Press release nekkerhal announces new name: Nekkerhal – Brussels North Mechelen Mechelen, 9 April 2015

PRESS RELEASE

Nekkerhal announces new name:
Nekkerhal – Brussels North Mechelen

Mechelen, 9 April 2015

In June last year the City of Mechelen awarded the concession for operating Nekkerhal to Artexis, a subsidiary of the Artexis Easyfairs Group, which specialises in managing event halls and organising events, it had high expectations – and that confidence does not appear to have been misplaced.

Many new events

Artexis began managing Nekkerhal on January 15 this year, and since then many new events have come to Mechelen, including the Samsung dealer days, (at the end of March) and soon the 50+ fair (April). Aquafin too will be celebrating its 25th anniversary there (May) and other company events. Moreover, the calendar is already filling up quickly for the coming fair year, starting in September this year.

Mechelen: an excellent destination for events

“Mechelen is clearly on the rise and, as a historical city, is an excellent destination for events,” says Dirk Van Roy, CEO of Artexis Easyfairs Benelux. “The accessibility, the parking possibilities right next to the hall and location in Belgium are absolute advantages for the event business. We want to use these strategic advantages to the maximum in order to attract international business events to Mechelen.”

New name

In line with this strategy, Artexis wanted to position Nekkerhal and Mechelen as an international destination and this ambition needed to reflect on Nekkerhal’s name. Today, (April 9th), the new name and logo were unveiled to the press in the town hall of Mechelen. Effective immediately, Nekkerhal will be known as “Nekkerhal – Brussels North”. A new website has also been launched for the venue: www.nekkerhalbrusselsnorth.com

“Artexis is proving that we, in the City Council, have made the right decision to give the Nekkerhal concession to a company that knows everything there is to know about managing event halls,” says Alderman Bart De Nijn, chairman of the non-profit association in dissolution Nekkerhal. “We also expect that in the Benelux the name ´Nekkerhal´ will be identified with Mechelen, so that the more internationally appealing name ´Brussels-North´ will place our city on the map the way Charleroi has done with its airport.”

Alderman Koen Anciaux, deputy chairman of the non-profit association in dissolution Nekkerhal: “Running an event hall isn´t a core task for a municipality, so we prefer to outsource that job over to a private partner who is specialised in the field. As an organiser of top events around the world, Artexis Easyfairs has impressed us with its credentials. This takeover also expands the horizons for Nekkerhal, which is now going through a strategic makeover.”

Investments

Artexis Easyfairs aims to bring new business to Mechelen and open up the venue to a much broader range of events. We are prepared to make the necessary investments to achieve this, and the City of Mechelen is contributing to this vision as well. The plans for setting up a ´Blackbox´ (an attractive ready-to-use furnished event space) within the hall are already under way. The Blackbox will be built this summer so that it can welcome events starting in September. This initiative, too, offers prospects for attracting new events, such as product shows, staff parties, end-of-the-year events and more, to Mechelen.

“This expansion of event formats, both nationally and internationally, will significantly increase the economic impact on the City of Mechelen and the surrounding region, not just for the catering industry and tourism, but also for all event sector suppliers. The impact of this move shouldn’t be underestimated,” notes Dirk Van Roy. “Furthermore, we’re delighted about the partnership between the City of Mechelen and Artexis. Together we´re taking on the fascinating challenge of transforming the old vegetable market hall of yesterday into a contemporary multi-format event hall that will claim its place on the international stage.”
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Contact Artexis

Dirk Van Roy Philippe Willegems

CEO Artexis Easyfairs Benelux Head of Venue Nekkerhal – Brussels North

T. [phone] T. [phone]

[e-mail] [e-mail]
Contact City of Mechelen
Bart De Nijn Koen Anciaux

Chairman of the non-profit association Nekkerhal Deputy Chairman of the non-profit ass. Nekkerhal

Alderman of Public Works T. [phone]

M. [phone] M. [phone]

[e-mail] [e-mail]

Information about Artexis Easyfairs

Artexis Easyfairs enables professional and private communities to “visit the future” at must-attend events that anticipate their needs and present solutions in the ideal format.

Through Easyfairs, the Group currently organises 125 events in 16 countries (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Emirates, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom).

In the Benelux, this includes Antica, Art Brussels, Bis, Belgian Boat Show, Bois & Habitat, Bouw & Reno, Builty, Countryside, Energie & Habitat, Eurantica, Expo 60+, Healthcare, Horeca Expo, Green Expo, Hout & Habitat, Realty, Soins & Santé, Empack, Packaging Innovations, Solids, Pumps & Valves, Saveurs & Métiers,Transport & Logistics, ...

And through Artexis, it manages eight events venues in the Benelux and Sweden. In Benelux, these include: Flanders Expo, Antwerp Expo and Namur Expo; the Palais des Congrès (Namur); the Nekkerhal – Brussels North (Mechelen) and MICX - Mons International Congress Experience.

Artexis Easyfairs strives to be the most adaptable, agile and effective player in our industry by employing committed individuals, deploying the best marketing and technology tools, and developing strong brands. This year the Group employs more than 420 people and generates revenues over €100 million. Visit the future with Artexis Easyfairs.

For more information, visit our website www.artexis.com

Maaltekouter 1 • 9051 Gent • Belgium • T [phone] • F [phone] • www.artexiseasyfairs.com