Amsterdam Showcase: Dutch Creativity to Inspire You

Cupidrone

What happens when the Roman god of desire meets 1987 Jessica Tandy classic ‘Batteries Not Included’? We suspect it would look something like this. For Valentine’s Day, independent agency Kingsday teamed up with production company Back2Back and director Edwin Nikkels to create a tale of love, drones and roses for the Flower Council of Holland.

It’s a Big World. Go Run It

180 Amsterdam follows its spirit animal into the wilderness with this primal campaign for sports brand Asics. Shot on location in New Zealand, it sees a lone runner join an ever-growing herd of athletes as he follows his calling. Stunning production from Somesuch and post from MPC Amsterdam.

The Cover That Judges You

Special mention to the Art Directors Club of the Netherlands for its cliché-flipping 2015 yearbook. Using facial recognition technology, Moore Amsterdam has created an annual that will not unlock unless your face is as non-judgemental as possible. Clever stuff.

Welcome to Our World

This poignantly creative use of outdoor media highlights the plight of the homeless by turning the cardboard boxes (often used as makeshift shelters) into challenging billboards. The uncompromising taglines include ‘Being homeless: not even a place to masturbate’, ensuring that this collaboration with Z! Amsterdam really shed a light on the invisible difficulties suffered by those with no home.

The World’s Most Modern Bird

If you sometimes find yourself wishing for an extra pair of hands, spare a thought for our winged friends, the birds. Superheroes and Minivegas helped evolve things a little for a flock of busy birds in this pleasingly silly campaign for Asus.

The Match

Heineken takes to the ocean with some salty seadogs in this spectacular yet endearing spot from Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam and Sonny director Fredrik Bond.

Your Kiss is Your Stamp

Joe Public Amsterdam joins forces with PostNL for a Valentine’s Day project that puts the humble love letter back in the spotlight by allowing romantics to use a lipstick mark instead of a stamp.

The Human Clock

There’s no escaping the passage of time, so why not embrace it? We Are Pi launched The Human Clock for TedXAmsterdam, aiming to get 86,400 people to submit a one-second clip of their face to build a living digital timepiece.

TNT ‘The People Network’

Keep on trucking with this gymnastic spot from Etcetera/DDB and PostPanic. Drivers for logistics firm TNT were recruited to create human trucks in this ambitious yet playful spot that served as a bit of a refresh for the brand.

Dog with a Mission

Selmore made its way into our hearts – and the hearts of the Dutch people – with this campaign that was a real favourite with the public. This spot for KNGF Guide Dogs shows a man in a wheelchair post flyers with the help of his canine chum.

Night Walks

This collaboration between 72andSunny Amsterdam and MediaMonks turns functional old Google Maps into a rather enchanting story.

Great Things Start with Netflix

AKQA Amsterdam and Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam joined forces for a campaign that celebrates the power of a personalised Netflix recommendation. The campaign, which is rolling out in the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands and Nordic region, sees some fans indulge in outlandish behaviour after being immersed in a Netflix binge.