On May 29th 1999 HRC Amsterdam, Netherlands, celebrated its Grand Opening with a free outdoor concert and a great party. I was invited to both - the party and the concert - and of course I went there to celebrate with the party guests and the HRC staff the opening of my new 'home HRC'. Click here to see the invitation.

Karin and I drove to Amsterdam early but due to a traffic jam didn't arrive untill 3:30 pm. Of course we went to the HRC right away and saw the first signs of the Grand Opening celebrations.

Everywhere around the HRC there were signs and billboards with informations about the Grand Opening celebrations. Also the bridge to the Max Euweplein was partly closed so that the VIP guests could easily arrive at the HRC.

Directly in front of the HRC there was a special area - with a red carpet of course - where the VIP guests could enjoy the concert.
At 5 pm the free outdoor concert started. First act was a local DJ (DJ Jean) followed by SKIK, a local band. At around 7 pm the Guano Apes, a well known band from Germany, rocked Amsterdam. During the first band some other pin collectors, who had been invited (including Ulli Ratz, Stefan Winkler, Mr. Udo and Big Bernd), arrived after they survived the traffic jam too. We really had fun and I was especially happy to see my good friend Stefan Winkler again.

Before the main act started (Jonny Lang from the USA) some short speeches took place on the stage. HRC CEO Jim Berk, 'the' HRC Waitress and HRC Ambassador Rita Gilligan wished HRC Amsterdam good luck. The HRC was 'christened' by smashing a guitar on the stage - which took the folks quite some time...

After Jonny Lang rocked the stage the VIP party began. After having a glass of champagne we all went to the buffett which was a blast. Whow - that was something different from the HRC food I know (they had served hamburgers in the VIP section during the concert - but this was something totally different). From salmon and lobster to a special mexican buffett - everyhing was there. And it also was a feast for the eye too with ice sculptures and a special HRC Grand Opening cake.

Well, the drinks were good too, of course and so we enjoyed ourselfes and talked to each other and to a couple of other guests. In my opinion the party started a little bit slow - but got better and better later on. Especially when at around 11:30 pm some big folks showed up. The NFL Europe team of the Barcelona Dragons which had played against the Amsterdam Admirals (and won !) showed up and the party got going. These folks know how to party...

At around 2 am in the morning Karin and I left the party. We really enjoyed the time there. Some of the highlights included to see my old buddy Stefan Winkler and HRC Ambassador Rita again (and to see them dancing together at 1 am). Also I met for the first time HRC CEO Jim Berk. I had my special 'JBs HRC World' T-Shirt on (you might have seen it if you were in Chicago or Stockholm for the Pinfest/PinMarch). He told me that he liked the shirt a lot - but I had to tell him that JB stands for Jens Beckmann and not for Jim Berk <g>.

A special THANK YOU goes out to the guy who made this possible for me (thanks for getting this invitation for me - I know I would not have been there without your help) and to the staff of HRC Amsterdam - I know they had to work hard. This will always be a night to remember...

On May 29th 1999 HRC Amsterdam, Netherlands, celebrated its Grand Opening with a free outdoor concert and a great party. I was invited to both - the party and the concert - and of course I went there to celebrate with the party guests and the HRC staff the opening of my new 'home HRC'. Click here to see the invitation.

Karin and I drove to Amsterdam early but due to a traffic jam didn't arrive untill 3:30 pm. Of course we went to the HRC right away and saw the first signs of the Grand Opening celebrations.

Everywhere around the HRC there were signs and billboards with informations about the Grand Opening celebrations. Also the bridge to the Max Euweplein was partly closed so that the VIP guests could easily arrive at the HRC.

Directly in front of the HRC there was a special area - with a red carpet of course - where the VIP guests could enjoy the concert.
At 5 pm the free outdoor concert started. First act was a local DJ (DJ Jean) followed by SKIK, a local band. At around 7 pm the Guano Apes, a well known band from Germany, rocked Amsterdam. During the first band some other pin collectors, who had been invited (including Ulli Ratz, Stefan Winkler, Mr. Udo and Big Bernd), arrived after they survived the traffic jam too. We really had fun and I was especially happy to see my good friend Stefan Winkler again.

Before the main act started (Jonny Lang from the USA) some short speeches took place on the stage. HRC CEO Jim Berk, 'the' HRC Waitress and HRC Ambassador Rita Gilligan wished HRC Amsterdam good luck. The HRC was 'christened' by smashing a guitar on the stage - which took the folks quite some time...

After Jonny Lang rocked the stage the VIP party began. After having a glass of champagne we all went to the buffett which was a blast. Whow - that was something different from the HRC food I know (they had served hamburgers in the VIP section during the concert - but this was something totally different). From salmon and lobster to a special mexican buffett - everyhing was there. And it also was a feast for the eye too with ice sculptures and a special HRC Grand Opening cake.

Well, the drinks were good too, of course and so we enjoyed ourselfes and talked to each other and to a couple of other guests. In my opinion the party started a little bit slow - but got better and better later on. Especially when at around 11:30 pm some big folks showed up. The NFL Europe team of the Barcelona Dragons which had played against the Amsterdam Admirals (and won !) showed up and the party got going. These folks know how to party...

At around 2 am in the morning Karin and I left the party. We really enjoyed the time there. Some of the highlights included to see my old buddy Stefan Winkler and HRC Ambassador Rita again (and to see them dancing together at 1 am). Also I met for the first time HRC CEO Jim Berk. I had my special 'JBs HRC World' T-Shirt on (you might have seen it if you were in Chicago or Stockholm for the Pinfest/PinMarch). He told me that he liked the shirt a lot - but I had to tell him that JB stands for Jens Beckmann and not for Jim Berk <g>.

A special THANK YOU goes out to the guy who made this possible for me (thanks for getting this invitation for me - I know I would not have been there without your help) and to the staff of HRC Amsterdam - I know they had to work hard. This will always be a night to remember...