Career Timeline of Hans van Driem

1. Hans van Driem
Career Timeline Edition 5, March 10th 2016.

2. IntroductionThe purpose of this career timeline is to thank all of you, who have it made possible that I could enjoy the past 45 years of my career. I
hope that the many photographs and articles will bring back memories of things we did together.
Time is moving fast and by presenting events in a chronologic way I was able to reconstruct parts of my life. I hope it will help you as
well.
The purpose of this career timeline is not to show off how successful I have been.
I have made many mistakes during my career and apologize to all persons to whom I have done injustice
and/or forgot to give credits for the excellent work they have done.
My final conclusion is that I was lucky… to be at the right spot, at the right moment, while surfing on the first waves of mass tourism.

3. Please note:
This is a dynamic career timeline and under construction.
Dates, times, places & names of persons still have to be checked and in some cases
names & photos are missing. Thanks to your input I am able to publish this updated
version no: 5.
Please mail any comments to:
hvandriem@destination-strategies.com;

4. 1. Birthday
January 9th 1947

5. Born in The Hague, Netherlands
Frederic Johan ( Hans) van Driem

6. 2. Family Background

7. My grandparents and their jobs 1905-1923
Left: Grandfather van Driem. Head of the Padang High School “Mulo” with pupils like Mohammed Hatta.
Right: Grandfather Lingen, chief of police Middle Java.

8. Wedding of Johan Julius van Driem
and Ida Margaretha Lingen, 1935
Father: medical officer Dutch Colonial Army on Sumatra (1935-1945) & Ship Doctor Holland America
Line (1946-1961). Mother: teacher of French.
With my mother, my sister Irma van Driem-van Hulst (1936) and brother Gijs van Driem (1938).

9. 3. My Roots
…where I come from and where I grew up.

10. The Hague, Holland
Our family home from 1947 to 1963
Willem de Zwijgerlaan 42, The Hague, Netherlands

11. 4. My Education
Primary School & High School

12. Primary School The Hague
Nutsschool Zorghvliet
Teacher Van Aken, Cor Gout, Tom de Waard, Boudewijn Veenstra, Aad Oudt, Daan, Onno, Saskia, Martha
Talens, Marijke, Anita, Babs, etc.

13. Primary School The Hague
Nutsschool Hollanderstraat.
In the Christmas Choir 1959 with John Koch, Bino Marchesini,
Jan Willem Jansen, etc. At the piano our teacher Mrs Lakke.

14. Primary School The Hague
Nutsschool Hollanderstraat.
A role I liked as an actor : The Maharaja with a Princess, the most beautiful girl of the school.
In the background Bino Marchesini.

15. HBS Beeklaan, The Hague 1960-1961
The only thing I remember of Class 1 C was the history teacher Mr Saeys. The rest of the lessons I found absolutely useless.
I had discovered the girls and ice hockey at nearby Houtsrusthallen, were I played in team 3 of Hijs Hokij.
As a result my grades were not as they used to be and I was transferred to a private reformatory school.

16. Private Reformatory van Tonningen, The Hague
1961-1963
With “famous pupils” such as Dolf Burgerhout, Clement Neurenberg, Hugo Gevers Deynoot, Philip &
Willem Wayenberg, Paul Just de la Passières, Paul van Stockum, Hedwig van Tongeren & Julia Prins.

17. High School The Hague “Haags Lyceum”
1963-1964
Nico van Wermeskerken, Bronno Eelkman Rooda, Onno, Ruud Maas Geesteranus, Guus Henkes, Fokke
Speelman, Cees Plantinga, Paul Just de La Passières

18. High School, Gouda,“Goudse RHBS”
1964-1967
The great teachers who helped me “ finally ” finish high school: N.Koster, G v.d Leden en C Matthijs.
With friends/classmates Dick Pater, Joost Baars, Kees Hekker, Alex van den Berg, Loetje van Vreumingen, etc.

19. 5. Military Service
68.1

20. Selection Military Service
September 2nd 1967

21. Military Service
Forward Observer 14th Division Field Artillery
1968-1969

22. 6. College Education

23. NHTV Breda, Netherlands,
University of Applied Sciences
1969-1972 Tourism & Leisure

24. Board Student Association: Phileas Fogg, 1970-1971
Vincent Doek, Annelies Verstand-Bogaert, Eelco Akkersdijk, Aafke Huininga and Hans van Driem

25. Study Year 1969-1972
Reunion 1999.

26. 7. My Student Home
Student /Fraternity / Sorority /Chapter-house

27. Van Coothplein 8, Breda, Holland
With peers/friends : Adriaan Buesink, Albert Boorsma, Kees Feringa, Henk Schuller, Ago Salverda, Eelco
Akkersdijk, Henk Danser en Wessel Keizer.

28. Reunion August 2014
30 years later….with Henk Danser and Wessel Keizer

29. 8. My Professional Career
1970-present

30. Tour Director Europe
1970-1972

31. Tour Director Europe
Emhage Tours, Michigan USA
Always counting the passengers after each stop during a 28-day (!) trip through Europe
in the summer of 1970.

32. Europe in 28 days
Today is Tuesday so …….this must be Belgium..?

33. Tour Director Europe
Emhage Tours, Michigan USA
When Europe was not yet overcrowded by tourists and you could park your touring car in front of the
Vatican….. 1971

34. Tour Director Europe
Emhage Tours Michigan USA
Creating “an experience of old Europe” for tourists from the US during all the long hours on the
German Autobahn…by telling stories about history. My first lessons in the experience economy.

35. Columbia College, Columbia, MO
Conversational Dutch & Assistant Professor Travel Administration. Jan–June 1973

36. Columbia College, Columbia, MO.
The classroom for Travel Administration and Conversational Dutch language courses.
Attending Conversational Dutch : Barry Stebbins, Thomas Ulbert, Lynn DeYoung, John Boyd, Cynthia Bockstruck, etc.

37. Columbia College, Columbia , MO.
College Year Book 1972/1973 as an Exchange Student & Teacher

38. Tour Director Europe & Africa
Lee Kirkland Travel, Kansas
September-October 1973

39. With Stella Solaris in the Eastern Mediterranean
during the Yom Kippur War. Oct 6th-25th 1973
Captains party to reassure passengers that they were safe on October 7th 1973 .

40. Tour Director Europe & Africa
Excursion Istanbul & Stella Solaris

41. Tour Director Europe & Africa
Casablanca…. The end of a 42-day tour through Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Italy, Spain and Morocco

42. Holland Promotion Tour US
Promotion tour for study trips of US Colleges/Universities to Europe via Gateway Schiphol.
February-March 1974

43. New York …here we come again.
February 1974
Start of a promotion tour along 6 Colleges/Universities in the US to promote study tours to
the Netherlands, in close cooperation with KLM.
Visits & lectures at Michigan State University, Columbia College, Paul Smith College, etc.

44. Promotion tour of 8 states in the USA
In total I visited 10 Colleges & Universities for guest lectures in R.I., Connecticut, Massachusetts, NY
State, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.
My NWIT friend John Serbrock helped me to write my final report and instructed me always to use the
word “Successful” in a report for the Dutch Tourist Board in order to obtain governmental subsidy.

45. Promotion Manager USA
NBBS Europe Tours
1974-1975

46. The end of Dream Tours Inc.
My first idea was to start my own company, “Dream Tours Inc.” That did not work out.
Airlines and hotels demanded a deposit for groups…but I had no cash!
So I sold the sales lead of my first customer, Paul Smith College NY, to NBBS via Hein Jens.

47. My start in tour operating
I got hired by NBBS to organize and guide study tours through Europe and the Middle East.
On the left my first brochure! On the right my second one …with the help of NBBS professionals !

48. Tourist Board The Hague
April 1st 1975- September 1979

49. Holland ist da!
Promotion Tour through Germany, winter 1975/76
An invitation for German Coach Operators to come to our booth for a herring and Dutch gin.

50. My first tourism research project, 1977-78
In order to be able to estimate the number of visitors at Scheveningen Beach Resort we hired a Piper Cub and flew at
random above the beach/boulevard to take pictures during the summer of 1977. These slides were projected on a screen
and trainees counted the number of people. A team on the boulevard held in-depth interviews. Combined, this gave us a
pretty good idea of the volume and the motivation of the visitors.
Special thanks to the trainees: Mechteld Terpstra and Mia & Jan Rijkenberg . Jan founded BSUR Advertising in the 1980s,
which became one of the leading agencies in Holland.

51. The Hague Area, City Sightseeing by plane
In cooperation with the regional newspaper the Posthoorn, the Tourist Board The Hague organized
sightseeing trips by plane during the summer of 1978. My job as a tour guide was to sit just behind the
pilots, explain all the sights and calm down passengers. For most it was their first 30 minutes in the air.

52. Many first lessons learned at VVV The Hague
The ceo Boudewijn Keizer was an example of a good and trusted leader.
Ab Nieudorp taught me a lot about “design & printing”, product development and PR. (Picture taken at his 35-year farewell party in 2001)
Louke Beunders taught me how to execute “destination hospitality” and how to handle journalists.
Mary and Cilly taught me how to be patient.
For more pictures see : http://www.haagsefilmbank.nl/archives/3339

53. Marketing Manager
Clingendael Hotel Group
1979-1980

54. Clingendael Hotel Group
With Julius Verwoerdt , owner of Clingendael Hotel Group, his wife
and Kees Blom, manager Hotel Papendrecht.1979

55. Clingendael Hotel Group
With Carla de Snaayer, Gerard van der Veen, ceo Clingendael Hotel Group. 1979

56. First S&M meeting after take-over.
At an emotional meeting at the Europa Hotel in the spring of 1980 we were informed that the hotels were sold to EuroCrest Hotels.
All corporate staff department heads were fired, except Finance, Fred Wittebol and Marketing. I could stay because they needed someone for the
execution of the name change!
The first S&M meeting in 1980 in the UK after the take-over of Clingendael Hotels by Euro-Crest Hotels with Carla de Snaayer, Aernout Koek,
Frits Kottman, Allison Duffy, Brian Stacey, John Blamey, Claus Glinicke, Olfert Dapper, etc….

57. Marketing Manager Benelux
1980-1983

58. Name Changes: My first job at Crest Hotels
Thanks to Marese Ornee, our good friends Frans Buis of Buis Electra & Paul Holtkamp,…
Always with the vital support of David Sankey from Banburry.
At the left, name change of Crest Hotel Antwerp with Roelof Gol, Right: Rembrandt Hotel, Herengracht 255, Amsterdam

59. Weekend trip campaign with AVRO
In total, more than 100.000 weekend trips to Crest Hotels were booked with this joint promotion of
AVRO Televisier Magazine and Crest Hotels. The campaign was initiated with the great help of Ben
Dijkstra and Maudy van Ommen, in November 1980.

60. Holland Flower World Promotion
Brochure made to promote the 6 Amsterdam hotels in conjunction with Floriade 1982.

61. Sales & Marketing Meetings
Crest Hotels Plc.
Picture 1: Manfred Dunker, John Blamey, Hans van Driem, Alan Parker ,Gordon Excelby, David Sankey, Michael
Smail , Andrew Bould.
Picture 2: Maudy Kellerman, Jannie, Vivian Vogels, Allison Duffy, Eduardo Martinez, Frank van Eck, Manfred
Dunker, Alan Parker, Ben Dijkstra, Claus Glincke, Luciano Lusardi, John Blamey, Bob Gilbert.

62. First New Herring in 1983 for Crest Hotels
After a fierce bidding the first batch of herring was for Crest Hotels in 1983 at Dfl. 8000,-. For the first time
in 6 years, in 1983 the Dutch fishing fleet was allowed to catch herring. Marese Ornee of the sales &
marketing department of Crest Hotels organized all the actions in cooperation with Hans Schmidt. As a
result Maudy and I had to perform the “Traditional Herring Act” at other meetings.

63. Director of Sales
Continent of Europe

64. The Spanish Sales Team
At the right of Alan Parker; Carmen Martinez, Christina von Ungern-Sternberg plus other sales staff.

65. Crest Hotels Continent of Europe
1983-1988

66. Who did not work for Crest Hotels Europe?
Bob Kool, Jos Weesjes, Arie van der Spek, Luciano Lusardi, Ron Kuyt, Herman Bodeker, Werner Röhl, Fred
Wittebol, Piet Boogert, Vincent van Rest, Ben Ancher, Paul Verhaak, Machiel van der Bruggen, Ben Felix,
Loes Renkema, Gelske Molenaar, Paula Daenen, Janny Spierenburg, etc.

67. Board Meeting Crest Hotels Plc.
Board meeting at hotel Des Indes, The Hague. At the center Brian Langton c.e.o Crest Hotels plc,
At the right Jan van Honschoten, c.e.o Benelux, Alan Parker v.p sales & marketing Crest Hotels plc
Others: Loes Renkema, HR, Stuart Guest, Architect, Michael Romkey, Horst Hanelt, Philip Davids.

68. Alpenkönig Crest Hotel, Austria
Sales & Marketing meeting with Alan Parker, John Blamey and Udo Wanner, the owner of the new hotel.
Departing with the Bass company plane. July 1985.

69. March 1986
On the move in the news and at ITB, World Travel Market, Fitur, etc...

70. Managers Meeting Continent of Europe 1987
Managers meeting operations and sales & marketing Continent of Europe at Hotel Ludenscheid.

71. Competitors meeting, June 1987
With Louis del Olmo, vice president sales & marketing Holiday Inn MEA….just when it was announced that
Crest Hotels had bought 8 Holiday Inn Hotels and had become the largest hotel chain in Europe…
Who will be the “big boss” after the merge?

72. The merger of Crest Hotels-Holiday Inn
The start of the integration of Holiday Inn in S&M actions of Crest Hotels. Winter 1987/88

73. Difficult decisions ahead.
With Alan Parker , managing director Crest Hotels Continent of Europe ….what will be our future?
Hotel Des Indes, The Hague January 13th, 1988.
http://www.cityam.com/1415236693/former-whitbread-boss-parker-takes-chair-park-resorts

74. Floriade 1992
Director Commercial & Operational Affairs
1988-1993

75. Presentation of the themes & park lay out
Unaware of the jokes of Saskia Martinelli, Elsbeth Bakker, Ingeborg Letschert-Godding…
the greatest PR & Sales team in the world.

76. Thanks Lou Melchers,
Sorry Freddy Heineken…
Sponsor contract signed with Oranjeboom Beer. Reitse Douma, Ab Douwes, Lou Melchers and Jo Spithoven
After the contract was signed, an article was published in the newspaper Telegraaf.
Freddy Heineken phoned in person and demanded an explanation why Heineken was not involved.
He did no know that his company had been involved but his staff found the sponsor amount to high for a local fair! .

77. Presentation of the Official Logo & Poster
The Floriade 1992 logo and slogan “The Greatest Flower Show on Earth”
Presented with a number of the promotion partners: NBT, The Hague Marketing and Jan van Doesburg, president
Flower Council.
Second from the right: Lennie Huizer, the alderman of Zoetermeer; always inspirational, friendly, clever and….
politically courageous!

78. Floriade at World Travel Market London, 1991
Thanks to the excellent support of our friend Aernout Koek of the Tourist Board The
Hague/Scheveningen, the Floriade had a great exposure at WTM 1991.
In our Floriade stand: Kathelijn Pieterse.

79. Official Opening by Queen Beatrix
On April 4th 1992 with Queen Beatrix, photographed by Jack Bobbe of Floridana Oranges

80. Welcoming the first 250.000th visitor.
A excellent start: On April 24th 250.000 visits were registered and on May 7th already 500.000.
In total, 3.355.600 visits were registered at the gates of Floriade 1992.
Left : Dick Bosman Technical Director of Floriade 1992, responsible for all building & construction and technical operations.

81. The competition is getting irritated.
Floriade was accused of using pictures of the competition for promotion. Telegraaf May 22nd 1992
Ameropa/TUI brochure with Keukenhof pictures.

82. The P of Product of the Floriade 1992…
The Floriade 1992 offered 5 themed pavilions.
The total investment for 6 months Floriade was around Dfl. 190 million.

83. The P of Promotions with A Brands
The sales & marketing team realized a great number of joint promotions, which boosted
the attendance figures to high levels.
Thanks to HCP Paul Holtkamp for all printing materials and HVR Piet Wapperon for all tv commercials.

84. The Best Hospitality Service
Martin Air Party Service and Siebe & Gemma Terband created the best party catering
hospitality service …Missets Horeca March 27th 1992.

85. Jack Bobbe, Floriade and Florida
Jack Bobbe really brought the whole of Florida to the Floriade.
He made a great contribution to the success of the exhibition. Friday January 24th 1992 Telegraaf

86. The Bush Garden Show Band
& Cypress Garden Water Ski Show
Great events that created a lot of free publicity.
At the right with the 2.500.000th visitor, the Floriade Promo Team and the Floriade Events
Department. July 1992

87. Telegraaf October 1992.
Thanks also to Rabobank TV spot: http://adviz.nl/nl/object/75463;
And… the first ideas of a permanent flower show for 365 days ..Holland Flower World

88. The Floriade Sponsors
Meeting 2/11/92; Jan van Grondelle, Sony; KLM, DAF, Lou Melchers, Oranjeboom, KPN,
P. Bassa, Alcoa; Dorrith Zijdeveld-Rademaker, Rabobank; Piet Lambrechts, Interpolis and
the sponsor account manager Monique van Bijsterveld

89. 280 persons without a job in October 1992
Advertisement to promote all the employees that created & operated this event!

90. First discussions on profit and loss of a Floriade
Haagse Courant November 10th 1994

91. The “profit” of the Floriade 1992 was in The Legacy
The sale of the 92 ha Floriade grounds and infra structure to project developers generated Dfl 22 million more
than budgeted .
The additional loss of the Exhibition Operations was compensated by
the additional profit from the Exhibition Legacy.

92. A toast on a positive financial result of all future Floriades !
By the management team of Floriade 1992 : Jo Spithoven, President; Dick Bosman, Technical Director; Hans
van Driem, Commercial Director and Arie Groot, Secretary. August 2002 at a reunion at Floriade 2002.

93. Managing Director Walibi Flevo
1993-1999

94. Press Conference launch Walibi Flevo
Founder & Owner of Walibi, Eddy Meeus, and Hans van Driem. July 5th 1993.
Jessica van der Kaap…thanks for all the support at the start!

95. Building Walibi Flevo in 6 months.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVdAXkBBCJM;
Speech Flevohof November 24th 1993.
http://walibiweb.nl/index.php?option=com_kunena&view=topic&Itemid=2&catid=1&id=96611;

96. Opening Walibi Flevo May 7th 1994
Official opening of Walibi Children Village by Frido van Driem and
TV Celebrities Carlo & Irene.

97. Re-opening Suspended Looping Coaster.
To reassure the public that the ride is safe after the accident on July 6th
1994, Maurits & Hans van Driem took off with the first flight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WjmNkgVS4Y;

98. Walibi Festival Grounds
Adjacent to Walibi Flevo are the Festival Grounds of 6o ha. Designed to host festivals of up to 60.000
persons. In 1993 we started a rental agreement with Mojo for Lowlands. The first Lowlands was a
financial disaster! (left) In 1995 we hosted the World Jamboree, Home & Garden 1996, etc. We tried
everything, even Huis & Tuin (1998) with Rob, Nico & Irene.
Thanks Rinus Olierook and Henk Visser; you did a tremendous job!

99. The Movie Stunt Show:
King Solomon’s Mines
Produced by Peter Alexander, Totally Fun Company, Walibi Flevo presented the first movie stunt show in Europe in April 1995.
A perfect tool for publicity in all major Dutch newspapers in the years to come. (Picture AD April 12th 1997)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_sMoTTIWmU;

100. The Water Stunt Show: Back to the Sixties
Hans van Driem, Ingeborg Wassenaar, Dick Rowe and Eddy Meeus, Summer 1997

101. First Sketch: Holland Movie World Resort
Due to the success of the 2 movie stunt shows, plans were developed for Holland Movie World Resort and
attractions based on Dutch movies such as The Lift, Flodder and Amsterdamned.
Robert Jan and I presented this case to students of The Baak, Noordwijk.
With thanks for all the input of Walter Louwerse, Sjors van Egmond and Henk Blauw. 1996/1997.

102. Walibi Flevo Brochures & TV Commercials
With thanks to Paul Holtkamp, Wiebe Knoop and Peter Zeylmaker.
TV spots of Walibi Flevo: http://adviz.nl/nl/object/33786;
http://adviz.nl/nl/object/18350; http://adviz.nl/nl/object/26967;
http://adviz.nl/nl/object/26968; http://adviz.nl/nl/object/34557;

103. The first Dutch Docu-Soap TV Series:
Polderpret: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5cVnc9pA58;
The cast of the Docu-Soap: Liesbeth van der Kaaden, Adriaan Klok, Ingeborg Wassenaar, Hans van Driem,
Walter van der Neut, and Robert Jan Möhlmann.
It boosted our attendance to 654.851 in 1999.

104. The greatest Theme Park Team on Earth!
Thanks to Liesbeth, Rudi, Hans, Adriaan, Nico, Simon and all the others

105. Managing Director
Six Flags Holland
1998-2000

106. Six Flags …here we come!
March 1998: Take-over by Premier Parks…happy future ahead!?

107. First Designs & Artist Impressions
Many lessons learned from Les Hudson, chief designer Six Flags USA...thanks Les!

108. Press Conference December 8th 1999
Introduction of Six Flags Holland .
With the characters of Looney Tunes and Dan Aylward, ceo Europe.

109. Roller Coaster Capital of Europe
First test by Father Christmas
Six Flags Holland in the news: Sometimes exaggerated, sometimes hilarious. December 1999.

110. First year of opening 2000: 1.3 million visits.
It is all about motivating the staff and re-investment… to keep up the numbers in the years after!
Total investment in Six Flags Holland: Dfl 100 million for Walibi Flevo, including purchase Flevohof,
plus Dfl 140 million = Grand total about € 115 million.

111. The greatest green team: Henk & Arnoud
Henk Visser and Arnoud Lutgerink with my show Cadillac…featured in the docu-soap Polderpret.

112. Managing Director
Holland Marketing
2000-2007

113. Surprise…?
September ANVV magazine

114. Signing of new contract with
Ministry of Economic Affairs
Signing a new subsidy contract of 23 million euro with the Secretary of Economic Affairs
Gerrit Ybema on October 2001 in the presence of Guido van Woerkom , member of the
supervisory board of TRN/NBTC.

115. It will take time to implement “change”
Recreactie November 2000.

116. Departure of Wim Dik as Director of the Board
In 2002, Wim Dik left as president of the supervisory board.
His intellect, political experience & management skills were greatly missed in the following years.

118. Holland.com
Introduction new “look & feel” website and logo of this strategically important marketing tool. 2003.

119. Opening Holland House, Stockholm
Opening with Titti Lagerveld. Joint promotions with Holland Brand. November 2003

120. Budget cut NBTC € 5,5 million
Presentation of Theme Years by Hedwig Wassing.
Reduction of government subsidy is affecting the promotion of Destination Holland. November 2003.

121. Why do tourists travel?
150.000 international teenagers visit Amsterdam each year for hashish.
NBTC was not allowed to promote this tourism segment… but Transavia did!
Dutch Financial Times August 7th 2004 and Telegraaf February 22nd 2005.

122. NBTC Expands: Opening Office Beijing
Official opening with Director China NBTC, Eddie Yang. 2005

123. Welcoming Chinese Tourists at Schiphol
In 2005 we predicted that the number of Chinese Tourists would increase to 350.000 in 2015, 500.000 in 2020 and ultimately 1.000.000
in the decades to come. Arnold Burlage of the Telegraaf published a number of interviews in which I confirmed these predictions, which
were met with disbelief by most staff and politicians. The introduction of new potential markets like China and India and new tools like the
internet made the change process in a traditional DMO organization…rather difficult

124. The manual for a total re-design of a DMO
The turnaround of a traditional, heavily subsidized NGO to a commercial DMO according to the principles of Disney.
Including the introduction of new S&M tools, such as the internet, database marketing and focus on new markets, such as
China, India, Russia, etc.
A “bridge too far” for most politicians and NBTC staff, who could not grasp that a “simple attraction park like Disney or
Universal” used a much more sophisticated Destination Marketing Strategy than a (Semi) Governmental Promotion
Organization.

125. Next…the opening of the first
office in India
Celebration of IIFA “Bollywood Film Festival” in Amsterdam with actress & super star
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and the start of Holland Promotion in India. April 16th 2005

126. India Office & SanJeet
One of the best tourism experts I worked with: SanJeet of Buzz Travel Marketing!
SanJeet …Thanks for everything!

127. Low Fare Airlines will boost tourism to Holland
Point to point traffic of LCCs brings more tourists to Holland than KLM’s hub/transfer.
Schiphol & NBTC versus KLM . Who will get the last slots?
Financial Telegraaf October 15th 2004 and September 29th 2005

128. Promotion Holland.com in China top priority
At the start of Hans Klok China Tour in 2006.
September 7th 2005

129. Emergency Plan Holland
After 9/11and the tsunami in Thailand it became clear that an emergency plan was required to assist tourists at a destination.
On an average day, 30.000-60.000 international tourists in Holland need information in various languages in case of a natural disaster or terror attack .
I was amazed that the Dutch Government was “rather surprised” about this initiative and had not developed any plan for the evacuation of
international tourists.
Even more disturbing is the fact that the Dutch Security Services seem unaware, up to this day (Oct 2015), of tourist locations that are highly
vulnerable to terror attacks … in numbers and… for symbolic reasons.

130. Peter de Jong, President & CEO of PATA, and
Alwin Zecha, Chairman of Pacific Leisure Group
The founders of the great concept of a global chain of D.M.O.’s “Integrated Destination Strategies” .
A missed opportunity for NBTC to join…from 2007 onwards.

131. Holland City
The name Holland City was
introduced in NBTC’s business plan
for 2005 in combination with a logo.
At that moment (2005), this was “a
bridge too far” for most NBTC staff
and VVV organizations.

132. Mission accomplished. What is next?
Target for NBTC was an increase of tourists from 9,3 million in 2003 to 10 million in 2006, according to the
Minister of Economic Affairs. June 30th 2004. Algemeen Dagblad.
Historic growth of tourism to Holland to 10,9 million in 2006. Target achieved with + 10% ! Bonus?
Telegraaf January 9th 2007.

133. Holland Business
Promotion Office
2007-2010

134. June 4th 2007, Opening
Holland Business Promotion Office
The start with Ivo Opstelten, mayor of Rotterdam.

135. Schiphol Airport
The economic engine of Holland City.
From left to right: The Mayor of Madurodam, Ab van Ravenstein , director EVD, and Ivo Opstelten,
Mayor of Rotterdam

136. HBPO Meetings
Holland Heineken House Beijing 2008
Hans van Driem coördineert Nederlandse missies in Peking
Slag om Olympiade begonnen
door ARNOLD BURLAGE
PEKING, vrijdag
De Olympische Spelen in Peking
zijn naast de vele sportieve
krachtmetingen ook het
strijdtoneel geworden voor het
gevecht om volgende Olympiades.
Nederland blaast al voorzichtig zijn
partijtje mee… voor die in 2028.
Directeur Hans van Driem van
het Holland Business Promotion
Office ziet het allemaal onder zijn
ogen gebeuren. „De businessclub
van het Holland Heineken fungeert
eigenlijk als skybox, nu niet op de
bovenste ring van een stadion, maar
hier in het Holland Heineken Huis”,
zegt hij.„In Peking vind je nu niet
alleen alle internationale
sportbobo’s, ook
vertegenwoordigers van
bedrijfsleven, regeringen en politici
lopen hier nu rond om alvast wat
kaarten te schudden. Het Holland
Heineken Huis is daarvoor zo’n
ontmoetingsplek geworden. We
spelen daarop ook in met – zeg
maar – de eerste lessen hoe we het
klaar moeten spelen om de
Olympiade in Nederland te krijgen.”
Grote expert Mike Lee, die
Londen met de juiste strategie en
• Directeur Hans van Driem van het
Holland Promotion Office.
FOTO: DE TELEGRAAF
Van Driem vervolgt: „Onbegrijpelijk
dat niemand zich realiseerde dat de
komst van een delegatie namens een
stad van in het gunstigste geval 600.000
inwoners bij een bezoekje aan Peking
met bijna 20 miljoen inwoners weinig
indruk maakt.”
De mogelijkheden zijn te talrijk en
te aantrekkelijk om het verkeerd of niet
aan te pakken. ’Mister Holland’
daarover: „Ik heb het 1 de afgelopen
weken tijdens mijn verblijf MET in China
opnieuw vastgesteld. Voor de werving
van toeristen uit dit onmetelijke land
zijn 10.000 hotelkamers nodig, geen de
luxe 4- of 5-sterrenhotels, eenvoudiger
The start of the bid for the Olympic Games 2028 in Holland City.

137. HBPO Program Beijing 2008

138. The Rotterdam Delegation
To prepare the bid for the Olympic Games 2028: the Rotterdam Delegation .
Hans den Oudendammer , Rotterdam Topsport, Ria Jongste, Adriaan Visser

139. Japan-Holland 400 years, 2009
HBPO seminars & presentation at Hamamatsu Exhibition of Horticultural Art.
In front Niek Roozen, the architect of the HBPO pavilion, and Ed van der Feer of WFIA.

140. Holland Pavilion at World Expo Shanghai 2010
http://www.nps.nl/page/programma/238/het-uur-van-de-wolf
(Walibi fans, sorry …please note: I did not build the Goliath; I meant El Condor.)

141. China-Holland Meetings
Guy Wittich, Director Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency China (NFIA)

142. Investment Opportunities 2010
Seminars held at MIPIM, Cannes; Expo Real, Munich ; IAAPA, Las Vegas; City Scape, Abu
Dhabi; DEAL, Dubai; World Expo, Shanghai; etc.
And…back to my core business, “Development of leisure & Hospitality Projects”

143. The last official activity for HBPO & retirement
The end of the HBPO project Investment Opportunities in Leisure & Hospitality
was the start of International Destination Strategies.

144. 9. International Destination Strategies
A new company – with a long history of projects and proposals

145. Floriade Emmen 2002
Market study , March 1993.

146. Bible Theme Park “Diamonda”
Second Opinion Location and Creative Concept with vicar ds.Tukker. Summer 1995

147. UFO Experience Center
Feasibility Study February-September 1999

148. Terra Botanica, Angers
Creative Concept and Business Plan. My first consultancy project within a team of real theme park
professionals:
Ira West, John Collins, Emmanuel Mongon, Michael Bonfante and Bill Reynolds.
January-July 2000. Thanks Monique van Bijsterveld and Rob Lohman for all your assistance!

149. Flora-Land
Second Opinion Business Plan May 2000

150. Resort Tulip Paradise
Advice Design & Operations Section Flower Park, Zhenjiang, China, 2009

151. Fleuroland
Lobby for this project of the ex-manager of the Keukenhof Henk Koster and Ton van Wijlen.
2009-2012

152. Equitheme Europe 2010-present
The greatest Horse Show on Earth.
Several locations have been investigated for this project, such as Limburg,
Holland; Aspendos, Turkey; etc.

153. Holland Horse City
A great project and…the feasibility study is still in progress at other potential locations in Holland.
Nicolas, Jan Erik, Klaas, Francis, Maarten, Camil, John and Liesbeth, thanks for all the support at location
“one”.

154. Investors Road Show, Dubai 2011
With Francis Stokkel, Klaas Bruins Slot, Ballast Nedam, Stephan van de Wall, Dutch Consul
and some Arab friends at Meydan Racecourse to promote our project Holland Horse to
Middle East investors.

155. Adventure World Warsaw
October 1st 2010- September 30th 2011

156. Press Dinner & Conference Warsaw July 2011
Press Diner with e.g. Peter Mulder, Henk Roodenburg & Charlotte van Etten, Vekoma, Jan Maarten de Raad,
Jora Vision
and journalists from Kirmes & Park Revue, First Drop, Euro Amusement Professional , Park World and
Interpark.

157. From a potentially successful national attraction
park to an unrealistic international mega resort.
IDS assisted in the development of the first phase of AWW as an attraction park like Walibi,
but terminated the contract in September 2011,
when Imtech entered and the project grew to unrealistic proportions.
Come on Peter …let us try again! “Drie maal is scheepsrecht!”

158. Kownaty Park, Poland

159. History of Poland Park
A first try-out to find the right formula for Kownaty Park in Poland.
Left with Martijn van Rheenen, ceo Momentum, the Mayor of Kownaty, Nicolas de Villiers, ceo Puy du
Fou , etc.
Right: at EAS Berlin October 9th 2012 with Chris Connor.

160. Plopsa & Kownaty Park
IDS successfully introduced Plopsa as a potential partner to United Momentum on January 18th
2012. Daniel Heinst was suggested by IDS as manager of the project on August 12th 2012. On
March 31st 2013 IDS terminated the contract ,as focus was required on the new project, Park 21.
On May 2015 an agreement was signed between Plopsa and Momentum.

161. Puy du Fou
2013-present

162. Cooperation Puy du Fou-IDS
Nicolas de Villiers and Hans van Driem signed a letter of intent in 2013 with regard to the
international development of the creative concept of Puy du Fou.

163. Park 21, Haarlemmermeer
January 2013-March 2015

164. Park 21
At the IAAPA Booth of Park 21; Rob van Aerschot and Bob Rogers of BRC Imagination Arts.
IDS developed the creative design briefing for Park 21 and assisted in the promotion of the project
at IAAPA Orlando 2013 & 2014 and EAS 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=13&v=fQX-2B4NSD0;

165. The Bridge
2010-present

166. Projects
Left: Indoor theme park Tilburg. Second opinion technical & financial feasibility.
Robert Jan en Gerrit Brink, bedankt !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fszJDoTK_8g
Right: Rotterdam leisure zoning plan

167. HollandWorld™
1993-present

168. HollandWorld™
The concept of Holland Flower World, The Greatest Flower Show on Earth & Holland Water World were conceived during/
after the Floriade 1992
The concept of Holland Logistics was conceived in 2008 in conjunction with the presentations in the Dutch Pavilion at the
World Expo Shanghai.
Holland History World was conceived during the discussions with Puy du Fou and others in 2011.
The first total concept of HollandWorld was conceived in 2003 during meetings with Schiphol., Dorien Lels.
http://hollandworld.nl;

169. Holland Needs A Second Gate
The future of tourism to Holland and the first outline of HollandWorld™. NRIT Magazine March 2012.
For full text see www.destination-strategies.com; news.

170. Disneyland? Eigen schuld Amsterdam.
Pretpark Amsterdam.
NRC May 2th 2014.
De Amerikanen die met vijf kilometer per uur
lallend ov er de Damstraat bierfietsen: liever niet.
De Britten die een vrijgezellenfeest op de Wallen
vieren met een kroegentocht: nee, dank u.
Drukte is prima, fijn, brengt geld binnen. Maar er
zijn verschillende soorten drukte, lijkt stadsdeel
Centrum te willen zeggen. En sommige vormen
zijn een bron van ergernis en horen eigenlijk niet
thuis in de binnenstad. Het is vooral de voorzitter
van de bestuurscommissie Boudewijn Oranje
(D66) die de discussie weer heeft aangewakkerd.
In Trouw zei hij twee weken geleden onder andere
dat er overlast veroorzaakt wordt door mensen
„die de stad zien als decor voor een
Disneylandervaring. Of voor vrijgezellenfeesten
waarbij ze met een grote piemel op hun muts
door de stad trekken.” Weg met de ongein, en een
‘monocultuur’ zoals in Venetië moet worden
vermeden.
Hij verwoordt het wat anders, maar in feite staat
hetzelfde in het nieuwe bestuursakkoord van het
stadsdeel, mede het werk van coalitiegenoten
GroenLinks en PvdA. Samen willen ze
„initiatieven in groepsverband” terugdringen:
de pubcrawls (kroegentochten), bierfietsen, de
partysloepen. Daar werkt het stadsdeel niet aan
mee. Het liefst verdwijnen de touringcars en de
kenmerkende hop on-hop off-bussen ook.
Hypocriet gedrag, vindt Iers correspondent Peter Cluskey, al jaren woonachtig in
Nederland. Hij schreef deze week voor The Irish Times een opiniestuk waarin hij in reactie
op Boudewijn Oranje uithaalt naar de stad. Amsterdam Disneyland? Eigen schuld, de stad
koos er destijds zelf voor – koos zelf voor het geld.
„Het is een kwestie van ruimtelijke ordening”, legt hij uit. „De stad heeft deze gebieden
zich zo laten ontwikkelen, en ze hebben veel belastinggeld binnengekregen. Nu realiseren
de autoriteiten zich dat ze een probleem hebben en proberen ze coffeeshops en ramen te
sluiten, omdat het duidelijk te ver is gegaan. Waar waren de planologen toen dit
gebeurde?”
Bij Amsterdam Marketing, de voornaamste marketingorganisatie van de stad, hebben ze
het stuk gelezen en zijn ze het er helemaal niet mee eens. „Ik vind het heel kort door de
bocht. Er is nooit een moment geweest waarop we hebben besloten om van Amsterdam
een Disneyland te maken”, zegt woordvoerder Machteld Ligtvoet.
Ze sluit zich aan bij de kritiekpunten van het stadsdeel. En nieuw is de discussie helemaal
niet, zegt ze: „We zijn hier al jaren op de achtergrond mee bezig.” Ze snapt Oranjes
opmerking over Venetië als schrikbeeld voor Amsterdam. „Die opmerking is niet naar
bedoeld, maar hij heeft wel gelijk. Het is ontzettend fijn als we veel bezoekers trekken,
maar het moet wel een leefbare stad blijven. Ons heilige woord: balans.”
Niet alleen het heilige woord van Amsterdam Marketing: Oranje hamerde er deze week in
een ingezonden stuk in Het Parool ook op: „kwaliteit in een bruisende binnenstad, waar
balans het centrale thema is”.
„De bierfietsen zul je ons nooit zien promoten”, zegt Ligtvoet. „Niemand wordt blij van
mensen die twintig bier hebben weggewerkt.” Dat soort toeristen zijn er ook al minder
volgens haar. „Eerlijk gezegd reageren die toeristen het best op de bierprijzen. Volgens mij
trekken ze nu allemaal naar Oost-Europa.”
Even terug in de tijd: in 2002 zegt toenmalig directeur van het huidige Nederlands Bureau
voor Toerisme & Congressen Hans van Driem in een vakblad: „Ik ben als toerismeman
een warm voorstander van een soort Disneyficering van de Amsterdamse binnenstad.”
Entertainment moest centraal staan, Disneyficering was „de redding voor kleine
ondernemers”. Twaalf jaar verder en het woord heeft in de discussie een heel andere
lading gekregen. Ligtvoet schiet hard in de lach als ze ervan hoort.

171. Floriade
1993 – present.

172. Holland Central, Floriade 2022
Advice dynamic packaging & lessons learned. March 2011.

173. Floriade 2012
Forecast estimated number of paid visits : 1.750.000-2.000.000 . February 21th 2012.

174. World Horticultural Exhibition Floriade
IDS has produced various reports about the World Horticultural Exhibition Floriade, which is held every 10
years in the Netherlands. The latest report “Past, Present & Future of the Floriade” is available at request.

176. Expo 2016
Speech “ lessons” learned with regard to World Expos. April 27th 2012. Antalya, Turkey

177. 10. My Other Positions

178. Floriade Advisory Board
With Dick Bosman Technical Director Floriade 1992 at Floriade workshop Rabobank

179. Member European Travel Commission E.T.C.
2000-2006

180. Member of the Dutch Board for Hotel Classification
2003-2006

181. Jury Dutch Event Award
With Theo Strengers, Hans Breukhoven, Sonja Stalvoort and Frank Go. 2002-2008

182. Dutch Hospitality Manager of the Year
Member of the jury 2002-2010.

183. Europe City
Advisory Board 2005-2008

184. Olympic Committee OS 2028
Holland City
2006-2012

185. NHTV Breda University
Supervisory Board
Member of the board 2004-2012
Farewell party with Guido van Woerkom, President Dutch Automobile Association, ANWB;
Nicolas de Villiers, CEO Puy du Fou, Jan Eric Alderlieste Director Puy du Fou International and
Reinoud van Assendelft

186. Guest Lecturer Leisure & Hospitality Industry
Saxion
2009 - present

187. 11. The Golden Team Members

188. The NBBS Team
Hotel contracting tour in the winter of 1974 with Pierre Remijn at Veysonnaz.
Dinner with the team at the new apartment of Pierre & Cilly Remijn,

189. The Tourist Board The Hague Team
Mary Rovers, Ellen de Smalen and Cilly van der Ploeg.

190. Team Crest Hotels Benelux
Piet Boogert, Catherine Michot, André Scheyvaerts, Annemiek Ponten, Vivian Vogels, Martine Dil, Vincent
van Rest, Maudy van Ommen, Marese Ornee, Hans Kennedie, Frank van Eck, Marielle Kooper, etc.
At the right….sales & operations …are the basis for success!
Kees Blom, Crest Hotel Papendrecht with his team.

191. The Golden Girls
Maudy Kellerman and Marèse Ornée

192. Old Crest soldiers never die, they just fade away.
Schiller Hotel December 10th 2002

193. The Floriade Team

194. The two V.I.P.s of the Floriade 1992
Cees de Vrieze & Mariette Veerman.
Cees worked 24 hours a day in planning, building & construction.
Mariette organized the back of the house of the commercial department.

195. The Walibi Team
At the opening of the new party center.

196. The Walibi/Six Flags Team
Liesbeth van Der Kaaden, Hans & Jaqueline Smith, Richard Jonker, Rudi & Irisha DeClercq,
Robert-Jan & Anneke Mohlmann,

197. The Walibi/Six Flags Support Team
Sandra van Weezel and Margaret Klomp

198. The Suppliers Support Team
Paul Holtkamp, Frans Buis, Wiebe Knoop ( Picture missing), Marèse and Rolf Ornée, Peter
van Bilsen and Charlotte van Etten, Peter Zeylmaker.
For Crest Hotels, Floriade, Walibi, NBTC ….plus

199. TRN Team
At the start in 2000….TRN had a staff of about 90 persons at the headoffice!

200. The Political Support Team of NBTC
The implementation of a political decision of the Dutch Parliament in the strategy of NBTC required the
support of the leisure & hospitality industry. Jeu Claes, Director Dutch Hotel Association, Tim Bolweg,
Director Dutch Association of Resorts & Campings and André Vink, Director Dutch Association of
Watersport Companies. Thanks Jeu, Tim and André!

201. The NBTC Support Team
Si Jing, Sengul, Janny, Jolande and Kris…thanks very much for all the patience and support
during my mission impossible !

202. The Holland Promotion Team
The sales & marketing efforts of the Dutch Leisure & Hospitality Industry Sector are responsible for 95% of
the increase of international tourism to Holland. In practice, Dutch DMOs contribute minimally to the
increase of visitors, although politically they claim the opposite. It is the story of the elephant (Industry) and
the mouse (DMO) who crossed a wooden bridge and the mouse turned back and said:
“We sure shook that bridge, didn’t we!”
After 45 years in the industry I agree that only a minimal governmental subsidy for DMOs is justified.

203. The HBPO Development Team
Ria Jongste….the founder of HBPO.

204. The HBPO Hospitality Team
Siebe and Ellis Terband of Catering Concepts with hostess

205. The HBPO Support Team
Trijnie Vlietstra, Kris van Meel, Amir Ali Abadi, Wendy de la Rambelje. ( Missing Roy Fu and Mali Pan)
Thanks all of you for a great 4 years at HBPO!

206. The best driver in the world!
Jan Kip, ex traffic policeman and my driver for most of the 10 years at NBTC and HBPO.
From Epe to The Hague and back every working day for 10 years is an estimated 600.000 km.
Jan…thanks for all the support and safe driving!

207. The IDS Team
With special thanks to:
Rob Lohman for his advice in the start-up period and practical support.
Monique van Bijsterveld , who was a great help during our first “ Flower “ projects.
Reinoud van Assendelft, who helped with moderating meetings and political support
Rober Jan Möhlmann, the magician with all the financial excel calculations and…humor!
Liesbeth van der Kaaden, our Queen of Food and Retail concepts and great business partner

208. 12. Major Events Attended

209. 100 Years Rijks HBS Gouda
The first large event in which I played a minor role, but in which I already learned that original entertainment,
improvisation, luck and teamwork is important in our business.
As part of the 100-year festivities, the theater play “The black sheep of the family” was presented in the City Theater
Hall before 800 people. I played the role of a “confused minister”. I genuinely surprised the rest of the cast, as I had
forgotten my text and created a new version on the spot. The confusion this created was hilarious and thanks to good
teamwork, we made a great performance and got a standing ovation.

210. 100 years Hotel Des Indes
March 18th 1982. Lunch with Prince Bernard, Brian Langton, etc….at the last minute I had to
sit at the table as well … as one of the guests had cancelled! After lunch…. the cocktail party.

211. First “Run to the North Sea” April 1982
The official opening of the holiday season at Scheveningen Beach near our Europa Hotel.
From the left: Ron Kuyt, Hans Stokman, Philippe le Clercq, Tom Sherif, Arnout Koek

212. Surprise Farewell Party July 5th 1986
Organized just before our move to Königstein, Frankfurt, Germany, at Chateau Marquette by Hans Haan and Jan van der Zijden.
Our son Maurits van Driem is “sitting” between us…well aware of the importance of the meeting.
Right picture, at the left our good friend Frans Buis of Buis Electra with his girlfriend Debby.
At the right Boudewijn Keyser, my old VVV boss.

213. Opening First New Crest Hotel in Austria
At the opening dinner of our new Alpenköning Crest Hotel in May 1986

214. L’Oreal Dinner Floriade, June 9th 1992
Great Party and big business for Floriade... with an average price per attendee of Hfl. 1250,- !
Parties like these contributed to our struggle for a financial break-even of this exhibition.
Diner with Dick and Feikje Bosman.

215. Visit Princess Margaret, June 25th 1992.
Memorable visit, as afterwards nobody wanted to pay for Princess Margaret’s lunch. Not the Princess, nor the British Embassy,
nor the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So we decided to split the bill with Marks & Spencer’s and enjoyed an afternoon
tea in the British Pavilion.
Lesson learned: Always be careful when royals announce that they want to visit your event…who is going to pay the bill?
Telegraaf June 26th 1992.

216. Diner with mr. Luns.
As a former secretary of foreign affairs of The Netherlands, mr Luns was already
famous for his jokes. We had a hilarious evening at the Sofitel Grand Amsterdam with
Dolf and Ada Beuk, Willem Reimers, etc.
October 1992.

217. World Championship Soccer 2004, Orlando.
Visiting the World Cup Soccer in Orlando 1994 at the invitation of Coca Cola.
Picture right: With Robert Ireland, General Manager Coca Cola Netherlands.

218. 5 Year Walibi Flevo
Dinner and the premiere of the circus Vagebond at Walibi Flevo.
With Wina Born, Robert Kranenborg, etc, Summer 1999

219. Retirement Dinner of Brian Langton,
ceo IHG
At the Retirement Dinner & Memory Lane of Brian Langton, September 20th, 1996
Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Manchester.
Left with Arie van der Spek, c.o.o. Europe of IHG and our good friend Eric Weekenstroo.
Right: Vivian Vogels, Eduardo Martinez, Marese Ornee, John Blamey, Luciano Lusardi.

220. Memorable canal trip and visit Ans Markus
Until August 31th 2000 my new position at NBTC had to be kept a secret.
However, my good friends Eric Weekenstroo and Peter Zeylmaker were already informed
…hence the party at Ans Markus to celebrate!

221. Opening 3 D Holland Experience
With Henri Remmers and Theo Schmitz, Amsterdam September 29th 2000.

222. Laying the first brick for the Palace Hotel
Noordwijk, October 6th 2000, at the invitation of Ilona and Jurgen Wondergem .
One of my first “official acts” as Director TRN/NBTC.

223. Official Opening of the Alkmaar Cheese Market
Alkmaar, July 2002.

224. Opening Duingalow 405 at Duinrell
“Alles für die Werbung”
Fun with Roderick van Zuylen van Nijevelt and Muriel
(From Scott & Muriel Magicians) Society, July 2002.

225. IAAPA Seminar 50th Years Efteling
October 22nd 2002

226. Opening Convention Center Amstelveen
November 7th 2002

227. 130 years Holland America Line
MS Oosterdam, Monday July 28, 2003.
Diner with Henny and Herman van Deursen, Director of Cruise Development HAL.
Henny used to be the assistant nurse of my father, ship doctor on board of the SS Nieuw Amsterdam.

228. National Oyster Party
Organized by Ed van Dantzig. Middelburg September 2003

229. Olympic Games Athens 2004
August 2004.

230. Budapest 15-16 October 2004
3rd European Tourism Forum.

231. New Year Reception Royal Palace
January 11th 2005.
I knew everybody but ….nobody knew me!

232. Opening Event Office Beijing 2005
With Eddie Yang, Jeu Claes Director Dutch Hotel Association, Vice Secretary of China Ministry of Tourism,
Dutch Ambassador in China, Huiping Cui, Dutch-Chinese Formula 2 driver, President Dutch Hotel
Association. October 2005.
Eddie thanks for a great first job done!

233. IHRA 2005 Beijing
October 28-30th 2005 Beijing.

234. Bollywood reception June 9th 2006
India International Film Academy (IiFA) in Sofitel Amsterdam with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

235. Amsterdam-Beijing Classic Car Rally
Official finish of the rally at The Wall near Beijing with e.g. Prince Pieter Christiaan, Dutch ambassador Van den
Berg.
Photo : Yao Yuecan of CITS, Yu Debin, Vice director of Beijing Tourism Administration, Louis Frankenhuis ceo
OAD Travel. Dinner August 11th 2006 with a performance by Li Min .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu1br7VmqS0;

236. Opening Dutch Parliament 2006
Attending Prinsjesdag 2006 The Hague.

237. 25th Peter Stuyvesant Ball NYC
November 17th 2006.

238. Gala Schiller Hotel
With Piet Boogert and Pieter Bonnema, November 21st , 2007.

239. Holland America Business Gala 2008
June 29th 2008

240. Gala diner MS Eurodam 2008
Gala dinner and maiden cruise on board MS Eurodam.
Our bond with the HAL. From1948 to 1961, my father worked for the HAL as a ship doctor on the SS
Ryndam, SS Statendam, SS New Amsterdam and SS Rotterdam.
To commemorate this we were present with the whole family. Thanks to Mai Elmar! June 27th 2008.

241. Olympic Games 2008
Attending the women’s hockey finals between China and Holland with my son Frido van Driem.
Afterwards the celebrations of the Golden Dutch Team in the Holland Heineken House.
August 2008. Marieke Reichwein…thanks for everything you did for us in China!

242. Japanese-Dutch Trade Relations 1609-2009
Luncheon at Ridderzaal ,The Hague, August 25, 2009.

243. New York 400
September 2009.

244. 400 years New York-Holland 2009
50 years ago, in 1959, my father sailed to New York as a ship doctor with the new SS Rotterdam
to celebrate 350 years NYC-Holland. Princess Beatrix was on board as well.
SS Rotterdam with Princess Beatrix and Mr Luns on their way to New York. August 1959.

245. Meeting Prince Akishino of Japan.
A meeting with the son of the Japanese Emperor at the reception in honor of 400 years Japan-Holland.
What would my father & mother have said…as Japanese prisoners of war in camps like Aek Pamienke on
Sumatra? Anyway…the prince was a nice guy.
Okura Hotel, Hamatsu, Japan, September 18th 2009

246. Presenting Lessons learnt at OS 2008 in London.
London, June 3rd 2009 & March 3rd 2010

247. Seminars World Expo 2010
2010 preparation for Chinese-Holland meetings during family dinner Roy Fu.
Thanks Roy and Trijnie for all the work you have done!
June 2010

248. EuroCHRIE
Amsterdam October 25th 2010

249. Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, 2011
Invited by Francis Stokkel, Construction Manager Ferrari World, to check
the fastest roller coaster in the world (260 km/h). Luckily it was out of order….

250. Symposium “The creators of Destinations”
The President of the Board of Governors
of NHTV Breda University of A pplied
Sciences, Hans Uijterwijk, is very proud to
host the symposium “ The Creators of
Destinations” and cordially invites you to
join this event.
Symposium
“ The Creatorsof Destinations”
Thursday
31 May 2012
13.30 - 18.30 hrs
Mgr. Hopmansstraat 1
Breda
Are you involved in designing,
fi nancing, building, maintaining
or operating a destination?
Academy of Hotel Management & F acility
Management
Academy for Digital Entertainment
Academy for Leisure
Academy for Tourism
Academy for Urban Development, Logistics&
Mobility
Symposium and reception on May 31, 2012 as a farewell party
after 8 years at Supervisory Board NHTV

251. 13. Where we lived
Ex-pat communities, company houses, etc.

252. New York City, USA
Second Avenue 30th, corner Second Street, fall 1973.
“Pied a terre” at loft of Hein Jens.

253. Wassenaar, Holland 1975-1986
Moving from our apartment at Wittenburgerweg 54 in Wassenaar to Germany on July 1986.
Albertine still having fun during the first of 4 moves during my career.

254. Frankfurt, Germany 1986-1988
Königstein, Arndstrasse 4

255. Wassenaar, Holland, 1988-1993
Storm van ‘s Gravesandeweg 1c

256. Biddinghuizen, Holland 1993-1994
Cerespark 1, home at Flevohof with our garden of 200 ha!

257. Epe, Holland 1994-present
Kamperweg 36.

258. 14. Hobbies & Other Interests

259. Sailing
The best experience is to sail into the harbor and drink a beer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxBskZyYT9Y

260. Tour operator and guide for family holidays
The greatest but most critical group of tourists I ever worked for …

261. Gardening

262. City & Countryside Sightseeing by bike.
With the IPhone as a guide

263. Visiting new type of family attractions & shows
Our top 5 attractions & shows:
1. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Universal Studios.
2. Mission to Mars, Epcot. 3.The Organs of Fire, Puy du Fou, 4. Soldier of Orange, Dutch History Musical,
5. Pre-show “Minions Training” of Despicable Me Universal Studios.

264. World History
From 2000 BC-2000 AD

265. WWII Vehicles, Planes and Ships
Especially the smell and noise of the engines…

266. The War for Talent
The promotion tool for a conference at the University of Groningen,
organized by Maurits van Driem (23)… inspired by his father’s hobby.