topics
tools
Expatica countries
editor's choice

NS fears empty trains

40.000 signatures to prevent early release of Fortuyns killer

Dutch unemployment up sharply

Listing of international schools in the Netherlands

Guide to public transport in the Netherlands

Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2117.66 -0.08
DAX 6323.19 -0.26
IBEX 30 6401.2 -2.17
CAC 40 3042.97 -0.16
FTSE 100 5356.34 0.09
AEX 292.76 0.00
DJIA 12454.83 -0.60
Nasdaq 2837.53 -0.07
FTSE MIB 13057.26 -0.74
TSX Composite 11554.36 -0.19
ASX 4120.2 0.96
Hang seng 18800.99 0.47
Straits Times 2787.22 0.52
ISEQ 20 501.76 0.16
You are here: Home Family & Kids Partners Lotus Events: planning with a personal touch (sponsored...

Partners

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


20/01/2011Lotus Events: planning with a personal touch (sponsored contribution)

Lotus Events: planning with a personal touch (sponsored contribution) Lotus Events, the brainchild of Dorine Kat-Stronck, offers full service event planning to expats.

Lively and friendly Dorine Kat-Stronck, entrepreneur and owner of Lotus Events, has turned her love of event planning and fascination with other cultures into a business serving expats in the Netherlands.

Dorine started her career in event planning at Martinair party service, where she planned parties and business events ranging in size from 10 to 10,000 guests. Later she moved to UPC, where she worked in an international environment with an American manager.

This is where Dorine first experienced the cultural differences between what the Dutch expect at parties and social events and what Americans expect. She was surprised by the type of parties Americans planned to celebrate life’s milestones.


She also got to see first-hand the difficulties an expat can experience when trying to plan an event in their host country. Her manager had already been in the Netherlands for a few years, but didn’t know who to contact for services and where to get the necessary supplies. Dorine helped plan parties for her. Soon she was planning parties for her other expat colleagues. This is when she realized that there was a real need for event planning for expats.

When UPC reorganized last year, Dorine took the opportunity to start her own company and really focus on event planning for expats. “This is where my heart is,” said Dorine in an interview with Expatica.

Dorine’s experience in an international environment has given her a good understanding of other cultures. She feels that “you need to understand what people want.” Knowledge of her client’s culture allows her understand their motivations and can help her meet their expectations.

“Dutch people are pretty basic. They like a good party. But Americans, for example, place a lot of importance on graduation parties. In Holland, the student will be told ‘good luck’, get EUR10 and move on,” she said, laughing. “Americans really celebrate it.”

Dorine has become quite familiar with American customs, but she is interested in working with other cultures too. “I really want to dive into that.”

Her efforts to create authentic cultural experiences for her clients has resulted in her looking for some unusual services and performers.


When planning the 40th birthday party for the Austrian husband of an American colleague, her colleague asked her to incorporate something traditionally Austrian. This lead her to a Dutch entertainment group that performed Austrian yodelling – in traditional lederhosen. The husband was completely surprised and the yodellers were the hit of the party.

Sometimes the entertainment is a bit more difficult to arrange. When planning a child’s birthday party for a Pakistani family, she wanted to schedule a puppet show. The problem was that any show written for Dutch children would be in the Dutch language. Finding a puppet show in English was a challenge. An expat might not think about these obstacles. This is where Lotus Events can really be of service.

There are other things a non-native might not think about when planning an event. For example, if you want to plan an outdoor event with a tent or music, you need to have the proper licenses and permits. The tent will need to be inspected by the fire department. If you want to have music past a certain hour (outdoors or indoors), you also need a permit. If the paperwork for your event is not in order, you could end up with some heavy fines.

Working with a savvy event planner can have other benefits. For example, at this time there are two levels of VAT rates. The current VAT rate for entertainment is 6%. However, this is expected to change to 19% in June. Dorine is advising her current clients to book their event entertainment before June. This could result in significant savings.


However, Lotus Events’ greatest asset is Dorine’s warm personality. Her aim is “to really provide personal attention”.  She feels that “it’s important to get to know the clients before you start a project”.

As far as she is concerned, an event always starts with a personal interview. She always visits new clients at their home or office. She feels so strongly about the importance of this step that she doesn’t charge for initial consultations. She feels that “personal attention is what makes Lotus Events unique”.

Lotus Events helps expats plan large and small personal celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, graduations and anniversaries. They also plan company events of all sizes, from internal to international, including presentations, seminars, staff parties and conferences.

Would you like to discuss your next event with Dorine? Contact her to schedule a free consultation.

Dorine Kat-Stronck
Lotus Events
Dorpsstraat 868
1566 EZ Assendelft
Phone: +31(0)75 772 0039
Mobile: +31(0)6 231 664 71
Email: info@lotusevents.nl
Website in English


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating



0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Family & Kids essentials
Family & Kids expert Q&A
ask your question
Family & Kids A-Z listings
find the business you need
Discussion Forums

Discuss Dutch Culture

High-quality fake passports, driver's licenses, ID

English in the Netherlands

Moved to Hengelo

Travel & Transport in the Netherlands

Buy fake passports, driver's licenses, identity cards

Religion & Spirituality in the Netherlands

Buy fake passports, driver's licenses, identity cards

Music in the Netherlands

Buy fake passports, driver's licenses, identity cards

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Setting up home in the Netherlands

Setting up home in the Netherlands

A guide to telephone, internet and television along with utility services water, electricity and gas in the Netherlands.

Dutch immigration and residency regulations

Dutch immigration and residency regulations

Lost in the Dutch immigration system? Look no further than this guide compiled for our Survival Guide 2012.

A brief introduction to the Netherlands

A brief introduction to the Netherlands

Expatica offers a whistle-stop tour of life in the modern Netherlands.

Giving birth in the Netherlands

Giving birth in the Netherlands

The challenges and benefits of the maternity system in the Netherlands and how it differs to other countries.