Tue, 29 May 2012
| 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 | 11566.15 | -0.09 |
| ASX | 4120.2 | 0.96 |
| Hang seng | 18800.99 | 0.47 |
| Straits Times | 2787.22 | 0.52 |
| ISEQ 20 | 501.76 | 0.16 |
Text size
Amsterdam is inviting people from all over the world to come to the Queen's Day festivities on April 30, celebrated by hundreds of thousands of orange-clad partygoers. But not everybody is amused by the poster campaign that comes with the invitation.The city has put up large billboards to promote the events in its long running "I Amsterdam" marketing campaign.
Using the tag line 'April 30: Best party in the world', the faces of world leaders are photoshopped into stock photos of previous Queen's Day celebrations in the Dutch capital.
Orange wig
One poster shows a scantily clad woman wearing a huge orange wig, holding her hands up in a celebratory mood.
That may sound like an ordinary party picture, except that the girl's face has been replaced that of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
There is also a poster of two happy-looking men, wearing orange feather boas, representing French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Charles van Renesse, director of marketing company Amsterdam Partners, which is responsible for the ‘I Amsterdam' campaign, realises he's walking on thin ice by using these famous faces.
There has already been a negative response from the Sarkozy camp:
"We got a reaction from the French embassy, and they said it could harm the image of Mr Sarkozy. They don't really want him pictured in an orange boa...".
'Kiss me I'm drunk'
Another poster that has come under fire is one with two men wearing t-shirts bearing the slogan "Kiss m
e I'm drunk!". The two men - walking along an Amsterdam street - have been given the faces of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama. This poster has now even been withdrawn from the campaign. Mr Van Renesse admits:
"We asked tourists what they thought about our campaign. They thought it was funny and really creative, but they said the 'Kiss me I'm drunk' part was a little bit too much. Putin is known [as a teetotaler] so should you [portray] him in a t-shirt with ‘Kiss me I'm drunk' on it? And there's also the problem of too much drinking on Queen's Day, should you put emphasis on that? That's why it's not in our campaign anymore".
Utterly surprised
Whether the campaign will really attract more foreign visitors to Amsterdam on 30 April remains to be seen - the orange billboards are only to be seen in the Dutch capital. But it may be helpful to those who visit Amsterdam unprepared on that day:
"They are utterly surprised when they arrive at Central Station and they see all these people in orange, making music and singing in the streets. We celebrate something that is about freedom, about tolerance and we ask the world to join us. It's a unique atmosphere that they will remember".
Amsterdam: Queen's Day
Newsline interview with Charles van Renesse: click here.
Johan van Slooten
Radio Netherlands
Photo credits: amsterdampartners; katielips
Hi there,
Lots of Dutch are getting crazier by the day.. What sort of freedom and tolerance they are talking about ? There are hundreds of red lines, which are never allowed to be corssed. And there is a constantly growing xenophobia, fear from others ( even other European!! ).. And a much more pittier phobia of Dutch indentity being endangered.. Guys.. just look at the United States of America.. and see the best example on the earth planet of real actual celebration of humanity.. When an African American succeed in crossing the inhuman almost impossible red line and become the president of the greatest country in the world.. that IS something to celebrate for a long time.. and not just for a crazy one day .. full of emptiness and meaninglessness
Totally agree. That's why I left NL!!! They are not tolerant. They are indifferent, which is not the same...
with reference to the comments above: some people will never understand. leave them be.
If Queen's Day is meant to celebrate freedom and tolerance, the Dutch have less to celebrate every year. Let's just put that loud music on and have a good time.
Being negative never got anyone anywhere either. Some celebration, done the right way!!!!!, can only be a good thing.
The Netherlands are far from perfect and never have been, ask any Dutch person and they will agree, but it's not that bad either.
Don't forget that it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world so maybe it can also been seen as a miracle that people are getting along as they do.
Things can be really different, just look at the news.
I love the phrase:
"We celebrate something that is about freedom, about tolerance and we ask the world to join us."
When did Koninginnedag became a celebration for freedom and tolerance? This just goes to show how dangerously wrong some concepts are being understood by many. Anything "Dutch" is a celebration of tolerance and freedom. Beats me how puking and pissing on the street are defending our Western rights but hey, I am a foreigner.
Still, this phrase is nowhere as funny as the "our Judeo-christian-democratic-enlighted values.
"... the faces of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama. This poster has now even been withdrawn from the campaign. Mr Van Renesse admits:"
I don'tbelieve it was the booze issue - more likely thin-skinned supporters of Putin AND Obama complained.
PS - condolences on the horrible event.
Hi there,
Lots of Dutch are getting crazier by the day.. What sort of freedom and tolerance they are talking about ? There are hundreds of red lines, which are never allowed to be corssed. And there is a constantly growing xenophobia, fear from others ( even other European!! ).. And a much more pittier phobia of Dutch indentity being endangered.. Guys.. just look at the United States of America.. and see the best example on the earth planet of real actual celebration of humanity.. When an African American succeed in crossing the inhuman almost impossible red line and become the president of the greatest country in the world.. that IS something to celebrate for a long time.. and not just for a crazy one day .. full of emptiness and meaninglessness
Totally agree. That's why I left NL!!! They are not tolerant. They are indifferent, which is not the same...
with reference to the comments above: some people will never understand. leave them be.
If Queen's Day is meant to celebrate freedom and tolerance, the Dutch have less to celebrate every year. Let's just put that loud music on and have a good time.
Being negative never got anyone anywhere either. Some celebration, done the right way!!!!!, can only be a good thing.
The Netherlands are far from perfect and never have been, ask any Dutch person and they will agree, but it's not that bad either.
Don't forget that it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world so maybe it can also been seen as a miracle that people are getting along as they do.
Things can be really different, just look at the news.
I love the phrase:
"We celebrate something that is about freedom, about tolerance and we ask the world to join us."
When did Koninginnedag became a celebration for freedom and tolerance? This just goes to show how dangerously wrong some concepts are being understood by many. Anything "Dutch" is a celebration of tolerance and freedom. Beats me how puking and pissing on the street are defending our Western rights but hey, I am a foreigner.
Still, this phrase is nowhere as funny as the "our Judeo-christian-democratic-enlighted values.
"... the faces of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama. This poster has now even been withdrawn from the campaign. Mr Van Renesse admits:"
I don'tbelieve it was the booze issue - more likely thin-skinned supporters of Putin AND Obama complained.
PS - condolences on the horrible event.
A guide to telephone, internet and television along with utility services water, electricity and gas in the Netherlands.
Lost in the Dutch immigration system? Look no further than this guide compiled for our Survival Guide 2012.
Expatica offers a whistle-stop tour of life in the modern Netherlands.
The challenges and benefits of the maternity system in the Netherlands and how it differs to other countries.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Google+
7
