Taiwanese e-bike maker Darfon opens its European head office in Eindhoven

Taiwanese company Darfon today opened its European head office in Eindhoven for its electric bikes. The company considers the Netherlands as both a proven quality and a growth market as well as a gateway to the European market. Darfon’s official choice confirms the favorable climate for new businesses in Brabant, and in Eindhoven in particular.

Darfon’s European head office will handle the marketing, sales, service and distribution of its e-bikes, and with a service center to be established in Heerde in the province of Gelderland.

Darfon supplies components to various major OEM /ODM IT manufacturers and it is a global manufacturing leader for laptop keyboards. The company has now taken the step to the consumer market and is devoting its expertise in the field of batteries, electric components, and software to manufacturing electric bicycles. The launch of its Votani brand has met with great success and in mid- May the Premium BESV brand will be launched.

“The Netherlands offers us more than access to Europe alone,” said Andy Su, president of Darfon. “We have discovered an excellent network of distributors and shops while the authorities have been very helpful. There is also close alignment in terms of design and technology. Our bikes stand out thanks to the stylish designs, the use of top technology, and a good price to quality ratio. Moreover, Darfon and its staffs feel at home in this city.”

This was echoed by Eelko Brinkhoff, head of Foreign Investments of the Brabant Development Agency (BOM). “Eindhoven has much to offer when it comes to industrial design and technology. Just think of the Dutch Design Week and TU Eindhoven. The city also holds the largest cluster of Taiwanese companies in the Netherlands.”

The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, BOM, and Brainport Development worked hard to get the IT giant, which has a worldwide turnover of 800 million dollars and a workforce of 15,000, to the Netherlands. They worked together in aiding the e-bike maker to get accommodation, introducing it to the local network and when it came to Dutch laws and legislation, as well as in many other aspects.

Eindhoven’s mayor, Rob van Gijzel, was very pleased to welcome Darfon to the city. “It once again confirms the excellent image of Eindhoven in Taiwan. I am proud that I have been given the opportunity today to officially open the doors for this great company. Together with BOM we have created a strong bond with Darfon in recent months. Tonight we will be concluding the celebrations with a bike tour together with the company’s president, Andy Su, along the Van Gogh-Roosegaarde bicycle path in Nuenen,” Van Gijzel added.

Darfon Europe BV is the European headquarter of Darfon Electronics Corporation from Taiwan. Darfon was founded in May 1997, produces mainly IT-components and is the world’s No. 1 notebook keyboard manufacturer.

Darfon generates 7.010 Million US dollars in sales revenues and now houses a staff of around 20,000 employees throughout its global operations spreading across Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, USA, and Europe. Darfon Europe BV is on the market with Votani and BESV e-bikes in the Benelux, Germany, Swiss, Austria, Italy, France and Russia.

Rihanna And Supermodel Doutzen Kroes to star on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

Grammy® Award-winning artists Rihanna and Bruno Mars, and Grammy® Award nominated artist Justin Bieber will perform on THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW, to be broadcast Tuesday, Dec. 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.  Victoria’s Secret Angels Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, Candice Swanepoel, Erin Heatherton, Lily Aldridge, Lindsay Ellingson and a bevy of other Supermodels will star in this lingerie runway show. The special will also include pink carpet interviews, model profiles and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the world’s most celebrated fashion show. The runway looks will include over-the-top lingerie embellished with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, as well as iconic Angel wings.

From Rihanna’s Caribbean roots to the top of the charts, the runways of Paris and Milan and some of the biggest stages in the world, the 24-year-old, Barbados-born beauty has already won six Grammy® Awards, five American Music Awards and 18 Billboard Music Awards, among many others.  Since her breakthrough multi-platinum album “A Girl Like Me,” which included her global smash “Umbrella,” in just a few short years, Rihanna helped redefine the path of popular music for a new generation. Rihanna’s latest album, “Talk That Talk,” had worldwide sales of more than 5.5 million units and brought Rihanna’s worldwide album sales to more than 37 million. Rihanna has logged 146 million digital tracks sold worldwide, establishing her as the top selling digital artist of all time.  In addition, she has broken a record at Top 40 with the most #1’s in the chart’s 18 year history. Her new single “Diamonds” off of her next album reached number one in 26 countries within five days. Rihanna kicks off her “Diamonds” World tour in March 2013.

In 2009, Bieber became the first solo artist in history to send four songs from a debut album into the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 40 prior to the album’s release.  Three years later, his latest album, “Believe,” also has four songs in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.  “Believe’s” premiere single, “Boyfriend,” hit #1 at iTunes immediately after it was released. The “Boyfriend” video has shattered all YouTube records since its MTV premiere.  The clip generated eight million views in its first 24 hours and has built up to over 86 million views.  With worldwide album sales in excess of 15 million units, Bieber has dominated pop culture and social media for more than two years.  He has over 46 million Facebook fans, more than 28 million Twitter followers, and over three billion YouTube views. Bieber has received numerous awards, including Artist of the Year at the 2010 American Music Awards, and was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2011 Grammy® Awards.

Mars is a singer, songwriter, producer and musician whose solo single, “Just the Way You Are,” hit #1 in multiple countries across the world and won the artist a Grammy® Award for “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance” in 2011.  Bruno’s debut album, “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” has been certified 39 times Platinum worldwide and has claimed two additional hit singles, “Grenade” and “The Lazy Song.”  Mars is a 13-time Grammy® Award nominee who has now sold over 45 million singles worldwide and has over one billion views on YouTube. His second album “Unorthodox Jukebox,” featuring the new single “Locked Out Of Heaven,” will be in stores December 11th.

These performances will mark the artists’ first appearances on THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW.

Last year’s show garnered the best ratings ever in adults 18-49 and women 18-34 and averaged 11.5 million viewers.

THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW is being produced by done and dusted, inc. Edward G. Razek, Monica Mitro, Ian Stewart and Hamish Hamilton are the executive producers.  Hamish Hamilton is the director.

American Apparel Opens New Shop-in-Shop in Amsterdam

American Apparel (Amex: APP), the vertically integrated clothing manufacturer based in downtown Los Angeles, has opened a new shop-in-shop inside the flagship De Bijenkorf in Amsterdam. The company’s 60 sq. m. concession space inside the high-end department store in the Netherlands will be located on Dam Square, the main town square in Amsterdam.

“We are excited to open this new location in the heart of the city center. Our brand has always resonated well with the Dutch customer and we’ve been looking forward to bringing this new shopping experience to them,” said Marsha Brady, a creative director for American Apparel.

The store will showcase the company’s line of fashionable basics alongside its new lines which feature leather, denim and winter products. Its initial inventory will consist of over 50 styles of women’s garments. The concession space officially opened on December 2, launching right into the peak end-of-year shopping season.

The concession with De Bijenkorf will be the company’s 3rd in Amsterdam, adding to its two locations in the Jordaan and Grachtengordel neighborhoods. The company also brought its world-famous factory flea market to the city earlier this year. It also joins the company’s history of shop-in-shop locations around the world, ranging from nearby London to Sydney, Melbourne, and Hong Kong.

“We’ve found that our shop-in-shop locations are perfect for metropolitan customers who desire access to a variety of products during a shopping trip. We’ve also found that it exposed us to new customers and demographics who have gone one to become regular shoppers and fans of the American Apparel, Made in USA brand,” said Brady.

American Apparel is a vertically integrated manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of branded fashion basic apparel based in downtown Los Angeles, California. As of August 31, 2013, American Apparel had approximately 10,000 employees and operated 245 retail stores in 20 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and China. American Apparel also operates a global e-commerce site that serves over 60 countries worldwide at http://www.americanapparel.net. In addition, American Apparel operates a leading wholesale business that supplies high quality T-shirts and other casual wear to distributors and screen printers.

Amsterdam Gay Pride bigger then ever

Described last year by news organisation CNN as one of ‘the best picks around the world for celebrating Pride’, Amsterdam Gay Pride is one of those events that seems to embody the spirit and character of its iconic location.

Still the only Gay Pride parade on Earth to take place on the water, this event is, for many Amsterdammers – and increasingly for visitors in the know – the highlight of the summer’s cultural agenda in a city that knows how to party and has much to celebrate. For revellers of all stripes, the parade and the host of other Amsterdam Gay Pride events represent the perfect opportunity to explore and delight in a city that’s treasured internationally for its unique spirit of tolerance and diversity.

Amsterdam Gay Pride 2013: A Bigger Splash!

One of the very biggest public events in the Netherlands, the 18th edition of Amsterdam Gay Pride has a special significance – happening, as it does, in an auspicious landmark year for the city. 2013 is the year that the city of Amsterdam celebrates the 400th anniversary of its magnificent canal network, with a host of exhibitions and ceremonies commemorating the importance of these waterways for Amsterdam’s place in the world. Of course, Amsterdam Gay Pride culminates in the celebratory Canal Pride parade, whereby organisations and partygoers take to the stately Prinsengracht canal for one jubilant afternoon. What better way to enjoy the waters that have connected Amsterdam with the world?

This year’s theme: Reflect

The starring role of the shimmering canal network in Amsterdam’s history was the ideal starting point for this year’s Amsterdam Gay Pride theme: ‘Reflect’. Culminating in the party weekend of 2-4 August, this year’s Amsterdam Gay Pride will be bigger than ever. But the event and its significance have grown in more ways than just in terms of its scale.

Irene Hemelaar, executive director of ProGay, the association that organises Amsterdam Gay Pride, notes that ‘this year’s Amsterdam Gay Pride is something of a meditation, albeit it a jubilant one: 2013 is a big year for Amsterdam; it is the year that we celebrate 400 years of the canals that have brought the city such prosperity, and opened it up to the world as a place for people of all backgrounds, ethnicities and walks of life to come together. We will take the opportunity to look back on how far the LGBT community has come during this remarkable period. And we will shine like never before!’

A history to cherish

It goes without saying that Amsterdam has a rich gay tradition. The first gay bar opened here in 1927 (Café ‘t Mandje, still open today at Zeedijk 63) and the planet’s first gay marriages happened in Amsterdam’s City Hall in 2001. The COC Netherlands has been advocating the rights of lesbian women, gay men, bisexuals and transgenders since 1946, and is one of the few LGBT organizations that enjoys special consultative status within the United Nations.

A future to secure

Things keep moving, and welcome additions to gay life in Amsterdam include new bars, such as the lesbian-run Café Bordó in the Nieuwe Nieuwstraat. On a wider level, Dutch Minister for gender and LGBT emancipation, Jet Bussemaker, points to the Netherlands’ hosting of a major international conference on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in May: ‘The Netherlands has a progressive character, but even today, lesbian women, gay men, bisexuals and transgenders are experiencing discrimination, violence and unequal rights,’ she says. Although Bussemaker points out that ‘individuals, businesses and institutions have a responsibility to help improve the situation,’ she believes that Government also has a part to play, and is looking forward to participating in the Amsterdam Gay Pride 2013 festivities: ‘This year there will again be an official cabinet boat in the Canal Parade. It has a very special theme, but that’s all I’m allowed to say for now!’

FAST FIGURES: AMSTERDAM GAY PRIDE IN NUMBERS

350,000 visitors to the Canal Pride parade annually – 45,000 visitors during 4 days of street parties – 98 outdoor bars – 200,000 beers – 4 football pitches of dance floor – 10 outdoor stages – 3,000,000 beats – 120 different events in 9 days.

A RAINBOW OF A PROGRAMME

Amsterdam Gay Pride has much more to offer than just the Canal Pride parade:

– Street Parties

The evening of Friday 2 August is when Amsterdam’s LGBTs and friends hit the atmospheric cobbled streets for open-air celebrations and wild dancing. Choose your scene, from the hip, young vibe of the Reguliersdwarsstraat to the Dutch carnival atmosphere near the Amstel river.

– Grey Pride

A series of events, from debates to cabaret, geared towards a mature crowd. http://www.roze50plus.nl

– Drag Queen Olympics

Friday August 2: Featuring gruelling disciplines like the Handbag Toss and the High Heel Sprint, this bedazzling sporting contest on the Homomonument is something of an Amsterdam Gay Pride institution.

Netflix Now Available In The Netherlands

Netflix Inc., the world’s leading Internet television network with more than 37 million members, is now available in the Netherlands. Starting today, the Dutch can get instant access to a wide variety of TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix for only €7.99 per month.

Netflix has revolutionized entertainment by giving members the ability to enjoy TV shows and movies when, how and where they want with seamless, instant access across TVs, tablets, mobile devices, game consoles and computers. Hollywood blockbusters, top TV shows, documentaries, independent films, stand-up comedy, a wide range of kids’ titles and local Dutch titles are now available to watch instantly on Netflix in the Netherlands.

“We’re proud to bring the future of television to the Netherlands,” said Reed Hastings, co-founder and chief executive officer of Netflix. “The Dutch have incredible broadband, but until today have not been able to take full advantage of their fast connections. Now people in the Netherlands can subscribe to Netflix and instantly watch great TV shows and movies anywhere, anytime, for one low monthly price.”

Netflix offers a great entertainment experience with many titles available in high-definition and with Dolby® Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound. Advanced recommendation technologies and connection through Facebook help consumers discover TV shows and movies they’ll love. People in the Netherlands can try Netflix for free for one month by signing up at www.netflix.nl.

Now On Netflix In The Netherlands

Now available on Netflix in the Netherlands are all episodes of the four critically- and popularly-acclaimed Netflix series that premiered this year and have never before been shown in the Netherlands: political drama House of Cards, mystery Hemlock Grove (starring Famke Janssen), season four of comedy Arrested Development and prison dramedy Orange is the New Black. Derek, a new comedy from Ricky Gervais, will also be available exclusively on Netflix in the Netherlands starting Sept. 12.

Among the thousands of hours of entertainment available at launch are previous full seasons of American shows such as Dexter, Homeland, Lost, Modern Family, Pretty Little Liars, Spartacus and The Vampire Diaries. Full seasons of international TV include popular British series Luther and Sherlock as well as Scandinavian favorites The Killing and The Bridge.

Hollywood and international feature films now available on Netflix include The Kite Runner, The King’s Speech, Kill Bill 2 and The Expendables. Documentaries now available on Netflix include Food Inc., Planet Earth, Man vs. Wild and We are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists.

Among the Dutch titles now on Netflix in the Netherlands are feature films Alles is Liefde, All Stars 2: Old Stars, De Heineken Ontvoering, Gooische Vrouwen and Sonny Boy. Dutch comedy on Netflix includes Hans Teeuwen’s Spiksplinter and Lebbis’ Branding.

Kids and families can enjoy TV shows such as Adventure Time, My Little Pony, Nijntje, The Adventures of Tintin and features such as Kikkerdril, Ratatouille and Wall-E.

In the coming months, more TV shows and movies will be added.

Watch Anytime, Anywhere in the best possible quality

Netflix is available on virtually any device that has an Internet connection, including computers, tablets, smartphones, Smart TVs and game consoles. Netflix automatically provides the best possible quality based on the available bandwidth.

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world’s leading Internet television network with more than 37 million members in 40 countries enjoying more than one billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series. For one low monthly price, Netflix members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

Today, Mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan and initiator Sander Groet opened Europe’s highest swings on the observation deck of A’DAM Tower, opposite Amsterdam Central Station. This unique attraction is part of A’DAM LOOKOUT.

Over the Edge is a swing with a total of four seats situated at a height of almost 100 meters. Experience what it’s like to have Amsterdam under your feet, while swinging back and forth across the edge of the A’DAM Tower. Secured by restraints, visitors can swing across the edge of the watchtower at great height. The swings are hydraulically driven, with the possibility to pump along. A challenge for daredevils and thrill seekers! Enjoy an unparalleled view of the city, while the adrenaline courses through your veins.

The A’DAM Tower is the former Shell Tower on the north bank of the IJ, opposite Amsterdam Central Station. Several restaurants, a club and a hotel are housed in the tower as well as the offices of companies within the music industry. A’DAM LOOKOUT is located on the top two floors of the A’DAM tower with an indoor and outdoor observation deck with a stunning 360 degree view of the city.

Since opening last May, A’DAM LOOKOUT has already attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

A’DAM LOOKOUT is open daily from 10:00 until 22:00. Tickets cost

€ 12.50. Visitors who want to swing need a separate ticket for ‘Over the Edge’. This attraction is still free until September 1st.

After that, a ride on the swing will cost € 5.

Tyrannosaurus Rex Fossil Fly To Netherlands

A 66 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil flew today from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to the Netherlands on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight 612.

More than 250 passengers shared their flight with this remarkably well preserved dinosaur fossil. The T. rex was excavated in Montana by the Dutch museum, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, in 2013 and in cooperation with the Black Hills Institute of Hill City, South Dakota. The T. rex will be exhibited at Naturalis in Leiden, the Netherlands. This historic find will make Naturalis the first museum outside North America to own and exhibit a T. rex.

Private and public support in the Netherlands helped enable the arrival of the T. rex in Leiden. Many people spontaneously suggested the name Trix for this Grand Old Lady. From September 10 until June 5, 2017, Trix will reside at Naturalis in the exhibition, “T. rex in Town.” At the end of 2018, she will have a place of honor in the dinosaur hall of the new museum in Leiden.

Trix is a unique find. With almost 80 percent of bone volume found and exquisite, non-deformed bone quality, she ranks in the top three of best T. rex skeletons in the world. Dr. Anne Schulp, head of T. rex research at Naturalis, said, “When we started the search for T. rex, I could not have imagined us finding such a remarkable and distinctive individual.” Trix’s original skull is mounted on the skeleton, as well, which is also a first in the world. The skeleton measures 12.5 meters (41 feet) from nose to tail and four meters (13 feet) from the hip down.

“If there is one dinosaur that everyone wants to look in the eye, it is the fierce predator Tyrannosaurus rex,” said Naturalis director Edwin van Huis. “It is my dream coming true that our T. rex Trix is now on her way to Leiden to inspire both scientists and museum visitors. I feel privileged and honored that so many people joined us to make this journey possible.”

Trix could not undertake her journey without the extra donation of the BankGiro Loterij to the yearly contribution to Naturalis, aided by the support of KLM Cargo, the Dutch diplomatic network in the US, the Black Hills Institute, and the Chicago Department of Aviation.

“Air France KLM flies almost 90 million passengers and transports 1.2 million tons of cargo a year. It is a big honor for us to be part of this T. rex experience, and give our passengers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly with a T. rex,” said Marcel de Nooijer, EVP KLM Cargo said. “We have transported Trix from Hill City, S.D., via truck to Chicago, and will use the utmost care in flying her to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.”

“Trix is a symbol of the international scientific cooperation between the Netherlands and the United States,” said Louis Piët, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chicago. “Trix will be for Naturalis what Rembrandt’s ‘Nightwatch’ is for the Rijksmuseum, and she will be an important contribution to the scientific research that is conducted in Leiden.”

“We are proud to be an integral part of T. rex Trix’s journey to inspire the children and dinosaur lovers of the Netherlands and Europe,” said Peter Larson, President of the Black Hills Institute for Geological Research Inc. “After three years of exciting and hard work, collecting, preparing and mounting her skeleton, we wish bon voyage to this international scientific ambassador.”

“We are thrilled that O’Hare International Airport is the gateway for the historic transport of Trix,” said CDA Commissioner Ginger S. Evans. “This is truly an exciting day for the CDA and the City of Chicago.”