It is that time of year again when we look back on everything that has happened. As Unique Venues of Amsterdam, we asked our chairman, Ronald van Lopik, to take a look back at the past year. Let's take a look at some memorable moments and insights that shaped the year.

An exceptional moment:

“What is your most memorable moment of the past year?” we asked Ronald, chairman of the association. The answer was unexpectedly specific: Monday, April 3 at 1:50 PM. At that moment, he was standing in the King's Hall at Artis, opening the long-awaited second edition of the Unique Tour d'Amsterdam. A special moment in which over 100 clients from the industry were welcomed for a special afternoon through Amsterdam. A concept in which we very proudly showcase the versatility and uniqueness of our association.

One word for 2023:

“If you had to describe the past year in one word, what word would that be?” The answer Ronald gave was the word “Powerful”. Ronald emphasized how powerful the collaboration between various venues and partners is, making Amsterdam a strong(er) location for diverse events.

Important learning experience:

“What have you learned from the past year?” The value of personal meetings was the core insight. The chairman acknowledged that, due to his many years in the industry, he thought he already understood this. However, the past year had truly made him realize how valuable physical meetings are, and also that we will never be able to do without them.

Proud of achievements:

“What are you most proud of this past year?” The chair expressed pride in weathering the '7-year itch'. How often do you hear that relationships become strained after seven years? As an association, we celebrated our eighth anniversary in June of last year. In doing so, we bypassed the potentially difficult seventh year, which symbolizes a milestone of resilience. We are, in fact, full of life!

Outlook to 2024:

“And of course, a brief look ahead… what can we expect from the coming year?” In the coming year, the association is poised for high visibility at international events such as IMEX Frankfurt, IBTM Barcelona, and The Meeting Space in Amsterdam. Additionally, we will continue to collaborate extensively, organize informative sessions for members, and enjoy social gatherings together to ensure the intimacy of the association remains intact.

A prosperous 2024!

We conclude with this review of the year 2023. Our association looks forward to a new year full of new opportunities, challenges, and moments to share. On behalf of the association, we wish all colleagues, associates, and partners a prosperous 2024 full of success and beautiful memories!