The Euromast has opened a new concept store and coffee bar inside the iconic tower. The Euromast is well known to everyone, the Rotterdam landmark is a popular (tourist) attraction that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. With a height of 185 metres, you have a spectacular view over the city. The Euromast is also a nice place to visit for lunch, drinks or dinner. 

 

Visitors to the Euromast can now enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack at the completely renovated coffee bar. They offer various coffees, sweets from Dudok and tasty paninis. It is also possible to take something to go with you from the coffee bar, so that you can enjoy it in the adjacent park. In the concept store, you will find typical Rotterdam products from Kaapse Brouwers, Brouwerij Noord, Icon 010, Studio Raskov, Maasstroompjes, Rotterdamse Koffie and limited edition items such as Heksenvuur. In addition, the Euromast gives Rotterdam artists a place to exhibit and sell their work in the concept store. The interior of the venue has a sleek design, with atmospheric tones and warm colours.

 

 

This year, the Euromast is celebrating its 62nd anniversary. The Euromast has been an internationally renowned icon in Rotterdam since 1960. With a height of 185 metres, it is one of the highest buildings in the city and offers a unique 360-degree view. The Euroscope, which takes you all the way to the top, is currently under renovation, but will be reopened in July 2022. Between May and September, real daredevils can abseil down 100 metres from the balustrade on the viewing platform. 

 

 

To put Rotterdam on the map as an innovation hub, there were significant challenges. The experience she gained in America has helped Melissa put CIC and Rotterdam on the map as an innovation hub. When Melissa successfully completed her assignment, it turned out that the community consisted mainly of men. 

 

"We came to Rotterdam to support and accelerate the building of the regional innovation ecosystem. That it consisted mainly of men, was a given. For my successor Joyce the challenge was to become more inclusive and diverse in the broadest sense of the words", says Melissa Ablett-Jordaan, former General Manager CIC Rotterdam. 

 

In 2019, Joyce took over the position of General Manager. The challenge to make the business climate more inclusive and diverse took shape. CIC signed a contract from the Social and Economic Council (SER) that set the goal of housing more than 20% women entrepreneurs in its community by 2025. CIC also signed the charter of Diversity in Business, which outlines a detailed diversity plan.

 

"In Rotterdam, if you mention a woman's first name, everyone knows which company she heads. Women are scarce at the top and that has to change. Our partnerships with parties such as Diversity in Business of the SER, Female Ventures and Voice of All Women must change this. By literally and figuratively giving room to inspirational female-led start-ups, we are contributing to an inclusive Rotterdam ecosystem", says Joyce Kornet-Vreugdenhil.

 

Under Joyce's leadership, CIC works on diversity and stimulates inclusive entrepreneurship based on gender, ethnicity and background. The community, which still consists of over 85% male entrepreneurs, focuses on inclusive role models and wants to become an accurate reflection of the city of Rotterdam. Joyce hopes that CIC will become a role model in the field of diversity.

 

 

Bijenkorf Stijlstudio is located on the first floor of Bijenkorf Rotterdam. Here, a carefully selected collection of brands such as Ted Baker, Maje and L.K. Bennett can be rented in multiple sizes, alongside unique designer dresses from brands such as REDValentino, Alexander McQueen and Balmain, and bags from Coach, Chloé and Jacquemus. Bijenkorf says it may expand this new sustainable service in Rotterdam with other clothing, accessories, shops and options in the course of the year. 

 

Try before buy? Bijenkorf Stijlstudio describes itself as a great place to start if you are looking for something for a special occasion, but also if you simply want to try something different without having to buy something new straight away. Prices range from €45 to €500 for a standard four-day rental, including cleaning and return.  

  

"With the Stijlstudio, we want customers to feel special, in a sustainable way. The challenges in the field of sustainability are huge and only through creative solutions can we, together with our customers and brands, make the fashion industry more sustainable" said Marjolijn Meynen, Director Customer, Creativity and Communication at Bijenkorf.

 

Last year, as part of its sustainability strategy The Future is Green, Bijenkorf already introduced a number of green services, including crockery rental, vintage fashion sales, fashion repair and refillable packaging. With the rental of clothing, the department store wants to further contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry. 

 

All information and an impression of the range can be found on the Bijenkorf website. The Bijenkorf Stijlstudio in the ladies fashion department on the 1st floor of Bijenkorf Rotterdam is open every day during normal shopping hours. A beauty expert is present from Thursday to Saturday for free advice and touch-ups.

 

 

"In life, sometimes it cannot be bigger or more exuberant at the birth of a child or a wedding. At the last farewell, we are modest and a bit conservative. With small things, we make a farewell very personal. Like music, sharing memories and photos. What the Dutch find especially important is that next of kin are not left with questions about the farewell. It gives them more space to process the grief instead of uncertainty about the choices. This is also shown by research conducted by SIRE. If next of kin know how someone would have wanted to say goodbye, they are not left with regrets or the feeling that they were not able to say goodbye properly. People find thinking and talking about their own mortality complicated and confronting. Yet they know it is right. It gives them clarity. For themselves and their loved ones," says Corné Mulders, director of funeral services at Monuta.

 

In recent decades, saying goodbye has become increasingly personal. In both execution and rituals. Whereas in the past someone's faith was the determining factor in what a farewell should look like, this is now less self-evident and there are many more options. Think of the location; in a funeral home, stadium, or in a restaurant. Or the catering; from coffee and cake, an Italian drink to sushi. Besides coffee and cake, coming dressed in black is also a tradition. People from South Holland no longer find this customary (86%). 

 

Almost half of the Dutch population is not afraid of death. Yet four in ten people do not discuss their own farewell with their loved ones. Certainly, more than two thirds would rather discuss their own farewell than their salary, sex life or weight. There is a clear difference between young and old (66+ years). Young people prefer to discuss their salary or sex life than their farewell. With older people, it is the other way around. 57% of people from South Holland think it is important to discuss their own farewell. And even 78% think it is important to discuss their loved one's farewell. Yet only 32% of people from South Holland have recorded their parting wishes. 

 

There are differences per province as to what people want at their farewell and whether they discuss it. People from Limburg in particular want coffee and cake for their guests at a funeral (66% as opposed to 56% nationally). In South Holland, most people (28%) are afraid of death and least like to talk about it (50%). For residents of Overijssel, talking about farewell wishes is most important and they do so (76%).