2015 - Vis à Vis theatre company
Theatre company Vis à Vis has been performing spectacular theatre in the outdoors for 25 years. At their core, all performances depict "the hilarious, desperate struggle for survival of the stranded man in a desolate location".
In 1990, Vis à Vis produced its first show: Topolino, an unexpected hit with three Fiat 500s, which immediately took the theatre company on a world tour. In 2007, Vis à Vis produced its first performance, which was only performed in the woods near Almere Poort; 'Bij Nacht en Ontij' (At Night and Dusk). These are the first exploratory steps towards a permanent location. In 2010, Silo 8 premieres, a show that is not suitable for travelling due to its large scale. From now on, Vis à Vis wants to stay at a fixed location and control ticket sales, grounds and programming itself.
Performances HaRT, PICNIC and EXIT followed, for which they received rave reviews. Vis à Vis is experiencing tremendous growth and also attracts many visitors every year. The theatre company performs more than 55 shows per season. In 2010 and 2011, for instance, some fifty thousand visitors saw SILO 8 and HaRT attracted more than forty thousand in 2012 and 2013. Light comedy, stunning and theatrical spectacle and ingenious storylines always lead the audience 'with a wink along the abyss of heavy dilemmas', in which 'the human dimension always plays the leading role'.
Mayor Annemarie Jorritsma waves goodbye*
Annemarie Jorritsma-Lebbink (1950) served as mayor of Almere from 2003 to 2015. Her political career began on 5 September 1978 in Bolsward, where she became a councillor for the VVD. Starting as a member of parliament in 1982, she went on to become Minister of Transport and Water Management during the Kok I cabinet and, with Kok II, Minister of Economic Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. When Jorritsma loses the election as speaker of parliament in 2002, she leaves the Lower House. She then became acting mayor of Delfzijl. She likes the mayoralty so much that she applies for the position in Almere. And with success, as Jorritsma is mayor of Almere for 12 years from 2003. She "goes for Almere, because there is still so much to arrange there". She puts Almere on the map with her strong personality and at the same time as a networker pur sang. She continues to connect people, which also comes in handy in her many ancillary functions. In addition to this job, she also served as chairman of the VNG for seven years. In 2015, Mayor Jorritsma waved goodbye to return to national politics. On 9 June 2015, she became a member of the Upper House for the VVD and a few months after that, on 24 November 2015, parliamentary group chairman.
Throughout her career, themes of safety, personal responsibility and civic participation have been central; she was knighted in 2002 and Commandeur in de Orde van Oranje Nassau in 2015.
30-year anniversary of Almeerse Reddings Brigade*
In this same year, on 6 March, the Almeerse Reddings Brigade will celebrate its 30th anniversary. This voluntary organisation has been committed to safety on and around the waters of Almere since 1985. Chairman Patricia van den Hoek-Werkman: "We train more than a hundred new lifeguards every year, making the city safer. All our volunteers deserve kudos for their commitment to everyone's safety in our city of Almere."
*The Walk of Fame Almere got not one but two tiles in 2015. One for theatre company Vis à Vis which is celebrating its 25th anniversary and one for former mayor Annemarie Jorritsma. As the founder of the Walk of Fame Almere, she worked hard for these tiles featuring Almere's history. As ambassador, she made it possible for Rabobank Almere to realise this Walk of Fame Almere at prominent locations in the city. Moreover, Annemarie Jorritsma freed up her calendar every year for the unveiling. Rabobank Almere is very grateful to her for that.