Gong marks Dam tot Dam Weekend

By sounding the gong the alderman of the City of Zaanstad, Jeroen Olthof, launches the Dam tot Dam Weekend, which takes place on 20 and 21 September and starts next to the Euronext Exchange building.

More than 87,000 athletes will enjoy their participation during one of the Dam tot Dam events. Saturday 20 September 17,000 walkers participate in the 12^th Dam tot Dam Hike. In the evening follows a new event: the Damloop by night with 10,000 runners. One day later 6,000 cyclists come to the Dam square in Amsterdam for the 8^th Bicycle Classic. The highlight of the weekend is 30^th Dam tot Damloop with 50,000 participants, the biggest running event of the Netherlands. Over 250,000 spectators come to Amsterdam or Zaandam to soak up the atmosphere of the events.

For more information: www.damloop.nl

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COO of KLM, Pieter Elbers, sounds gong at the KLM Open

COO of KLM, Pieter Elbers, sounds the gong as the official start of the KLM Open 2014. For this special occasion the gong relocates to the Kennemer Golf & Country Club in Zandvoort.

The KLM Open, held between 11 and 14 September, has for many years been a fixed feature on the European Tour’s calendar. The history of the international golf tournament stretches back over one hundred years, and winners include many illustrious names in the world of golf. Last year, the first Dutchman since 2003, Joost Luiten, won the 'Dutch Open’. Luiten defeated the Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez in a playoff. KLM is the lead sponsor of the tournament for the 21st time. Co-sponsors ABN AMRO and Deloitte have also been associated with the event for many years.

Traditionally, the KLM Open is linked to a charity. This year’s tournament will support UNICEF, the organization that helps children around the world overcome poverty, disease, violence and discrimination. An important first step to protect children is birth registration. Worldwide, some 230 million children are not registered. This means that these children do not officially exist and therefore are not able to claim their right to health care and education.

For more information: www.klmopen.nl

Photo: Pepper Productions

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Winners investment competition ‘Battle of the Schools’ sound gong

Students from the Farel College in Amersfoort, sound the gong to celebrate their victory in the investment competition for schools.

The Battle of the Schools is an investment game for students in the upper classes of the secondary and advanced secondary school system. Students are divided into groups of three or four. Each group takes on the role of an investment advisor who is responsible for advising a family member, for example a father, mother or grandparent. The students are given a virtual capital of 100,000 Euros to invest in shares and investment funds listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

For more information: www.scholenstrijd.nl 

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Stichting ONL voor Ondernemers visits Beursplein 5

Stichting ONL voor Ondernemers, a foundation that was set up last year with a view to helping small businesses raise their profile, sounds the gong at Beursplein 5.

Hans Biesheuvel, one of the initiators of ONL, sounds the gong. According to Biesheuvel, “ONL visits Euronext because the exchange stands for progress and entrepreneurship. The ONL shadow cabinet’s objective is to see the Dutch economy return to a 3% annual growth rate in the short term. To accomplish this we intend to invest 43.5 billion euros in the Dutch economy by 2021. We have identified the preconditions that are needed to strengthen the economic earnings model. Entrepreneurs are the backbone of the economy of the Netherlands. They want to increase their turnover, bring in new clients and orders, and they are prepared to take risks. Entrepreneurs are well aware of their responsibilities, in terms of both job creation and the need to increase tax revenue. Entrepreneurs expect something in return for this: a pro-investment agenda, lower taxes, and consistent government policy.” 

After the gong ceremony, Biesheuvel will give his inaugural Entrepreneurial Speech and present the shadow budget, which will focus on how to restore economic growth as soon as possible by enlisting the help of entrepreneurs to promote an economy that provides growth, innovation, jobs, and prosperity.

For more information: www.onl.nl

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Gong marks collection week of the Princess Beatrix Muscle Foundation

Patient and ambassador of the Princess Beatrix Muscle Foundation, Anouska Ramaker, sounds the gong to mark the start of the annual collection week that takes place till 13 September.

This week the foundation has launched a new campaign ‘Strikze tegen spierziekten’. The campaign aims at highlighting the problems faced by patients with a muscle disease.  Do the test, try tying your shoelaces whilst wearing a pair of oven gloves. It’s almost impossible and that’s just one example of what it’s like to live with a muscle disease. Visit strikze.nl to order your oven gloves. The Princess Beatrix Muscle Foundation is the largest non-profit organization in the Netherlands dedicated to curing all neuromuscular diseases such as ALS, Duchenne, SMA and Pompe. Scientific research is the means to this end.

For more information: www.strikze.nl

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Winners LOEY Awards 2014 visit Euronext Amsterdam

The winners of the LOEY Awards 2014, the awards for the best entrepreneurs in the Dutch online industry, visit Euronext Amsterdam and open trading by sounding the gong.

On 3 September Marco Aarnink of Drukwerkdeal.nl has been named winner of the 2014 LOEY Award. Five starting online business won the LOEY Starters Awards in the following categories; E-commerce: Marten Blankesteijn (Blendle) Tech: Lars van Wieren (Starred), Marketing & Media: Fabian Dudek (Nestpick) Education: Zoran Kovacevic (Studygrasp) and E-health: Martine Rooth (Fysiovoorjou.nl).

The LOEY Award is an independent award for the best entrepreneurs in the Dutch online industry. Awards are established to promote and encourage online entrepreneurship in the Netherlands. The innovative strength of this industry is enormous and the importance of online entrepreneurs for the Dutch economy is evident. By announcing successful entrepreneurs, the LOEY awards contribute to further development of online initiatives and partnerships. The LOEY Award is presented to entrepreneurs who have been in the industry for at least 4 years, with revenues over € 2.5 million in any fiscal year or a profit of € 250.000 or more​​. The LOEY Starters Awards are handed out to starting entrepreneurs.

For more information: www.loeyawards.nl

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ETF Securities sounds gong to announce expansion of range of short & leverages ETP’s

ETF Securities, one of the world’s leading, independent providers of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs), launched two additional short and leveraged ETPs on Euronext Amsterdam. Following the recent launch of some of its 3x leveraged currency ETPs on the exchange, the company is expanding its short and leveraged product range available to Dutch investors by providing short and leveraged exposure to gold and silver. Philippe Roset, Head of Benelux at ETF Securities, sounds the gong to mark the announcement.

Commenting on the launch, Philippe Roset said: “The AFM recently issued new regulations that ban products for retail investors with excessive leverage. The fact that our products have limited leverage and provide a collateralised and transparent cost structure appeals to investors. ETF Securities has extensive experience in the commodities sector, and gold and silver are amongst some of our most traded products. The short and leveraged gold and silver ETPs we listed on Euronext Amsterdam will provide Dutch investors with additional tools to take short term views and make tactical trades.”

For more information: www.etfsecurities.com

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Comedian Viggo Waas opens trading on behalf of ALS Foundation and Amsterdam City Swim

Comedian Viggo Waas opens trading by sounding the gong on behalf of the ALS Foundation and Amsterdam City Swim.

Organized for the third time this year, Amsterdam City Swim aims to raise funds for the ALS Foundation. More than 2200 participants, including 200 children, will swim over 2 kilometers in the Amsterdam Amstel and canals. The children will swim the final 500 meters  of the course the morning of the race.

Waas himself will swim the 2 kilometers as well, after which he will assist the presenter in welcoming the participants at the finish. He will do this with fellow comedian Peter Heerschop, also a participant of the race. 

ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and is an incurable nerve and muscle disease. On average, a patient will live for only three years after he is diagnosed. Little is known about what causes ALS. Therefore, a lot of research and thus money is needed. The relatively small number of ALS patients, circa 1500, complicates the financing of scientific research into the cause and treatment of this deadly disease. The Amsterdam City Swim Foundation is committed to creating greater awareness, for increasing scientific research and provide better quality of care for the approximately 500 people who are now annually affected by ALS.

For more information: www.amsterdamcityswim.nl

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Pharming Group sounds gong to mark a summer of strategic progress

Sijmen de Vries, CEO of Pharming Group, Jaap Blaak, Chairman of the Board of Supervisory Directors of Pharming Group and the Pharming management team, visit Euronext Amsterdam to sound the gong and open trading.

The gong ceremony marks a summer of significant strategic progress for Pharming. Last week, Pharming and its US partner, Salix, announced the initiation of a randomized double blind placebo-controlled, crossover, Phase II clinical study of RUCONEST. Earlier in August Pharming announced the acquisition of certain assets of Transgenic Rabbit Models SASU (TRM), a private French company in liquidation; for € 0.5 million in cash. Through the acquisition Pharming gained access to five potential new product leads. In addition, Pharming gained access to transgenic rabbit founder technology and know-how developed by TRM. In July, Pharming announced that the Food and Drug Administration approved RUCONEST® in the USA. A US$20 million milestone payment from Salix will become payable upon the first commercial sale of Ruconest® in the US, representing significant non-dilutive funding to the company. Salix currently plans on making RUCONEST® available to patients during the fourth quarter of 2014. 

Sijmen de Vries, Pharming CEO, said: “We are delighted with the very significant regulatory and commercial progress we have made over the past summer, particularly the approval of RUCONEST® in the US, the initiation of the clinical study with RUCONEST®, and the acquisition of assets from TRM.”

For more information: www.pharming.com

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Youth Olympians celebrate success by sounding the gong

The Chinese city of Nanjing was host of the Youth Olympic Games that were held from 16-28 August. The Dutch Youth Olympic Team won 12 medals in total;  three gold, four silver and five bronze. They celebrate their success together with Chef de Mission Mark Huizinga, by sounding the gong.

The International Olympic Committee IOC organized the event for talented youngsters,  between the ages of 14 and 18, for the first time in 2010 in Singapore. 3.800 top athletes from 200 countries took part in this second edition in Nanjing. The Youth Olympic Games are organized for elite performance, but also meant as an incentive for young athletes to continue on the long and often difficult road to the senior elite top. The absolute highlight of course being participation in the senior Olympic Games. Very important is that the participants experience international competition, that they meet peers from other sports and from different countries. For NOC*NSF the top sports program during the Youth Olympic Games has the highest priority. Besides the sports program, NOC*NSF also stimulates the Dutch participants to join the accompanying cultural programs. This way they are introduced to the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. 

For more information: www.nocnsf.nl/nanjing2014

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ABN AMRO sounds gong for start Uitmarkt 2014

On Friday 29, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August you’ll find the Uitmarkt 2014 on and around the Museumplein and Leidseplein in Amsterdam.

The Uitmarkt marks the start of the new cultural season, and with the theme Talent Grows!, this year there’s more room than ever for upcoming young talent. With nearly 500,000 visitors, more than 1,500 artists and some 30 stages, the Uitmarkt has become the largest and best-known freely accessible cultural festival in the Netherlands. Visitors get a taste of everything coming up in the fields of theatre, cabaret, dance, musical theatre, literature, film, opera and music.

On 29 August, the ABN AMRO Uitmarkt Business Day takes place in venues including the Royal Concertgebouw. During the Business Day, Dutch cultural institutions can get free advice on all aspects of cultural entrepreneurship with the purpose of sharing knowledge and encouraging cooperation between large and smaller cultural institutions. In 2014 and 2015, ABN AMRO is the lead partner. CEO of Amsterdam Marketing, Frans van der Avert, sounds the gong.

For more information: www.uitmarkt.nl

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Gong marks 30th anniversary Eye Care Foundation

By sounding the gong the Eye Care Foundation marks its 30^th anniversary. Medical Advisor ECF Nepal and Chairman of the Mechi Eye Hospital in Nepal, Gopal Prasad Pokharel, sounds the gong.

Eye Care Foundation (ECF) helps to prevent and cure blindness and visual impairment in developing countries. During the last three decades the work of ECF has evolved from emergency aid to building sustainable eye care services in developing countries. "The results we have achieved with the aid from our donors in these past 30 years make us feel proud”, Rob van Rooijen, Chairman of the ECF Board states. "In our vision affordable eye care must be available for all. By detecting and treating eye diseases and blindness at an early stage, people are able to greatly improve their quality of life", Rob van Rooijen concludes.

Eye care in most developing countries is still lacking in a lot of areas, compared to the Dutch situation. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 28 million people in developing countries are unnecessarily blind. Their blindness is due to a lack of good medical facilities, poor hygiene or Vitamin A deficiency.

For more information: www.eyecarefoundation.nl

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Euronext launches equity options on Euronext

Euronext sounds the gong to mark the launch of equity options on Euronext.

The trading in equity options on Euronext N.V. shares will start on the Amsterdam derivatives market as of Thursday 28^th August.The new options will be listed in the Spotlight Options section, Euronext’s special segment dedicated to the development of new option classes requested by market participants. Spotlight Options give visibility to underlying assets such as newly listed stocks, SME’s and/or assets with notable market events or activity. Through a unique combination of Liquidity Provider support and dedicated promotion by Sponsoring Brokers, underlying assets are  put in the spotlight with short-term maturities options of one, two and three months.

The options are being listed in the Amsterdam Spotlight options segment following the successful IPO of Euronext N.V. on 20^th  June. The American-style options (ticker symbol: ENX) will expire on the third Friday of the contract month and will have initial maturities of one, two and three months. Each option will represent 100 shares in Euronext and these options will be cleared via LCH.Clearnet SA. The liquidity in the Euronext options will be supported by Susquehanna International Securities Limited. Head of Financial Derivatives at Euronext, Adam Rose, sounds the gong.

For more information: https://www.euronext.com/en

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Young SME Netherlands visits Beursplein 5 to celebrates 17.5 years anniversary

Young SME Netherlands was founded 17.5 years ago and celebrates this anniversary by sounding the gong.

Young SME Netherlands ensures that entrepreneurs with a passionate spirit are connected with each other and joins the many organizations and initiatives that encourage healthier capitalism. The young entrepreneur is not just for personal gain, but also gets satisfaction from promoting other people's success. Chairman of Young SME Amsterdam, André van der Kruk, sounds the gong. This small but powerful club is aiming for an innovative business climate. They are entrepreneurs with a 'bite' that want to create awareness.

For more information: www.mkb.nl

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Women cycle team Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) opens trading

One week before the start of the Tour for Life 2014, captains Margit van Zon and Nicole de Vries-Noach of the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) cycle team open trading at Euronext Amsterdam.

The Tour for Life is the spectacular cycle tour for MSF: more than 1,200 kilometers and over 20,000 altitude meters in eight classic stages through five countries. The sixth edition starts on 31 August in Italy with an amazing peloton of 36 determined cycling teams. The cyclists had to train hard for the tough challenge ahead, and had to raise a minimum of 15,000 euro for MSF’s medical emergency aid. The cyclists will finish the tour on 7 September in Landgraaf in Limburg.

For more information: www.tourforlife.nl

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ShelterBox The Netherlands sounds gong to kick-off Challenge

ShelterBox The Netherlands sounds the gong to mark the kick-off of the ShelterBox Challenge 2014.

During the weekend of 23 and 24 August, national and international teams will compete at the annual ShelterBox Challenge. This year’s edition is named 24 hour back to basics. In the heart of Amsterdam, the participants have to survive as if they have just been hit by a natural disaster. They follow a route along the highlights of the city to raise awareness for the Challenge and experience the power of ShelterBox.

ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that provides emergency shelter and relief to people worldwide affected by a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis. ShelterBox is a unique concept consisting of an emergency kit with basic materials such as tents, blankets, cooking utensils and tools in order survive the first phase after a disaster. Team member Events, Brenda van Laar, sounds the gong in the presence of the board and a Challenge Team.

For more information: www.shelterboxchallenge.nl

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Aegon sounds gong to mark World Rowing Championships

On Sunday 24 August, the best rowers in the world gather at the Bosbaan Amsterdam for the World Rowing Championships.

For eight days rowers from 60 countries will compete for 27 world titles. This is the first time since 1977 that the Netherlands has hosted the World Rowing Championships. Aegon is the main sponsor of the Royal Dutch Rowing Federation (KNRB) and one of the sponsors of the World Rowing Championships. Visitors from all over the world are expected to come together in the Aegon Fanzone, where daily activities, receptions and live performances take place. On the final days of the competition, medal winners will be honoured in the Aegon Fanzone. The official opening of the World Rowing Championships will take place on Saturday 23 August during a spectacular opening ceremony at the Museumplein. The finals of the competition on 29, 30 and 31 August will be broadcasted live by the NOS.

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Sounding of the gong by nine year old Lotta for the Clean Air Rally

By sounding the gong, nine year old and former asthma patient, Lotta Bakkum calls attention for the Schone Lucht Rally (Clean Air Rally) for electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the 20th of September.

With this event, the organization promotes electric mobility and the importance of clean air for the future of our children. The event consists of ten car rallies in the cities of Amsterdam, Almere, Amersfoort, Den Haag, Eindhoven, Enschede, Helmond, Rotterdam, Tilburg and Utrecht. The Schone Lucht Rally is the largest event for electric mobility with many participating politicians, top managers and celebrities. Lotta calls everyone with an electric or plug-in hybrid car, to participate in one of the rallies.

Main partner of the event is Lung Fund to which a donation will be made. Lung Fund is a Dutch health and patients organization, which provides information about asthma and COPD and finances scientific research. Clean and healthy air is one of the main objectives of the foundation.

For more information: www.schoneluchtrally.nl

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