All Bell ceremonies

Easy Virtue at Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum opens trading for new exhibition

Last week the exhibition Easy Virtue at the Van Gogh Museum opened to the public. Adriaan Dönszelmann, business director, opens trading by sounding the gong.

On the occasion of the exhibition sponsor Heineken (ticker symbol: HEIA) launched limited edition beer bottles bearing impressions of one of the most iconic works by Van Gogh, Sunflowers. The exhibition Easy Virtue is about Paris in the late 19th century, the same period that Heineken received their second gold medal at the World Fair (held in Paris, 1889). An important role in this period was played by the famous nightclub, The Folies-Bergère. Popular with many artists of the period and also the first nightclub in Paris where Heineken was served.

For more information: www.vangoghmuseum.nl

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‘Best landlord 2016’ award

HNK celebrates ‘Best landlord 2016’ award by sounding the gong

HNK – ‘The New Office’ – has been granted with ‘The best office landlord 2016’ award by the National Business Award (NBSA) Institute. NSI (ticker symbol: NSI) celebrates this by sounding the gong to open the trading day at Euronext Amsterdam.

According to the Nomination Committee, HNK has developed into a leading company, with a very strong positioning and a sound reputation. Innovation is the key word at HNK, as shown by the continuous efforts to improve its products and services to optimally serve the needs and wishes of its customers,' says the NBSA.

HNK stands for The New Office (‘Het Nieuwe Kantoor’), and is the concept of listed company NSI to anticipate the growing demand for flexible full service housing concepts in the office market. HNK is a (net) work location for Flex workers, start-ups, established companies and multinationals. The concept fits in with the desire of companies that would like to rent, work and meet efficiently. The user hires exactly the space and services he needs for the duration that fits its business plan. A HNK is characterized by stylish interior, a social heart, flexible workstations, Managed offices (serviced offices), tailored offices and meeting facilities.

For more information: www.nsi.nl

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Metropole Orkest wins Grammy

Metropole Orkest sounds gong after winning Grammy

The album ‘Sylva’, created by Snarky Puppy and the Metropole Orkest has been awarded a Grammy in the category ‘Best Contemporary Instrumental Album’. This is the 2nd Grammy for Snarky Puppy and the 3rd Grammy for the Metropole Orkest. Chief conductor of the Metropole Orkest and co-creator of this album, Jules Buckley, gives this Grammy a special British touch. For this occasion they sound the gong at Beursplein 5.

For more information: www.mo.nl

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Catwalk at Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum opens trading for Catwalk. Fashion at the Rijksmuseum

For the first time the Rijksmuseum presents a large selection of its diverse fashion collection in an exhibition designed by world-renowned Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf. Bianca du Mortier, conservator costume, sounds the gong to open trading on this occasion.

From February 20 through May 16 2016, six galleries of the Philips Wing will be dedicated to fashion of the Dutch from 1625 to 1960. Starting with garments worn by members of the Frisian branch of the house of Nassau in the Golden Age, the exhibits will feature vibrantly colored French silk gowns and luxurious velvet gentlemen’s suits of the eighteenth century, classically-inspired Empire dresses and bustles of the Fin de Siècleculminating in twentieth-century French haute couture by Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.

The exhibition is being designed by world-renowned Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf. Catwalk is enabled with the support of the Haute Couture Fund/Rijksmuseum Fund, the Jessy & Betty Blumenthal Fund/Rijksmuseum Fund and ING.

For more information: www.rijksmuseum.nl

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Princess Maxima Center

Princess Maxima Center visits Beursplein 5

The first pole of the Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht was beaten. To celebrate this they sounds the gong at Beursplein 5.

More than 400 attendees saw how a group of children together with Minister Schippers put the first pole at the right place at the site. Striking this first pole is a very important moment for promoters, the parents of children with cancer united in the Association of Parents, Children and Cancer (in Dutch: VOKK) and pediatric oncologists united in the Foundation Children's Oncology Netherlands (in Dutch: SKION). They see, after years of preparation, their wish fulfilled: concentration of pediatric oncology in the Netherlands.

The new building will be ready at the end of 2017, after which the Princess Maxima Center opens its doors for all children with cancer in the Netherlands beginning 2018. A first section was started in 2014 within the walls of the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (in Dutch: WKz). In this hospital children with solid tumors from all over the Netherlands are already being treated and children with all forms of cancer from the region of Utrecht. Also the research department has already started in Utrecht.

For more information: www.prinsesmaximacentrum.nl

Bert Douwes Award winnaar

Bert Douwes Award winnaar bezoekt Beursplein 5

Justin Blekemolen, winnaar van de Bert Douwes Award 2015, luidt de gong en sluit daarmee de handelsdag op Beursplein 5. Justin won deze scriptieprijs van de Hogeschool van Amsterdam met een paper over het verschil tussen beleggingsadviezen op basis van technische dan wel fundamentele analyse.

De Hogeschool van Amsterdam biedt studenten uit het hele land via de Minor Beleggen de mogelijkheid zich gedurende een halfjaar te verdiepen in alle aspecten die met de financiële markten en beleggen samenhangen. Ter afsluiting schrijft elke deelnemende student een scriptie over een actueel financieel onderwerp. De beste scriptie wordt beloond met de Award. De prijs is vernoemd naar de in 2007 overleden Bert Douwes, docent aan de Hogeschool van Amsterdam en grondlegger van de Minor.

De Bert Douwes Award wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door Euronext Amsterdam en Stichting Capital Amsterdam.

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KPN and Fairphone open trading

The Euronext Amsterdam listed KPN (ticker symbol: KPN) opens trading with Fairphone. Tessa Wernink, Co-founder and CCO Fairphone, sounds the gong.

KPN started the presale of the new Fairphone and is the first provider in the Netherlands that provides this durable device to consumers. The Fairphone is a fair and sustainable smartphone. That is, in the entire process and realization, social and environmental conditions have been taken into account.

Sustainability is an important part of the strategy of KPN. Therefore, KPN supports the initiators of the development of the Fairphone since 2011. The first Fairphone saw the light in 2013and KPN started selling it in early 2014.

For more information: www.kpn.com

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Hockey champions Pinoké

Hockey champions Pinoké sounds gong with sponsor ABN AMRO

Trading is opened by Boys C1 of hockey club Pinoké with sponsor ABN AMRO. Last weekend they became Dutch champion of indoor hockey and to celebrate this they sound the gong at the Amsterdam exchange.

The Euronext Amsterdam listed ABN AMRO (ticker symbol: ABN) is sponsoring the entire Pinoké youth teams, as well as the team led by trainer/coach Xander Berlijn and manager Erik-Jan Möhringer.

The Amsterdam Pinoké hockey club, founded in 1929, with about 2,300 members is one of the largest hockey association in the country.  It is the ambition of the club to keep a stable performance in the national league with as many self-educated youth. The outstanding hockey training and professional set voluntary organization ensure that ambition, conviviality and respect go hand in hand.

For more information: www.pinoke.nl

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SaxoSelect

Saxo Bank launches SaxoSelect in partnership with BlackRock

Saxo Bank launches the first large-scale, truly digital, investment solution for retail investors in partnership with BlackRock. Kirst Kuipers, Head of iShares Netherlands, sounds the gong.

The new SaxoSelect is a fully digital and automated portfolio management service that enables clients of Saxo Bank to invest in pre-selected strategies in a real-time, fully transparent environment directly on their Saxo platform. It is the first large-scale digital investment solution for retail investors built with iShares® ETFs by BlackRock.

The Saxo Bank Group is an online multi-asset trading and investment specialist, offering a complete set of trading and investment technologies, tools and strategies.

BlackRock is a global leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients.

iShares is a global leader in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with more than a decade of expertise and commitment to individual and institutional investors of all sizes.

For more information:www.saxobank.com

Market Wizards and BMD² Capital

Market Wizards and BMD² Capital celebrate new partnership

Trading firm BMD² Capital BV has decided to form a strategic alliance with Market Wizards. By means of this new joint venture, Market Wizards strengthens its position as a partner for professional traders. The alliance will bring BMD² a significant quality boost in facility management and better growth opportunities for the future.

Established in 1999, Market Wizards is a Dutch proprietary trading firm engaging in day trading, market making, high-frequency trading and electronic execution. The firm operates two sophisticated dealing rooms in the Netherlands, Amsterdam and Den Bosch.

BMD² Capital is an independent trading company specializing in proprietary trading and risk in equities and derivatives. Main activities of the company consist of professional trading and arbitrage in equities and derivatives.

For more information: www.marketwizards.com

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Drumming Day 2016

This year’s Drumming Day is opened by Jaap van Manen. Accompanied by a number of young drummers he will sound the gong. After the opening ceremony he will address the participants at this year’s Drumming Day Seminar, which is dedicated to Corporate Governance.

Drumming Day is a centuries old tradition commemorating the bravery of an orphaned boy who saved Amsterdam's stock exchange from the Spanish during the Eighty Years' War. The city expressed its gratitude by allowing orphans to bang their drums in the exchange building one day every year. This centuries old tradition continues to this day.

With the subsequent seminar key note speakers ‘’drum up’’ interest to topics that are, or may become, relevant to the Dutch (economic) society. This year the seminar is dedicated to the revision of the Corporate Governance Code. The Monitoring Committee, led by Jaap van Manen, will set out the consultation paper with proposals for revision of the Code. Furthermore Ben Noteboom, member of the Supervisory Board of Ahold, Wolters Kluwer and Aegon and Jennifer Law, Vice President, Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment at BlackRock will give their views on these proposals. Subsequently, there is room for debate with the invitees.

For more information: www.aex.nl

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MPI absorption by Maurel & Prom

Jean-François Hénin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Maurel & Prom opens the European trading day in Paris

December 17, 2015, Maurel & Prom and MPI approved the merger-absorption of MPI by Maurel & Prom.
The success of this operation allows the Group to support its strategy in pursuing the study of possible partnerships to increase its assets portfolio generating cash flow.
In this environment, Maurel & Prom is focused on the production of oil and gas while enjoying high quality of growth if oil prices rise.

75th anniversary Het Parool

Het Parool celebrates 75th anniversary by sounding gong

On February 10, 2016, Het Parool celebrates its 75th anniversary by launching a fully restyled newspaper, a new website, a new app and a new logo. Ronald Ockhuysen, Editor in Chief, sounds the gong.

Het Parool is an Amsterdam-based newspaper that was first published as a resistance paper on 10 February 1941.

For more information: www.parool.nl

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ING Start-up of the Year

ING Start-up of the Year 2015 Bannerwise visits Beursplein 5

The  public has elected Bannerwise ING Start-up of the Year 2015. To celebrate this they open trading at the Amsterdam exchange.

Bannerwise provides an online tool with which entrepreneurs and marketing professionals can make their own banners. The software automatically adjusts the banners for different formats, mobile devices, and advertising platforms, allowing advertisers to increase reach and sales with less investments.

ING has organized this election for the third time. The winners of the previous editions were Huren.nl in 2013 and Athom in 2014.

For more information: www.bannerwise.nl

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Chinese New Year

Sounding of the gong to celebrate Chinese New Year

February 8 2016 marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year - The year of the Monkey. The chairman of the Chinese Business Association Amsterdam, Tony Fung, sounds the gong for this occasion.

It is a good, and long standing tradition that the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Amsterdam organises the celebrations in China Town Amsterdam. This year a colourful Lion-dance and spectacular fireworks will be part of the celebrations. The lion will accompany the opening of trading accompanied by a drum and percussion to bless the new year.

For more information:www.chineseondernemers.nl

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Objectif Bourse

Matthias Baccino, Exchange traded products Sales and Marketing Head at BNP Paribas, opens the trading day in Paris

BNP Paribas produits de Bourse, Bourse Direct and Euronext celebrate the launch of Objectif Bourse –an ambitious initiative bringing free educational tools and information on how to invest in the stock markets, designed for retail investors.

Online conferences and webinars will run throughout the two week period, giving investors an insight into how stock markets work, the rules of investing, and the participants on the exchange. This initiative is the first of its kind, and is supported by the AMF (l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers).

Objectif Bourse will kick off on Monday 8th February and run for 2 weeks. You can easily register and access the free training on www.objectifbourse.fr

NU.nl Startup Award: Land Life Company

NU.nl Startup Award winner Land Life Company opens trading

During the Big Improvement Day the winner of the NU.nl Startup Award 2016 has been appointed. This year’s winner, Land Life Company, opens trading. Rebekah Braswell, Director Land Life Company, sounds the gong together with her colleagues and NU.nl employees.

The Amsterdam-based startup Land Life Company develops technology to contribute to the restoration of the 2 billion hectares of degraded land on the planet. Their Cocoon planting technology is a proven biodegradable, low-cost and water-efficient solution for planting trees in arid soils and revitalizing ecosystems and communities worldwide. 

Big Improvement Day (BID)  was established in 2008 from the need to expose and bring further positive developments in the Netherlands. Since then, the top of the Dutch government and business come together each year on the third Tuesday in January at the most positive day.

Every year NU.nl and BID search for standouts in their industry. This year, the NU.nl Startup Award will be presented to a new company (max. 3 years old) with an impact that is relevant and has the potential to break through internationally.

For more information: www.landlifecompany.com

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Grupo Douro Azul

Grupo Douro Azul  lists €20 million in Bonds

To celebrate the raising of €20 million in bonds, Douro Azul CEO, Mário Ferreira, rang the Closing Bell with the Euronext team. This issue aims to support the growth of Douro Azul Group's, that  plans to issue in the near future more bonds in the amount of € 17.5 million.

The Douro Azul Group, the largest operator of river cruises in Portugal, with an operation on the Douro River for more than 20 years , has activity in the tourism and leisure sector , with special focus on the segment of river cruises which currently represent 98% of its sales. In 2015, Mystic Invest acquired 100% of the German operator Nicko Cruises , becoming one of the major players in river cruising segment , operating in 12 different cities and three continents.