the Green Business Club. Contact Diederik Imfeld on 06 140 35 405 for more information.

WTC EVENTS

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30

IRONING COMPETITION

WTC BUSINESS CLUB

Distinctly Different challenges you to

Uphold the honour of WTC

see how smooth you can get your shirts

Amsterdam in the annual Ryder Cup golf challenge against WTC Schiphol

MONDAY OCTOBER 10

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25

GREEN BUSINESS CLUB

LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Start of the week-long

Programme to be decided.

annual food drive to fill crates for

Watch the electronic

the Amsterdam Zuid food bank

notice boards for details

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23

WTC BUSINESS CLUB

LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Lunchtime lecture by IBM’s Gerard

Music inspired by the New World

Smit on artificial intelligence and its

and performed by the Hortus Ensemble

implications for jobs

string quartet in central hall

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 30

THURSDAY DECEMBER 16

SINTERKLAAS

LUNCHTIME ­C O N C E R T

The traditional Sinterklaas party for all the children of WTC staff,

Get ready for Christmas with a

complete with Piet and pepernoten

programme of seasonal favourites in central hall performed by the Berlage Saxophone Quartet

CREDITS WTC TODAY is published quarterly by

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