report culture 36 2013 re-opening Amsterdam 2013 re-opening Rijksmuseum Amsterdam 2013 Facts figures * * * A strong brand like Secretary Plus offers many opportunities for our customers and candidates. We have experienced steady and impressive growth, both on a national and international scale.

23of experience In development, engagement, coaching. First representatives220 in in the , and now in a growing number of European markets. This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Secretary Plus Belgium. years

Over the years Secretary Plus has won numerous awards. From ‘Top Employer’ to ‘Great Of 2,000 customers Place to Work’, to surveyed, the innovation awards term most and ‘Best Employer’ associated with and ‘Flex Specialist’. countries Secretary Plus industry We are proud of was ‘customer Rijksmuseum 5 the recognition by Rest assured that oriented’, followed awards clients, customers there will always be a by ‘quality’ (71%) Where comes to life and personnel. 8representative in your and ‘reliable’ in 2012 area to assist you with (66%). your personnel needs. say we’re customer% oriented 77 After ten years of refurbishment, the doors of the world-renowned Amsterdam Over 20 years, Secretary Plus has Rijksmuseum are open once again. successfully placed Rijksmuseum successful placements more than 75,000 Museumstraat 1, 1071 CJ Amsterdam assistants – both Tel.: +31 (0) 20 674 7000 temporary and permanent – with customers across The Rijksmuseum is open 365 days owhere else offers hours of viewing existing structure was an important factor Europe. a year, from 09.00 to 17.00 hours. pleasure gazing at masterpieces by in the choice of architects. Cruz and Ortiz Admission costs €15 per person Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Johannes earned their spurs on projects in the old city 75,000 and is free for visitors up to 18 years Vermeer and Jan Steen, and from centre of Seville and the refurbishment of the old. Friends of the Rijksmuseum Nmedieval art to paintings from the 18th and Maritime Museum in Cadiz. Their work on may also enter for free. A selection 19th century. The Rijksmuseum was built the Rijksmuseum demonstrates subtlety and of its masterpieces include: The more than 125 years ago and was designed restraint. Secretary Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer, The by architect P.J.H. Cuypers. After more than Plus specialises Happy Family by Jan Steen, Winter a century of use, the building had earned a All change in candidates Landscape with Skaters by Hendrick substantial renovation. The brief supplied Modifications have not only been made who are capable Avercamp, The Sick Child by Gabriel to Spanish architects Cruz and Ortiz read: to the building itself; the Rijksmuseum’s of working ultilingual Metsu and, of course, many works by remove the later additions to the building interior has also been completely redesigned: across borders m Rembrandt, including self-portraits, and restore Cuypers’ clear layout. Experience from the arrangement of the museum’s and in multiple and The Night Watch. of introducing new elements within an collection (only The Night Watch has been 90cultures. culture Amsterdam 2013 * re-opening Rijksmuseum Amsterdam 2013 * re-opening Rijksmuseum Amsterdam 2013 re-opening Rijksmuseum * Amsterdam 2013 * re-opening Rijksmuseum * Amsterdam 2013

Typex found it easy to place himself in Rembrandt shoes. And there are indeed parallels between his life and that of his world famous colleague.

returned to its original position) and new book 14 hours a day for two-and-a-half years, difficult relationship between Rembrandt public facilities, such as a museum café and Special edition which doesn’t leave much time for family and and Titus in the development of my own shop, to a freshly landscaped garden, an friends. I’m quite a social person but we know relationship with my father. Just like any underground square and a brand new Asian that Rembrandt was not. I can imagine that child, I experienced problems with my Pavilion. The museum also offers a wide makes you quite introverted.” parents. For a time I wouldn’t even see my variety of interactive facilities, like the online father. Only when I had a child myself did I Rijksstudio. This allows visitors to zoom Similarities start to see him in a different light and accept in on 125,000 beautiful, well-known and Rembrandt The book tells Rembrandt’s story from him as he is.” surprising images from the Rijksmuseum’s the perspective of the people around him, The book certainly cannot be described collection, to share and to ‘like’. Or create A biography of Rembrandt van Rijn in the form of a such as his first wife Saskia, his daughter as a worthy, educational comic strip. “The their own collections, including favourite graphic novel. An interview with the artist Typex. Cornelia, his son Titus and his housekeeper Rijksmuseum didn’t want that either,” says works and details, and turn them into Hendrickje, with whom he later had a Typex. “The ability to use artistic licence custom-made items, like posters and relationship. Typex used his own daughter with the facts and put myself in Rembrandt’s T-shirts. The Rijksmuseum is very active on as the model for Cornelia. The wife of place brought me closer to the man. I have Facebook and Twitter; Rembrandt van Rijn special book was produced to several occasions to view his works. And Rembrandt’s son Titus bears a resemblance learned to love him, just like the people even has his own Facebook page. mark the opening of the new the Rembrandt House, of course, where I to Typex’ own wife. And Rembrandt himself around him must have done, even though Rijksmuseum: a biography of sometimes stood by the window and stared has something of Typex’ father about he could be very difficult. Would we have Book Rembrandt van Rijn in the form outside to experience what Rembrandt must him. “Mainly his appearance and facial become best friends? Let’s just say that I’ve To commemorate the re-opening of the ofA a graphic novel. Because little is known have seen when he stood there. expressions. And I found inspiration for the tried to bring Rembrandt to life.” Rijksmuseum the artist Typex, an illustrator about the life of the 17th-century painter, for many Dutch newspapers and magazines, artist Typex was able to give the story his Twenty-first century vision was asked to create an illustrated book about own twist. “I soon discovered that very little Rembrandt, the painter who still attracts Until recently, Typex knew as much about information was known about the painter’s Also available at Rijksmuseum the majority of the museum’s visitors. The Rembrandt as most people. Naturally, he life. The romantic image we have of him is shop at Schiphol Airport book is far from conventional and, therefore, had visited the museum and had also studied based on what was written about him in the complements perfectly the Rijksmuseum’s The Night Watch as a teenager, during one 19th century. In the book I have consciously A permanent exhibition of ten works by Dutch new and contemporary face. of his art history lessons. But he would not taken a 21st-century view of him and have masters from the Rijksmuseum’s collection can be describe the painter as his favourite. All that added my own experiences to the story.” found through passport control at Schiphol Airport, changed when the Rijksmuseum asked him Typex found it easy to place himself in between piers E and F. Temporary exhibitions with to create a book about Rembrandt’s life. “I Rembrandt’s shoes. And there are, indeed, a Dutch theme are also staged here. The museum started by reading books about Rembrandt,” parallels between his life and that of his world- is open daily from 07.00 to 20.00 hours (free says Typex. “My bookcase is full of them famous colleague. “What’s the life of an artist admission). The book by Typex is available from the now. I’ve also visited the Rijksmuseum on really like?” Typex muses. “I worked on the museum shop.