FLOODCOM Launch Meeting and First Steering Group Meeting 1 & 2 February 2012, Breda, Netherlands Activity Report

Wednesday 1 st February, Launch of the Floodcom Project The Floodcom Project held its launch meeting on 1 st February 2012 in Breda. The partners met at the Oude Stadhuis in the centre of the city in the Council Chamber. Alderman Willems welcomed the partners to the city and celebrated its launch. This was followed by the signing of the partnership agreement by all the partners. The Oude Stadhuis, Brea Inside the Council Chamber The logo chosen by the partners to represent the project.

Wednesday 1 st February Walking Tour of the City Centre Hans Thoolen explains about Breda’s redevelopment Partners then took part in a walking tour of the city centre, led by Hans Thoolen from the City of Breda. He explained to the partners about the redevelopment of the waterways in the city and showed them some of their innovative features, such as a pumping station. An innovative pumping station and an example of redevelopment in the city shown to partners.

Wednesday 1 st February, Press Conference The partners then travelled by coach to the Texashoeve, Rietdijk. Here a press conference was held to announce the launch of Floodcom to the European media. Floodcom Project Director Keith Lawson explains Floodcom’s aims Keith Lawson, Floodcom’s Project Director, and Alderman Willems hosted this conference where the aims of the project and the nature of the partnership was explained. Following this, the partners travelled to visit the polder and the River Mark and viewed the flood alleviation works that had taken place there. The partners learn about the history of the Rietdijk Polder Thursday 2 nd February, First Steering Group Meeting The partners held their first steering group meeting on the following day at the Apollo Hotel, Breda Centre. Here they discussed their expectations of the project, the activities they would undertake and began planning their communication strategy and technical exchanges. The partners departed in the afternoon looking forward to starting work together to learn, enjoy and achieve an interesting and satisfying project.