Let’s explore…

One of the things I most look forward to about Adnight every year, is the snapshot it gives me of this amazing city I’m lucky enough to live and work in. (for the non Amsterdammers, Adnight is an annual event where the creative companies of the city open their doors to anyone curious to know more about them).

It’s always an eclectic mix of people that comes through the door, from aspiring creatives to our peers in the industry, as well as old friends and former colleagues.

But the thing that always strikes me the most is not so much the professional profile of our guests, but more what a truly global cross-section they represent.

You might say that isn’t so surprising, given that Amsterdam is an international city. But when you look at it another way, we’re quite a small capital (around 1m people), in a small country (around 17m people), in a little corner of Northern Europe. So, what is it about this place that makes it such a magnet?

Of course, like many Western European countries, the Netherlands has a difficult history in relation to the rest of the world, which thank goodness is being publicly addressed with things like The Rijksmuseum’s recent groundbreaking exhibition.

But when it comes to our 21st century status as a global hub it’s the present and the future, rather than the past, that comes into play.

One of the things I notice when I travel (which I still have to do too much of), is that wherever I go in the world, there are Dutch voices.

I’m tuned into my own language, obviously, so I notice it, but the facts back me up. Over two thirds of Dutch people travel overseas every year, compared to a European average of half. So we’re out there a lot. I think we’re a curious people, maybe because ours is such a small country. We like to go out there and see things for ourselves. And maybe that creates reciprocal energy. We go out there into the world, and the world comes back to us.

Because for me, national identity is not so much about a place, it is about a mindset.?

And if I had to nail down a mindset for the Netherlands, it would come down to this – a curiosity about things. An explorer mindset.

And that matters if you’re a small country, because you have to be prepared to reinvent yourself. If you don’t have a lot of space, or natural resources, you have to create your own– or in our case, actually reclaim your own country out of the sea! But also create your own industries, and stay relevant as the world changes.

And all this is happening so much faster now. It seems all we hear about is how much change or disruption is coming down the line, whether that’s to do with technology, the environment, or social change.

It’s one thing to call yourself the disruption company (as we have for many years). It’s another thing to actually live it. But when you have an explorer mentality, actually disruption isn’t a threat, it’s what you’re looking for in life. It gives you your energy. It’s your fuel.

It’s about being uncomfortable – but actually feeling good about that discomfort.

It’s a feeling I recognise from a part of my life that has nothing to do with this industry – and definitely nothing to do with being Dutch! And that’s karate. I’m well past my competing prime. But I’m as committed as I ever was, because even though I’ve been doing it for 35 years, I’m always learning.? Every Monday I go to the dojo. I experience that sense of learning something new, of being uncomfortable and I lean into it (you have to). It’s about seeking to understand the pattern.

It's definitely the same drive that attracted me to this industry, and that keeps me compelled, all these years later. Every year, every month, every day in fact there’s a new challenge, and a new opportunity to go somewhere different. To explore.

I guess it was my own appetite for exploration that brought me to this point, and it’s that Dutch culture of exploration that means that I, and all my fellow explorers here, feel so at home.

I have a feeling that this is a quality we’re going to need more than ever as we lean into the future. I have no idea what that is going to look like – but then I guess that’s kind of the point.