Members > Meet the members |
| Company presentation: MummyMug BV |
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 When Cecilia Thorfinn, Managing Director MummyMug BV, came to the Netherlands in 2007, she had just left a successful career as an international diplomat in Brussels, where she had lived for ten years. She relocated for family reasons and had to start over again professionally. But luckily, she had one unusal asset in her luggage: the idea to design the MummyMug; a smart and stylish coffee mug with a self-closing of lid.
Read Cecilia's fantastic story about bringing the MummyMug to the market. |
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| Company presentation: Nordholm Design & Communication |
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 Classic style Graphic Design for small companies, non-profit and organisations
Carolina de Klerk Nordholm is a freelance graphic designer, specialised in the classic elegant style of print media. When working with Nordholm Design & Communication you benefit from easy communication in your own language, fast progress thanks to accurate work and a strong attention to detail, maximum service also for mini budgets, and always the same contact person. She is passionate about classic style design, languages, cultures and perfection in layout and text. With Nordholm you can have both the design and a multilingual text editing service. Working languages: Swedish, English, Dutch, Italian and German.
www.nordholmdesign.com
Contact person: Carolina de Klerk Nordholm
Managing Director Nordholm Design & Communication
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| Investment project at Tjörn, Sweden |
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 How can we distinguish ourselves in real estate investing? That is the question that we ask ourselves continuously, as we want to invest in first class projects and in particular in a transparent way, with realistic expectations and without unnecessary risks.
As a result from our search for triple-a locations, Charter Real Estate discovered Sweden for distinct and special projects. We are an independent initiator of exclusive real estate investment projects. We offer selective groups of investors the opportunity to participate in high yielding real estate investments. The choice for a real estate investment in Sweden is a sensible one, especially in the regious around the big city’s, given the substantial economic activity and the strong demand for homes by Swedes and foreign investors.
Charter Real Estate BV
T. +31 (0)88-445 50 00
M. +31 (0)64-280 08 88
E. mreutelingsperger@charterrealestate.nl
W. www.charterrealestate.nl
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| Boskalis and Smit announce merger |
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Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. and Smit Internationale N.V. have in principle reached agreement on a full merger of the two companies, whereby all the activities of Smit will be continued in the combined company. Read more on Smit.com.
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| Ehsan Turabaz, opbouwwerker en koppelaar voor Afghanistan |
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Ehsan Turabaz, opbouwwerker en koppelaar voor Afghanistan 
Van politiek vluchteling tot de facto ambassadeur in Den Haag Het recente Nederlandse besluit om na 2010 echt uit Afghanistan weg te gaan, zal Ehsan Turabaz diep hebben getroffen. Maar de honorair consul blijft ruggen slaan. To read the very interesting interview in Dutch with Mr. Ehsan Turabaz by Mr. Mark Kranenburg, NRC Handelsblad 12-10-09, download attachment.
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| Radisson SAS turned into Radisson BLU |
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 The name Radisson SAS Hotel Amsterdam Airport is finally changed in Radisson Blu Hotel Amsterdam Airport since September. Many people are interested: Why the name 'Blu'?
The change to “Radisson Blu” was chosen to preserve the continuity of our strong graphic identity and brand awareness and also to limit the implementation costs and further to sustain our unique upper upscale position that differentiates us from the American and Asia Pacific portfolio.
Read more about the name change
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| Atlas Copco 60 years in the Netherlands |
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 On September 25, 2009, Atlas Copco Nederland B.V. celebrated their 60 years anniversary in the Netherlands and the opening of their brand new office building in Zwijndrecht. Mr. Herman Matthyssen, Managing Director of Atlas Copco welcomed customers, relations and co-workers to join them in their celebrations at their new premises. 
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce was very pleased to hand over the Patron banner to Mr. Matthyssen and we would like to thank Atlas Copco for the interesting presentations and for inviting the Swedish Chamber to join in their celebrations.
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 On Wednesday, 9 September 2009, De Baak and Amsterdam Bright City presented a unique symposium in which the essential elements of the human side of enterprise were debated.
In order to create awareness about what Dutch leadership means for the individual, the organization and society, and how this is viewed by those with a differen perspective thoughts and experiences were compared and shared together with prominent national and international speakers and a highly qualified panel form all aspects of leadership in Dutch society. One of the panel members was former Swedish Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Dr. Karin Jironet, executive coach and author at de Baak. Dr. Karin Jironet offers psychospiritual leadership development to corporate executives. Her publications include The Image of Spiritual Liberty, Sufi Mysticism into the West, and, together with David Vriesendorp, De Rol van het Geweten.
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| Words of a Board Member September 2009 |
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 Dear members,
In this autumn version of Swenews, I want to share with you some information about the developments 2008-2009 in the Paper&Board sector I am working. Pulp, paper & board are traditionally a sector in which the Swedish industry is very strong represented. Also my industry sector is affected by the financial crisis /recession. Globally, we observe a transfer of our traditional manufacturing industry from Europe/North America to Asia/Latin America. Together with this, we start to feel the increasing effects of the use of new digital media on consumptions of newsprint and printing-/writing papers. All of our important direct production costs like fibers, chemicals and last but not least energy does increase substantially and erode our margins. And finally we are faced with currency effects of the euro against dollar priced countries resulting in a loss of competitiveness. All these factors have lead to a reduced demand between 12-15%, resulting in a structural overcapacity. And this overcapacity situation will last for quite some years with new paper machines build, re-enforced by subsidies granted to former East European countries.
All in all, one can say: “tough times“ and its key to stay competitive via a mixture of management decisions However, there is also a lot of good news to tell and we need to exploit this. We are an industry using renewable raw materials and operate to the highest standards of sustainability. When we stick to these fundamental principles, we can use these tough times also to create opportunities on innovation, cost control and product development to get through these difficult economical time. I just mention a few: work hard on energy transition/-reduction programs, explore further the Dutch strength as good shipping/transport nation to get the logistic costs down, use our good language knowledge to do business internationally and work together with customers and authorities to further develop the paper chain in the widest sense from planting trees via production, converting to recycling. To innovate in a mature industry is a great challenge, but I am convinced that we will be able to guarantee a healthy future.
As sir Winston Churchill said: Quote: “an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” As board member, I do see an important role for The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands to get our organization fully active to organize different activities lined up along the current business situation. In our meetings we believe to achieve a good program to do so.
In particular, I do remember the excellent presentation of Mr. Hans Wijers CEO of AKZO-NOBEL as an example to learn from colleagues and companies/organizations to exchange views and ideas how to cope with this. The open discussion we had afterwards on the AKZO-NOBEL plans and predictions for the economical development are very useful to support our own plans and actions. I hope to meet you soon and recommend a high participation in our activities in the rest of 2009. Also, we see more and more positive news that confidence in the economy is restoring slowly. I personally believe that the bottom in the recession is reached, although a big upward swing cannot be expected before the second half of 2010 with positive growth figures in consumptions and the GDP.
Let’s hope that the plans from the Dutch government on the 3’rd Tuesday in September plus the Swedish presidency of the EU first half 2010 support this positive trend. Henk Lingbeek
Managing Director
SCA Packaging De Hoop
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 New minister Mikael Jönsson and new assistant Lena Ottosson welcomes you to the Swedish Church in Rotterdam.
For information about the Church program please visit: www.svenskakyrkan.se/rotterdam
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 With world-class quality, Posten Meddelande AB handles over 20 million pieces of mail and provides nation-wide postal service to 4.5 million households and 900,000 businesses in Sweden each day. Posten Meddelande AB provides the infrastructure for all those wishing to reach Swedish households and businesses by mail on a daily basis.
Please feel free to contact Posten Meddelande AB for further discussions on how cooperation with us can help your business grow in the Nordic region in the most efficient way.
Björn Moberg
Sales Manager International Mail
Posten Meddelande AB
Phone: +46 8 7811432
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| Interview with H& P Trust at their new office |
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 Kathy Dolk is managing director and partner of H&P Trust Company (Netherlands) B.V. in the Netherlands since 2007. H&P worldwide provides comprehensive and efficient company incorporation and administration services in all relevant offshore and onshore jurisdictions. They administer private foundations and offshore trusts, both classic elements in international tax and estate planning. In the Netherlands they administer and manager Dutch corporate entities for mostly European private shareholders.
H&P increased their activities in the Netherlands and recently moved to a larger office reasons enough for the Swedish Chamber to visit their premises in Amsterdam Zuid Oost and have a chat with MD Kathy Dolk, member of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the JCC.
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| Snowfling Media: Prepare to be amazed! |
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 New Swedish Chamber of Commerce new member company presents:
Amazing Sweden is the first book of its kind especially
created for an international audience
Hardcover. 300 pages. Size 23,5 x 28,7
cm. The book is locally distributed in
the Netherlands, just place your order at:
www.amazingsweden.com
Snowfling media
Contact: Gunnar Genell
Tel: +46 8 755 1140
info@snowflingmedia.com
www.snowflingmedia.com
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| IJsburo develops into incentive travel agency |
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Do you remember us? Five years ago we started out
as IJsburo with skatingtrips to Sweden. Together with
Tomas Gustafson we presented ourselves for the
first time to the members of the Swedish Chamber
at the opening of the new IKEA headoffice in Delft.
Last year, some of you were our guest at the skating clinic we organized
in Amsterdam, again with Tommy. Meanwhile we have also discovered the
beautiful golf courses in Sweden and started a weekly Golfsafari in the
surroundings of Stockholm. These golftrips are represented by Golfburo.
Our core business however is organizing incentive travel and special
group travel. It will not suprise you that Sweden is one of our major
destinations. IJsburo and Golfburo are part of Kora Reizen BV.
Kora Reizen BV is owned by Martine Pronk and Heleen Rahusen.
www.korareizen.nl
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 Charter Real Estate B.V. presents investment possibilities on top location Tjörn, Sweden
Charter Real Estate B.V. was founded in 2006 by Franklin Douwes and Henk Janssen. Based in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, Charter Real Estate B.V. has real estate projects in The Netherlands, USA and Sweden. Charter Real Estate B.V. has identified Sweden as its target market for future real estate projects manily focusing on residential development projects.
Charter Real Estate B.V. selects, structures and manages real estate investment projects. Chater Real Estate B.V. performs the function of an active capital partner while being hands on involved in its projects to ensure quality and to manage risks. Charter Real Estate B.V. works with local real estate development companies with a proven track record.
 For one of Charter Real Estate B.V.'s latest project on the magnific island Tjörn on the West cost of Sweden investment possibilities are offered to interested investors. For more information about this project please download articles from Cash and Lifestyle Magazine below or visit the Charter Real Estate website: www.charterrealestate.nl
Welcome to contact Charter Real Estate for more information:
Schothorstlaan 11
3822 WA Amersfoort-Hoogland
T. 088 - 4455000
W. www.charterrealestate.nl
E: info@charterrealestate.nl
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Cadence Marketing & Communicatie B.V.
Communication starts with the personal viewpoint. It starts with people who understand and empathise with each other. In my view, entrepreneurs – meaning you and I – must like working together to achieve our objectives. I am freelancing as a Communication Expert. I have an experience working in projects as well as on temporary basis for well-known companies like Pizza Hut, KPN, Agis Healthcare Insurance, Factor Nederland, Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat, BAT and the Port of Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte 2 Project Organisation. I have also been recruited by first-rate advertising agencies like Arnek Annonsbyra, Anderson & Lembke, Aestron Design, Signum/BBDO, VBAT, Prime, PMSvW/Y&R and Brandsters.
The essence of my profession is creative communication either as an interim communication expert or as someone who dreams up original solutions. Ensuring that the message that you want to convey clicks with the target group. Read more about Cadence Marketing & Communicatie on www.wattendorff.nl.
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| Interview with new Member |
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 Hanneke de Boer, owner of the company Are you Swedish? and just recently member of the Swedish  Chamber of Commerce. Read all about the drive and the love for Sweden and Swedish design by this Amsterdam based Dutch fashion and PR agency that represents the following Swedish brands in the Benelux: Erica Laurell, Dagmar, Gram, Camilla Norrback, The Swedish Model, and David & Martin. |
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| Jesse Kuijper in an interview with Het Financieele Dagblad |
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 Jesse Kuijper, Kinnarps and board member of Swedish Chamber of Commerce, stops as chairman of the Dutch Forrest Stewardship Council (FSC) after ten years. Read the interview with Jesse Kuijper in Het Financieele Dagblad April 28, 2009.
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 TK Nordic is a new Patron in the Swedish Chamber with an innovative concept for professional services. Kees van Oosten has invented it and was joined by some well known professionals from the Swedish-Dutch network.
Every organisation needs financial, tax, consultancy and sometimes even legal support. TK Nordic is a unique combination of all of those disciplines. What's more, TK Nordic focuses exclusively on companies from Sweden doing business in The Netherlands and vice versa. TK Nordic is powered by substantial organisations that provide the services in close contact with the other disciplines when needed. In the Dutch-Swedish or Swedish-Dutch market, TK Nordic is the one portal for finding adequate, good an reasonably priced professional services.
The organisations to power TK Nordic and give it its critical mass, are well known in the Dutch-Swedish networks. First of all there's TeekensKarstens Law Firm, a member of the Swe-Cham since quite some years , represented by Kees van Oosten. He invented the concept and was quick to invite Peter Crafoord (Crafoord Management), who is a spider in the web of financial services and credit management services. Birgitta Slot of Alces  Consulting carries the expertise on the Swedish and Dutch markets and what's more important, their business cultures. Anders Rengefors of Arentec is a consultant experienced in
business development and turnaround projects. Last but not least TK Nordic is supported by Rob Nathan, a seasoned international tax expert, formally PWC and now leading his own tax consultancy organisation. All of the TK Nordic participants are well connected in the Dutch and Swedish network(s) and are capable of supporting all types and sizes of companies operating in the Swedish-Dutch market: much more than most of other professional service providers. You're welcome to try them: www.tknordic.nl.
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| Ben Vree Havenman van het jaar 2008 |
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 Maandagavond, 12 januari kreeg Ben Vree, CEO van SMIT Internationale de prijs van havenman van het Jaar 2008 uitgereikt. De feestelijke huldiging vond plaats op de Smaragd II onder toeziend oog van onder meer de nieuwe burgemeester van Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb en president-directeur van het Havenbedrijf Rotterdam Hans Smits. In de toespraak van ‘Kyoto'-voorzitter Theo Jongedijk werd Vree geroemd om het feit dat hij in het afgelopen jaar heeft aangetoond "een bekwaam schipper te zijn, die in moeilijk vaarwater voor de belangen is opgekomen van zijn personeel, van zijn klanten en zijn aandeelhouders", doelend op de inspanningen van Vree waardoor is voorkomen dat Smit Internationale zou worden opgesplitst. Daarnaast was volgens ‘Kyoto' de "internationalisering van de onderneming van eminent belang voor de Rotterdamse haven. SMIT is een visitekaartje. Het bedrijf laat in den vreemde zien hoe wij Nederlanders maritieme dienstverlening interpreteren. Daar staat Ben Vree voor."
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 Monday January 12, 2009 Electrolux opened the doors for their brand new Home Center of Brands in Alphen aan den Rijn. A hyper modern center from the Electrolux Group, where the latest's innovations for home appliances and appliances for professional use are presented to the customers.
 The Home Center of Brands opening was a fantastic happening with the complete building at the Vennootsweg in Alphen aan de Rijn enchanted to a magic Thousand-and-one-night castle. The many guests and celebrities, who were present to celebrate the magnificent opening together with Electrolux, were presented with grand buffets and amazing shows. H.E. Ambassador of Sweden Mr. Hans Magnusson preformed the official opening of the new Home Center of Brands together with General Manager Alexander Blom. More information: www.electrolux.nl
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 With not many days left of 2008 and 2009 only a few days away; we asked some of our members what their expectations are for next year and how they will celebrate New Years.
Thomas Bergström, Chairman and CEO Inter IKEA Systems
1. What is new in your company 2009, and what are the expectations for next year?
"Our buildings are ready, IKEA Concept Center and the Hotel. Now we have the base for learning, training, testing, developing and transferring the knowledge of the IKEA Concept. Next year will be challenging to all of us, but together and with good cooperation with all IKEA Retailers, we will be a bit better.....again!"
2. How will you celebrate New Year?
"I will celebrate New Years with parts of the family. My family is spread; one daughter is in Chicago and one son is in Holland the rest of the family will be together in Ramundbergen with skiing and hopefully lots of snow."
3. Do you have any New Years resolution?
"It is pretty boring but I do not have any New Years resolution this year. Perhaps I will have one before New Years, but now it is far too early." |
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 It’s just a couple of days until Midsummer. Sweden is preparing for the holidays and so is SweCham. We have had a very busy spring with lots of interesting and nice activities. The Scania Challenge Trophy was a big success with a huge number of participants, a beautiful golf course, nice prizes and a great organisation.
Thanks to everybody who has contributed to this success.
The event with Handelsbanken was very interesting and after the presentations we could enjoy Swedish specialties during the reception. We were very lucky with the weather on 6 June so we could celebrate Sweden’s National Day in the garden of the Ambassador’s Residence. We are grateful for the hospitality of the Ambassador, Mr. Hans Magnusson and his wife Elisabeth. At a reception earlier that week, my predecessor Henk Lokin received during a ceremony at the Ambassador’s Residence the well deserved Order of the Polar Star for his contributions as member of the board and Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. Margaretha Henk’s wife, his family and representatives of the Board were present during the ceremony.
JCC has been very active as well and apart from many events they are meeting every time when Sweden plays during the European Championship. Imagine the atmosphere if Sweden would meet the Dutch team later in the tournament! I hope that both teams will be successful the coming matches. Caroline our trainee last half year played an important role with respect to JCC and I want to thank her for her efforts and always optimistic attitude. Caroline, good luck with your future career.
I am very happy with the enthusiastic comments from various members about this first half year and the members of the Board will do their utmost to continue the high level of activities after the summer. I look forward to seeing you all again in August at the Crayfish Party and wish you a very nice, sunny and relaxing summer holiday!
Warm regards, Nils van Dijkman |
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 Atradius Collections B.V, Amsterdam, contact person Peter Crafoord
About Atradius Collections: Atradius Collections has over 400 staff and 16 offices worldwide, serving 12,000 clients and handling 27 million transactions per year. With revenues of EUR 48.2 million in 2007, Atradius Collections’ 300 collections specialists worldwide provide customers with local expertise through one global process and IT platform. www.atradiuscollections.com
About Atradius Group: The Atradius Group provides trade credit insurance, surety and collections services worldwide, and has a presence in 40 countries. Its products and services aim to reduce its customers’ exposure to buyers who fail to pay for the products and services customers purchase. With total revenues of approximately EUR 1.8 billion and a 31% share of the global trade credit insurance market, its products contribute to the growth of companies throughout the world by protecting them from payment risks associated with selling products and services on credit. With 160 offices, it has access to credit information on 52 million companies worldwide and makes more than 22,000 trade credit limit decisions daily.
Press release Heaviest impact of the credit crisis yet to come Amsterdam, 3 June 2008 – Impact spreading outside of financial services sector globally Credit crisis related factors such as tight credit and increased payment defaults ...
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| The Global Financial Situation |
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Reflections by some Swedish Chamber members. M. Sørensen, Handelsbanken, J. Moberg, Bavak, H. de Vries, Volvo Cars Nederland, P. Crafoord, Atradius Collections.
Stock markets suffering, banks disappearing and people are worried about their life savings. Is it a depression or is just another recession? Swenews asked a few Swe-Cham members to give their view on the current financial situation and how it affects their company. |
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 You can call it love, you can call it passion or you can call it crazy. One thing is for sure, for a lot of people driving a Volvo seems to have got into their system. One of them is Nils van Dijkman, chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce.
Click here to read the article from LIV Volvo Lifestyle.
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BNConnect, Contact person: Theo Hoefman
results of that thinking. At the moment are we active in the following areas: “Money and Recreation”, “Money and LED”, and “Money and Care”.
