PEOPLE

Benno Leeser, patriarch of family business GASSAN, leads Amsterdam's largest diamond trader as President and CEO. In the context of the celebration of the city's 750th anniversary: ​​what would he do if he were mayor for a day, what is his hidden gem in the city and who is his greatest Amsterdam hero?

What does Amsterdam mean to them? What would they do if they were mayor for a day? What are the secret addresses in Amsterdam? And what novelties will they show the visitors of MASTERS SUMMER EDITION? The summer sister of MASTERS EXPO will transform the prestigious De L'Europe Amsterdam into a true fairytale hotel from 19 to 21 June. Here, the summer and 750 years of Amsterdam will be celebrated in style for three days. It is the turn of sound king and participant Jobs Brussee from Bang & Olufsen Brussee to share his view of our Mokum.

The (culinary) world is in deep mourning. The Netherlands' only three-star chef Jonnie Boer of the Zwolle Librije is no more. His important mark on the culinary world will always remain: a master chef, but above all a special and real person. Colleagues, friends and acquaintances share their memories in a tribute to the unexpectedly deceased master in the kitchen. 

She is still the figurehead of disabled sports in the Netherlands. As a wheelchair tennis player, Esther Vergeer remained undefeated for 2003 matches in a row from 2012 to 470, won gold seven times during the Paralympic Games and was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame. She is still active at the highest level in the sport at the age of 43. Jaap de Groot spoke extensively with Esther Vergeer about her current activities and ambitions.

On the football field, Ruud Boymans was known for his goal-orientedness, but these days he mainly scores off the pitch with the motto 'breaking barriers'. With the experience he gained from organizing the famous No Art festivals, he managed to bring big names from the music world to the Netherlands via SONA, together with co-founders Bora Guney and Omid Kahali. MASTERS spoke to him: ''Just like in football, you work towards that one moment when everything has to be right. That's why I see entrepreneurship as a form of top sport.''

From 1988 to 2012, Anky van Grunsven competed no fewer than seven times during the Olympic Games and won nine medals, including three gold. But not only that. During and after her career, she built a business empire, with an impressive horse complex in her birthplace Erp as its beating heart. On the eve of the Olympic Games in Paris, Jaap de Groot talks extensively with the woman who apparently guarantees gold in everything. “Top sport and performance is my goal.”

Stuurmen is a branding agency specialized in building catchy brands for premium products and services. MASTERS talked to founders Stijn de Jong and Frank van Oudhuizen: “There is a lot of mediocrity in the market, and that is fatal for business success. Market leaders are never mediocre.”

During MASTERS SUMMER EDITION, summer will be heralded and celebrated together in the prestigious De L'Europe Amsterdam. MASTERS talks to Managing Director Robert-Jan Woltering. After his last position as regional vice president of Mexico and Central America at Accor Luxury Brands, he felt it was time to return home: 'Now I have the best job in the Netherlands. I have the honor to run the pearl of Amsterdam.'

Forbes recently released the brand new '30 under 30 list'; a global ranking of game changers under the age of 30. The class of 2024 also includes Dutchman Menno van der Zee. Together with co-founder Alex Wallar, he founded The Routing Company with the mission to organize public transport worldwide as logically and efficiently as possible. But how did the Dutchman experience his own journey to this milestone? "Don't be afraid to ask for help and don't let your ego get in the way of growing your business."

He was one of the first to bring Italian flair to the Netherlands. Giuseppe Cavallaro is at the helm of his fashion empire Cavallaro Napoli and wants to make people look better with his company. And with success. He is now allowed to place his logo on nineteen stores and 250 points of sale and many men are spotted in his refined clothing. A conversation with the fashion man – who breathes 'fare la bella figura' – about the special origins of his trunk, the fashion sensitivity of the Dutch man, the biggest challenges, his Italian heritage and Italian style.

Spencer Tunick (1967) recently exhibited with Public Interventions at the Reflex Amsterdam gallery. The American visual artist is known worldwide for his colossal nude photography and human installations in urban and natural environments. MASTERS spoke to him during his very first gallery exhibition in the Netherlands.

Recently, 24-year-old skating champion Jutta Leerdam made her relationship with American YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul Instagram official. Reason enough to go back in time. MASTERS spoke to the - then 20-year-old - ice queen in 2019 about her life, her skating career, the world title and the future. A masterful throwback to 2019…

The Dutch, independent record company Armada Music has been scoring worldwide for 20 years with names such as Armin van Buuren and Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano. In the new section 'A Get-Together With...' MASTERS talks to 'the man behind', co-founder & CEO Maykel Piron (47), to get to know the entrepreneur.