Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen wins Rotterdam Marketing Award 2021

The Rotterdam Marketing Awards are awarded each year to those individuals or organisations who have made a significant contribution to the city’s image and promotion. There was no presentation of the awards in 2020 due to the corona virus, but the Jury decided to resume their routine this year, in order to recognise those citizens of Rotterdam who had managed, despite the prevailing circumstances, to highlight the city in a positive and distinctive fashion. On that subject, Mayor Aboutaleb declared: ‘Rotterdam is an incredibly versatile city, and today’s winners are a marvellous reflection of that, with each expressing the character of Rotterdam in their own way’.

‘The museum that displays everything’; that is how Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen was introduced to the world when it opened its doors in November, and the museal and cultural value that the Depot brings to the city has earned it the Rotterdam Marketing Award. The Jury praised the unique concept of opening up the museum collection by means of publicly accessible depot. They added that the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum is at the forefront of a worldwide trend in the museum world to increase the overall accessibility of museum collections.

An honourable mention was granted to the MVRDV architects bureau, winner of the 2014 Rotterdam Marketing Award. Their unique design for the Depot contributed greatly to the global attention the building has received.

Menno van Gorp designated as upcoming talent of the year

The Rotterdam Marketing Award for Upcoming Talent went to break dancer Menno van Gorp; top sportsman, artist and Rotterdam resident with a warm social heart. As a triple world champion, he channels his fame to inspire and stimulate the youth of Rotterdam. In April 2021, the ambassador for the Rotterdam Cultural Youth Fund opened the OTB movement, an initiative to nurture urban sports for the benefit of young people from Rotterdam-South.

The coming years hold much promise for Van Gorp, as break dancing will be included as an official sport in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This will provide a perfect opportunity for Rotterdam’s own to present himself, his sport and his city to the world.

The oeuvre prize goes to Mario Kadiks

Once every five years, the Jury awards a third prize, viz. the oeuvre prize. This year the award was presented to Mario Kadiks, who, in 2021, resigned after 35 years as director of the Marathon Rotterdam. Under his inspiring leadership, the marathon developed from an ailing event with just 265 participants into an internationally renowned competition. Top sports people are keen to compete at Rotterdam because of the fast trail, and the Marathon Rotterdam is high on the bucket list of recreational sports people thanks to its unique ambiance.

The Jury praises Kadiks for the great impact that he, as director of the marathon, has had on the international sporting image of Rotterdam.

About the awards

The Rotterdam Marketing Awards are given every year to individuals or organisations who have promoted the city of Rotterdam in a pioneering, creative and innovative way, contributing to enhancing its profile as a resilient and future-proof city both nationally and internationally.

The Jury is made up of members of the brand committee of the brand alliance Rotterdam Make It Happen:

• Wilbert Lek, director of Rotterdam Partners (and chairman of the Jury)
• Mireille Spapens, Marketing & Communications director of Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Peter Blangé, director of Rotterdam Topsport
• Mariel Croon, Communications director of Erasmus MC
• Renske Satijn, director of Rotterdam Festivals
• Richard van der Eijk, Communications & External Affairs director of Port of Rotterdam
• Carola de Vree-van Wagtendonk, head of Communications for the municipality of Rotterdam.