Heineken® celebrates the most successful 'Home away from Home' in twenty years
Amsterdam, 13 August 2012: Heineken® last night celebrated the closing ceremony of another outstanding Holland Heineken House as more than 100,000 tickets were sold during this year's Olympic Games. The atmosphere at the House was certainly enhanced by the performance of the athletes representing the Netherlands Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF) who surpassed all expectations by claiming 20 medals in total and finishing 12th in the Medal Table.
Staged at the spectacular Alexandra Palace, Holland Heineken House marked its twentieth anniversary as the national house of the Netherlands, with sell-out crowds, unforgettable entertainment and triumphant Dutch athletes. This year, more than 450 volunteer and professional crew members from Holland worked around the clock to ensure all visitors enjoyed a memorable experience at the venue across the 18 days of opening.
Visiting fans from around the world cheered during the numerous medal ceremonies which celebrated the achievements of the successful Dutch athletes, including cyclist Marianne Vos, swimmer Ranomi Kromowidjojo, the women's and men's hockey team and 'Flying Dutchman' gymnast Epke Zonderland.
Exclusive performances from international artists, including two of the world's most popular DJs, Armin van Buuren and Afrojack, attracted huge crowds of more than 6,000 fans each night.
Sustainability was a key focus at this year's Holland Heineken House. All materials for constructing the venue were shipped to London by boat and will now be returned to Holland the same way. All cups used in the venue were recyclable, and 45 'green' fridges and 27 draught installations in the venue were designed to use more than a third less energy.
Messages and signage were also widespread within the venue encouraging and reminding all visitors to 'Enjoy Heineken Responsibly.' In addition, there were regular screenings of Heineken's 'Sunrise' commercial, which advocates responsible alcohol consumption on the main stage screens.
Hans Erik Tuijt, HEINEKEN's Global Sponsorship Director, said, "This year's Holland Heineken House has surpassed all expectations to become the most memorable in its 20 year history. We are extremely proud to have been able to bring the Olympic Games closer to the fans, both Dutch and international, for an experience they will never forget. We are looking forward to building on this success and creating an even more unforgettable Holland Heineken House at Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016."
André Bolhuis, President of the National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands, commented, "Holland Heineken House has been the home away from home for the Dutch athletes, their family and dedicated fans for twenty years now. This year in London the House has delivered in every aspect, and has been enhanced by the tremendous and well deserved achievements of the Dutch team with 20 medals overall. We are looking ahead to a continued and longstanding relationship with Heineken through Sochi, Rio and beyond."
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Notes to Editors
About Holland Heineken House
Holland Heineken House is the traditional meeting place for the various echelons of the Dutch sports world during the Olympic Games. It is the official, national house of the Netherlands where NOC*NSF (Netherlands Olympic Committee) is the host and where HEINEKEN Netherlands facilitates and organises the event. Holland Heineken House started during Barcelona 1992 and London 2012 will be the 11th edition in a row and where it will celebrate its 20th-year anniversary. For more information: www.hollandheinekenhouse.nl
About Heineken®
Sold in almost every country in the world, Heineken is the world's leading premium beer brand. Additional information is available on www.heineken.com and www.heinekeninternational.com.
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