Following on last December’s revealing survey about how “naughty” Dutch women are, Christine le Duc was asked to take part in an daring opening to the Huishoudbeurs. This fair, aimed at Dutch housewives and homemakers, is the Netherlands’ most popular consumer fair of its kind. Choosing NAUGHTY as its theme this year, Linden & Barbosa was briefed to create an attention-getting introduction. With the help of Goedele Liekens, Christine le Duc creations, stunning models and fair manager Marjo Wolters, 2007’s naughty Huishoudsbeurs was given the opening it deserved. Nor did that go unnoticed: many reporters drawn from radio, TV and print media covered the event. Evening viewers and listeners could catch a repeat of the opening by tuning into programmes that included SBS Shownieuws, RTL Beurslife, RTV-NH, AT5, Radio 538 and Radio 1. www.hoestoutbenjij.nl

Schaap en Citroen, the Netherlands’ fine jewellery chain, ran a Valentine’s Day survey whose key findings showed that men are more romantic than women and that jewels, rings and similar that were once a present from the ex tend to get kept and even worn from time to time. One third of Dutchmen interviewed said they wanted to spend Valentine’s Day with a (secret) loved one, but the figure for women fell to 19.4%. Linden & Barbosa set up the survey that was put to a test panel via the internet. Freesheet De Pers featured the survey’s most important conclusion in its 14th February edition. www.schaapcitroen.nl

Everybody knows trees are needed to produce oxygen, but now the indoor plant industry wants to teach the Dutch that indoor plants help create a healthier climate at the workplace. With a presentation of plants to two Dutch members of the parliament, Charlie Aptroot (small and medium enterprise spokesperson for the VVD party) and Helma Neppérus (VVD environmental spokesperson), Valentine’s Day saw the kick-off to a national campaign headed “Groen moet je doen”, which, loosely translated, means “Gotta be Green”. Working on behalf of the association representing the indoor plant industry, the Branchevereniging van Interieurbeplanters, Linden & Barbosa organised the presentation and, creating a unique photo-op, even arranged for a “living plant” to be positioned on the premises of the Netherlands’ parliament. www.interieurbeplanters.com

Client Vinea Vakanties in Sneek commissioned Linden & Barbosa to prepare a press release on the benefits to parents of sending their kids on organised holidays for children and teens their own age. Not only does the formula guarantee a safe environment in which to develop their own skills, but the kids experience a great, activity-filled vacation with plenty of exercise to burn off surplus calories. The press release came out early January, just as the leading fair for Dutch holidaymakers, Utrecht’s Vakantiebeurs, was opening its doors. National daily Algemeen Dagblad reported as a news item a new Harry Potter trip it had plucked from the press release. This month all Dutch door-to-door publications have been sent without obligation two versions of the same article we wrote, one short and the other long, richly illustrated with spectacular shots of kids having a great vacation. www.vinea.nl