The gong: an age-old tradition
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world and a household name in the Netherlands and abroad. As early as the 17th century, trading was opened and closed by sounding a gong. Today, all securities trading is automated and the opening is a ceremonial act. Directors of listed companies, business people, politicians and charity ambassadors have helped keep this tradition alive in recent years.
Amsterdam Gong Ceremonies
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Roparun Foundation
| Amsterdam
91794999979a-8d80-4658-b776-0c5b6f152fefRoparun Foundation
Roparun Foundation visits Amsterdam stock exchange
The Roparun starts Saturday 19 may 2018 in Hamburg and Paris and finishes White Monday 21 May in Rotterdam. Director of Roparun Foundation Wiljan Vloet sounds the gong, accompanied by participants of teams Unilever (ticker symbol: UNA) and NN (ticker symbol: NN).
The Roparun is a relay race of more than 500 kilometers from Paris and Hamburg to Rotterdam, in which people work as a team to give a collective sports performance in order to raise money for people who suffer from cancer. This year’s 27th edition has 312 teams participating in this challenge.
Besides the physical challenge, the team must also make an effort to raise money for the cause. Teams do this by organizing various activities. The three teams who raise the most money and the six teams who win for their running speed are honored during the final celebration of the Roparun, which takes place a few weeks after the finish. Over the past editions, more than seventy-eight million Euro has been raised.
For more information: www.roparun.nl
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MillionsMissing
| Amsterdam
9178227fcc3c-b362-4988-9fa0-445f0798cae7MillionsMissing
MillionsMissing opens trading
The Dutch organizers of the worldwide MillionMissing campaign open the Amsterdam stock exchange by sounding the gong. By opening the trading day, they raise a symbolic alarm about the funding of research of the disease Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
The MEAction Network is an international organization for equal health rights for people with ME, a neuro-immunological disorder with severe disabling consequences that causes heavy exhaustion, pain, cardio logical problems and exercise intolerance that occurs 24 to 76 hours after small effort and can lead to a crash.
MEAction continuously campaigns for more biomedical research, education of doctors and equal civil rights for people with ME under the title MillionsMissing. On 12 May, the MillionsMissing, who miss their lives, show themselves all over the world. This year in the Netherlands, this campaign will be mostly virtual.
For more information: www.meaction.net
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Businesswoman of the Year
| Amsterdam
917779f6c4c6-e0c7-4da4-a128-0eac9596b995Businesswoman of the Year
Businesswoman of the Year opens stock exchange
Businesswoman of the Year 2018, Aukje Kuypers, opens the stock exchange in Amsterdam. Kuypers is chief executive of technical service provider Kuijpers. The Businesswoman of the Year is an international prize that is supported by champagne brand Veuve Clicquot, part of the LVMH Group, listed on Euronext (ticker symbol: MC).
As a fourth generation member of the family, Aukje Kuypers heads up the family business (established in 1921) with offices throughout the Netherlands. With a turnover of almost €200 million and 1150 employees, the company is engaged in the sustainable design, construction, maintenance and operation of technical installations. The company's mission is to realize energy-neutral, smart and healthy installations only. Kuijpers is active in various sectors, such as culture, food, pharma, high tech, health care and education.
For more information: www.kuijpers.nl
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Listing Parx Plastic
| Amsterdam
91765c65e8ae-e96a-4052-ad98-ce0393c9b5cbListing Parx Plastic
Parx Plastic celebrates listing Euronext Access
Dutch company Parx Plastics N.V. realized its listing on Euronext Access in Paris recently. To celebrate this listing, Michael van der Jagt, CEO of Parx Plastics, opens the trading day by striking the gong.
Parx Plastics (ticker symbol: MLPRX) has developed an innovative technology to make plastics antibacterial by using an essential nutrient. The integration of a body’s own trace element into plastic results in a defence mechanism against bacteria, which leads to a reduction of at least 99% of the number of bacteria on the surface of the treated plastic. The technique is particularly interesting for food packaging and for medical applications such as implants.
For more information: www.parxplastics.com
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Fair Trade week
| Amsterdam
9175e7dabb89-d673-4d87-918e-14bb6bd3365cFair Trade week
Fair Trade week starts with sounding of the gong
Director of the Max Havelaar foundation Peter d'Angremond opens the trading day on the Amsterdam exchange for the start of the Fair Trade week, which runs from 5 to 13 May.
This spring Max Havelaar calls on companies, municipalities, consumers and volunteers to make their commitment to Fair Trade visible during the Fair Trade Week. Through the international stand4fairness campaign, the importance of Fair Trade for millions of people in developing countries is emphasized. The actions on the shop floor during the Fair Trade Week ensure that the volume for farmers' organizations in developing countries continues to grow so that more Fair Trade development premiums can be paid.
The Max Havelaar Foundation is the organizer of the Fair Trade Week and owner of the Fair Trade quality mark in the Netherlands. Fair Trade contributes to the sustainable development of producers in developing countries. They work to improve their business through better trade conditions, living conditions and protection of the environment.
For more information: www.maxhavelaar.nl
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Remembrance Day 2018
| Amsterdam
9174262007a8-b123-4e0d-a034-5e390e3bcf81Remembrance Day 2018
Sounding of the gong for Remembrance Day 2018
The Amsterdam 4 and 5 May Youth Committee opens the trading day in Amsterdam. In addition, attention will be paid to the start of a special day in the Netherlands: the national remembrance of the dead.
Amsterdam joins the rest of the Netherlands on 4 May when its citizens pause to pay their respects to the victims and fallen soldiers of World War II, as well as more recent military conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Then it's time for a national party on 5 May, as the crowds take to the streets to celebrate their freedom on Liberation Day. On the 4th and 5th of May, there are over 300 activities taking place in Amsterdam to keep alive the memories of World War II.
For more information: www.4en5meiamsterdam.nl
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Merlin Technology
| Amsterdam
9173d6890678-dbb3-4503-869c-f11eb06f10b8Merlin Technology
ABN AMRO Participaties celebrates stake Merlin Technology
The sounding of the gong is performed by Ron van Veenendaal, founder of Merlin Technology. ABN AMRO Participaties has recently acquired a substantial equity stake in Merlin Technology.
Merlin Technology, specialist in currency processing and payment solutions, designs, develops, produces and maintains equipment for the payment industry and smartsafes (through its label Lincsafe). ABN AMRO Participaties will support Merlin Technology in accelerating its growth and expanding its international network by investing in the development of new and innovative payment solutions.
Merlin Technology is an innovative, fast growing technology company specialized in hybrid (cash and non-cash) payment solutions. Merlin Technology’s payment solutions are found in the B2C segment and include petrol, retail, gaming, banking and government.
ABN AMRO Participaties is a subsidiary of ABN AMRO Bank (ticker symbol: ABN), which provides for sufficient access to knowledge and equity capital in order to support their portfolio companies in their growth plans.
For more information: www.merlin.nl
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Wierda en Partners asset management
| Amsterdam
9172d1b1bd68-934c-4eeb-876f-da9b2ae799b2Wierda en Partners asset management
Wierda en Partners Vermogensbeheer celebrates 10-year anniversary
Founder and CEO Edwin Wierda sounds the gong to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of asset management company Wierda en Partners Vermogensbeheer.
Wierda en Partners Vermogensbeheer celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month. In the past 10 years Wierda en Partners Vermogensbeheer has grown into one of the larger independent asset managers in the Netherlands. With offices in Assen and Laren they offer personal services and customized portfolio’s for their customers in the Netherlands. The focus is on asset management in bonds and individual shares combined with derivatives.
For more information: www.wierdavermogensbeheer.nl
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Philips Innovation Award 2018
| Amsterdam
917175beccd8-53da-4005-a060-1c5561ec599bPhilips Innovation Award 2018
Philips Innovation Award 2018 opens trading
The Philips Innovation Award 2018 finals are coming up. Friso Tigchelaar, chairman of the Philips Innovation Award 2018, sounds the gong and opens the trading day on the Amsterdam exchange.
The Philips Innovation Award, the biggest student-entrepreneur award in the Netherlands, organized for students, by students, will take place 7 May. During the final, the organisers will announce the next student entrepreneur of the Netherlands as well as the winner of the grand prize of 50.000 euros!
For more information: www.phia.nl
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King’s Day
| Amsterdam
91684b73fe8c-c252-41b2-bac1-02ebf3e5459eKing’s Day
Oranje Bond Celebrate King’s Day
On King’s Day many ‘Oranjeverenigingen’ are busy organizing a village or town festival to celebrate the birthday of the king of the Netherlands. The KBOV is the national representative of all ‘Oranjeverenigingen’ and sounds 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 and other commemorations to mark heyday in the House of Orange. Meanwhile, more than 310 local ‘Oranjeverenigingen’ are a member of the KBOV.
For more information: www.oranjebond.nl
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Allen & Overy
| Amsterdam
91704f8519e8-c095-48bb-a027-f9cf2f627eebAllen & Overy
Allen & Overy opens trading
International Financial Law Review (IFLR) has chosen Allen & Overy Amsterdam as the leading law firm in the Netherlands in 2018. A delegation from the company opens trading at the Amsterdam stock exchange with a sounding of the gong.
Allen & Overy is a law firm that operates globally with an extensive business practice, a litigation practice and a team of experts in the field of legislation and regulations. In addition to the office in Amsterdam, it has 44 offices across the world.
For more information: www.allenovery.com
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20th listing anniversary NSI
| Amsterdam
91671e8af3dd-d5ae-4e40-8d8d-6ef891f6467b20th listing anniversary NSI
NSI celebrates 20th listing anniversary
By sounding the gong, NSI celebrates that they have been listed in Amsterdam for 20 years. Dick van Klooster, one of the Young Talents at NSI, sounds the gong.
On 25 August 1992, Houthaven Plan B.V. was founded and renamed in 1993 to Nieuwe Steen Investments, which listed on the Dutch stock exchange in 1998.
NSI (ticker symbol: NSI) is a specialist in commercial real estate and the only listed real estate FBI focused on the Netherlands. The NSI team focuses on maximizing the result for shareholders through proactive management of the portfolio and a disciplined rotation of objects. At the end of June 2017, the portfolio had been valued at € 1.1 billion.
For more information: www.nsi.nl
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SME Export Award
| Amsterdam
9166e08643b8-ae21-4cb8-8e4d-e34c7a8c6dcfSME Export Award
Winner MKB Export Award sounds gong
The 29-year-old Anne Pleun van Eijsden, owner of the company On the Rocks, opens trading. With a sounding of the gong she celebrates winning the MKB Export Award, an annual prize from MKB-Nederland, TNT and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl). The prize is intended to stimulate SME entrepreneurs to cross the border or to expand their existing international activities.
On the Rocks makes high-quality notebooks of stone paper; a durable type of paper, made of gravel and without the use of trees, water or bleach. The paper is water resistant, extra strong and writes soft and smoothly. The jury of the MKB Export Award is impressed by the mission and vision of the young entrepreneur, who combines sustainability and quality into a special and promising export product. In total, almost 100 companies had signed up for the SME Export Award.
For more information: www.mkbexportaward.nl
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RTL Z Beursspel
| Amsterdam
9165dab6892b-833b-4bb9-b362-c95adcb2fc95RTL Z Beursspel
Start RTL Z Beursspel by sounding gong
RTL Z presenter Janneke Willemse sounds the gong at Euronext Amsterdam. RTL Z’s Beursspel starts on Monday April 23 and runs until Friday June 1.
With 100,000 euros fictional starting capital, players can learn how to invest on the stock market through the Beursspel. The player who achieved the highest return after six weeks wins an all-inclusive trip to New York, including a visit to Wall Street. Around 10,000 players compete for the main prize.
For more information: www.rtlzbeursspel.nl
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20th listing anniversary Ctac
| Amsterdam
91636a8b8306-eb07-4f68-b39a-003fb6d8b03120th listing anniversary Ctac
Ctac sounds gong for 20th listing anniversary
This year Ctac (ticker symbol:CTAC) has been listed on Euronext Amsterdam for twenty years. On this occasion, Henny Hilgerdenaar, CEO Ctac, opens the trading day by sounding the gong.
Ctac is an IT company that specializes in Business & Cloud integration. As a SAP Platinum Partner and Microsoft Gold Partner it offers IT solutions and consulting services. Ctac has substantive expertise and broad experience in the Retail, Wholesale, Manufacturing, Housing Corporation and Real Estate industries.
Additionally, Ctac offers various proprietary products such as the XV Retail Suite which consists of an omnichannel driven point-of-sale and loyalty platform and a cloud solution for Housing Corporations.
For more information: www.ctac.nl
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CFA Society VBA Netherlands
| Amsterdam
916249e80169-d872-4d4b-8215-5e2c24ddbdf5CFA Society VBA Netherlands
CFA Society VBA Netherlands celebrates merger
CFA Society VBA Netherlands arose from the merger between CFA Society Netherlands and VBA investment professionals.
The association has more than 2,200 members in the Netherlands and shows strong growth. The association has a wide range of professional training opportunities, including the internationally recognized vocational training for Chartered Financial Analyst, the postgraduate VU-VBA course 'Investment Management', the postgraduate course 'Risk Management for Financial Institutions', the CIPM training focused on performance measurement and general CFA Foundations training.
CFA Society VBA Netherlands offers a wide range of possibilities for maintaining knowledge and skills and keeps a register of the permanent education of its members. With members working in virtually all disciplines within the financial sector, the association is deeply embedded in the Dutch industry. The association is part of the international network of CFA Institute.
For more information: www.cfasociety.org
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Arcadis
| Amsterdam
9161ed6c42a2-382f-4f2d-9c00-86eee8222598Arcadis
Arcadis celebrates new assignment
Arcadis (ticker symbol: ARCAD) recently received instructions from Rijkswaterstaat to ensure that 135 movable bridges, locks, aqueducts and eleven tunnel complexes continue to work for the long term. It is a three-year contract on national conservation advice, as it is called. Arcadis does this together with the specialists from A-Quin and Dover Traffic Measures.
Rijkswaterstaat has many movable bridges, locks, tunnels and other complex objects. The extent to which the objects function properly determines the 'performance' that roads and waterways deliver. The Netherlands has a very good performing infrastructure. At the same time, the objects age faster due to more intensive use. To ensure that the performance of these properties remains at the highest level, Arcadis uses the latest digital techniques to predict risks as well as possible and to make the management and maintenance regime as efficient as possible.
For more information: www.arcadis.com
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Société Générale Turbo Life
| Amsterdam
91600db8bb84-6248-4c63-ba86-7dbc1881a38fSociété Générale Turbo Life
Société Générale introduces Turbo Life in the Netherlands
With the official launch of the Turbo Life on Euronext Amsterdam, Société Générale is taking a new step on the market for turbos. Ernst Gevaerts, Head of Cross Asset Retail Distribution Sales, opens the trading day by sounding the gong.
Turbos are listed investment products with leverage. In contrast to classic turbos, the innovative Turbo Life will not be deactivated if the stop loss-level is exceeded. Within 15 minutes after reaching the stop-loss level, an adjustment of the product features (funding level, stop loss level, parity) takes place, after which it can be traded again.
Ernst Gevaerts, responsible for the distribution of listed products of Société Générale in the Netherlands: ‘This innovation meets the often-heard desire of turbo-investors to have the ability to remain in the market and therefore benefit from a possible recovery after a sudden movement in the market.’
For more information: www.societegenerale.com
Amsterdam
Would you like to sound the gong with your company at Beursplein 5?
Open the trading day at Euronext Amsterdam
Companies or institutions that have a natural connection to the Amsterdam capital market can be invited to take part in a gong ceremony. For example, this might be to mark a special milestone or to raise awareness of a charity.
The ceremony starts with a reception hosted by a senior Euronext Amsterdam representative in the former Board Room at Beursplein 5. Just before 9 am, the participants and their guests take their place on the gong stage to open the trading day, The gong is sounded at 9 am precisely. The group then returns to the Boardroom for a cup of coffee.
Media coverage
The gong strike is broadcast live every morning on RTL Z. A picture of the gong strike illustrates the daily stock market report on the Financiële Telegraaf's website. In addition, Euronext shares the images on its social media channels.
Photos and video footage taken of the gong ceremony are shared with guests, who are free to use them for their own communications and on social media.
Practical information
Programme
Timings for gong ceremonies at Beursplein 5 are as follows:
Reception: 8.30 am
Sounding of the gong: 9.00 am
End: 9.15 - 9.30 am
Group size: minimum 8 people, maximum 15 people.
There is no charge for the gong ceremony.
Additional options
You can combine your gong ceremony with the Amsterdam Exchange Experience: a special tour of the stock exchange building.
Or if you would like to use the gong ceremony to kick off a conference or event, consider organising your event at Beursplein 5. Euronext has several historic rooms where events for 10 to 150 people can be held.
The Euronext Events Team will be happy to give you all the information you need about the options available.