We started 2023 with an afterwork mingle in Art Gallery Coulisse in Stockholm, where young entrepreneur Filip Zieciak and Jeanette Gunnarson showcased two artists.
After Els Berkers (chair) had welcomed the thirty visitors with a toast, Jeanette took us through the background and inspiration of both artists, Vika Prokopaviciute and Lucas Dupuy and their art works. 
The art will be on display till early February after this date a new Vernissage will take place. 

/F.C.

Region West toasted to the new year of 2023 with a New Year's drink on Wednesday the 18th of January. Fourteen participants came together at our favourite bar: LePub.

As we welcomed seven new people we started with a round of introductions. We looked back at the previous year and it was once again acknowledged that our theme of walk & talks has been very well received, so we will continue with this concept during 2023 as well. We also introduced our other plans for the new year. It was a great evening, many new connections were made and I'm sure we all found some inspiration for the new year ahead!

Join us for our next event on 14 February - a factory visit at Volvo Cars. Registrations are filling up fast so be quick to sign up! 

/E.M.

​Region West went out with a bang! The grand finale, the last Walk & Talk of 2022, took
place at fairytale park Liseberg. Christmas atmosphere all around: snow covered trees, a
beautiful Santa village and millions of lights everywhere.

A nice group of participants, members and non-members, joined the walk and took the
opportunity to network. Many ideas were born for upcoming events in 2023. And warm mulled
wine was enjoyed after being out in the cold winter evening. And good news travels fast! Already whilst the participants were defrosting at home, the positive reviews popped up in different online posts.

”Liseberg X-mas edition with Dutch Chamber of Commerce Göteborg.  A bit ”chilly” at -10
Celsius… skipped the roller coasters to prevent arriving as an ice cube.”
(Jan-Willem Hordijk)

”Jul på Liseberg. Glögg, talks and amazing company! Coming home feeling like popsicle.”
(Jo-Anna Wagenaar-Kornegoor)

A guest-participant from The Netherlands who does not speak a word Swedish made the
most heartwarming remark of the evening: Glögg…is that GELUK in a cup? Don’t you agree, that ’geluk’ and ’glögg’ have the same tone of voice?

With that said, Team Region West wishes you a merry Christmas and all the best for 2023.
Welcome to our New Year’s drink on Wednesday the 18th of January.

/V.P.

​Can you tell us who you are and what your connection is between Sweden and the Netherlands?
My name is Eva Struving, born and raised in Eindhoven the Netherlands.  My Swedish mother and Dutch father met each other in Stockholm in 1954 when my father was working as an intern at Ericsson. I have spent all my Christmas holidays and many summers at the farm of my aunt in Skåne.  I live in Amsterdam, 3 boys in their twenties and a husband, who all love Sweden.
Have been part of the exciting journey of the Postcode lottery in different roles and have been involved with the Svenska Postkodlotteriet since the start in 2005. The past 4 years as Managing Director in Stockholm, working in Sweden. 
 
What is the connection between Svenska Postkodlotteriet and de Nederlandse Postcodeloterij?
The Postcode Lottery was launched in the Netherlands in 1989. The mission of the Postcode Lotteries is to contribute to a better world for people and planet. All net proceeds are donated to charitable organisations across the world. Participants win together with their neighbours, while they support charitable organisations like the Red Cross, Save the Children, the Cancer Foundation and WWF at the same time.
Since the start of the Postcode Lottery in the Netherlands in 1989, Postcode Lotteries have been set up in Sweden, Great Britain, Germany and Norway. Thanks to the 13 million subscriptions, more than USD 13 billion has been raised for civil society, making the Postcode Lottery the world's third largest private charity donor.

Are there differences in market approach in both countries?
The Postcode lottery was launched, with what we call, a ‘big bang’ in Sweden, with a weekly prime time TV show and nation-wide marketing campaigns.
In Holland we had to build it up very slowly because the lacks of funds. Regulations are different in every country, so that is something we have to deal with in every country.
 
What are your expectations with regard to your membership of the Dutch Chamber?
I already enjoyed a very interesting first corporate lunch on sustainability in November. It is of course very helpful to meet other people in similar situations. And it is always good to, even after many years, discuss cultural differences. Sweden, with its trust-based society, Holland somewhat more clear in their communication, which can be helpful sometimes as well.
It feels that both countries can learn from each other and could take a leading role in some of the challenges the world is facing today. I’d like to be part of that.

​/E.B.

Who are the people behind BQ Accounting? 

Everything started on a rainy summer night in Stockholm, two driven accountants sat down and were wondering why the bookkeeping felt complicated and time consuming. There must be an easier and more efficient way.  At that moment, the seed to BQ was planted.  A few months later, BQ was born by the driven accountants, Luis Botero and Hadil Qatanani.
The vision is to digitalise all accounting and to help clients to understand, have updated KPI’s, and in the same way help companies to reduce the paperwork and work towards a green world.
 
Where are you located, what type of clients do you have/aim for?

Our headquarters are located at Kungsgatan 29 in Stockholm, Sweden. The advantage to be working digitally is that we can help companies without restrictions of locations. It doesn't matter if you are a foreign company that wants to start a business in Sweden or want to know about the rules, liabilities, and laws. Hopefully, we will meet companies that need a complete solution that includes everything from current accounting, financial statements, salaries, annual account closing. BQ´s vision is “we help customers into the future!".
 
 What are your expectations towards the Dutch Chamber? How can our network be of help to you?
 
We are happy to be a part of the Dutch Chamber, to broaden our network and be able to assist our clients with their daily challenges. Whether, if one of the members need to expand to Sweden or facing some challenges while starting up a company. BQ is here to help!

/E.B.

Have you ever felt that a plan came together? Yes? Then you know that when it happens, it gives a lot of energy. It happened to us this Friday 18th November, the day of the entrepreneur in the Netherlands and maybe from now on in Sweden too!
 
70 guests: 33 from Göteborg and the other 37 from the Netherlands, Stockholm, Lund, Malmö and Karlstad celebrated 20 years of networking in Sweden at the beautiful Chalmersska Huset i Göteborg. 
The Dutch Chamber could show members and network how we have worked hard to expand our network within Sweden the recent years.
 
At the dinner our patron, ambassador Bengt van Loosdrecht and Sander Schimmelpenninck discussed in their quick-witted talk entrepreneurship in Sweden and the Netherlands, but also their own journey. 
 
During the day fourty guests enjoyed the day programme, with an inspiring and enthusiastic presentation about the regional opportunities by Johan Trouvé, MD of the Västsvenska Handelskammaren at Länsstyrelsens Hörsalen. A big thanks to Mikael Cullburg.
 
An electric bus took our guests to CampX from Volvo Group where the Future of Mobility was discussed from various angles. Jan Strandhede kicked this part of the programme off with a presentation on the sustainable journey Volvo Trucks is taking.
 
Panel facilitator Christian Claesson invited
Mathias Holst - CFO at Lynk & Co International
Gustavo Guerra - VP Strategic Product Planning at Volvo Group
Sofia Ohnell - Business & Innovations Area Manager at RISE
Gunilla Grahn Hinnfors - AB Grahn-Hinnfors Text&Analys
Sanna Moore - Program Manager and deputy Director at MobilityXlab
Patrick Björler - Head of strategy and business for Autonomous Drive & Active Safety at Volvo Cars
to give their thoughts and views on how to develop sustainable transport for the future. It became a lively discussion with much food for thought.
 
In the afternoon Jasper van Kuijk showed us how and why it requires not just having an ux-designer or user test, but an organisation that aligns itself with this goal, in other words: user-centred innovation!
The interactive presentation was followed by a workshop: designing for a positive user experience.
An absolute eye-opener.
 
Thanks Volvo Group: Harold Smolders and Johannes Pastoor for making this possible.
 
Göteborg was our third, and last Anniversary Dinner this year. What a work it was, with only volunteers. 
A big, big thanks to Elis Dijkstra, Viola Vergouwe Pettersson and Esther Meulenberg for an excellent organisation: it was absolutely great and fun to work with you!
 
And…thanks to you all who attended, supported and sponsored! We hope to see you soon again on one of our other events.
 
Are you curious about what the Dutch Chamber could do for you, your company or organisation? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
Or contact one of our board members or regional directors. Contact info can be found on our website. 

​Photo credits: Chris Jonker - Studio Bojo

On October 27th a guided tour took us along eight colourful installations along a 3 km long path. 
Our host and speaker Marcel Braeken, Value Added Partner Manager Nordic of Signify and sponsor of the festival enlightened us with interesting information on the designs. Thank you Marcel and Jonas at Signify for joining our event. 
This years theme ’Only one earth. 7,9 billion reflections’ really came to live in the reflections on the water. Mesmerizing! When light is reflected, it spreads, and even changes course. Just like when we reflect on a thought and that thought generates new ideas, dreams, and insights. Exactly what the Dutch Chamber walk and talks are all about: sharing thoughts and getting inspired by others. 
You are invited to join our next walk & talk during Jul på Liseberg on Thursday December 15th. 

/V.G