The internet is an essential part of young people's lives and plays an increasingly important role in their personal development. For LGBTQIA+ youth, this role is often crucial. This digital environment thus forms a safe first step in a process of self-discovery. Initiatives and communities where young people can turn anonymously for support and information, such as Jong&Out and Switchboard by COC Netherlands, demonstrate how important safe digital spaces are.

For many young people, that search begins small and personal: with a question in a search bar. That is precisely why the search bar is the central campaign element, symbolizing the online search for oneself: the first place where many people ask questions in complete freedom, find recognition, and discover who they are step by step. It is precisely those first moments that determine whether someone dares to develop further. In this process, the internet can act as an accelerator for self-acceptance and self-confidence.

At the same time, that same online environment is not safe for everyone. The 2024 LGBTQA+ Monitor shows that all surveyed LGBTQA+ groups experience online hate comments more frequently than cis-hetero respondents. Figures from the Safety Monitor also show that LGBTQIA+ individuals are victims of online crime more often than non-LGBTQIA+ individuals, including online threats, intimidation, and bullying. This makes it clear that digital safety and inclusion are inextricably linked.

With this campaign, KPN brings this tension together. By sharing personal stories, KPN shows how the internet can help people find themselves, but also that this development is only possible when the digital environment is designed to be safe, accessible, and inclusive. With advice from experts such as Rutgers, the expertise center for sexuality in the Netherlands , the lived experiences of young people are carefully considered.

KPN Official Technology Partner WorldPride Amsterdam 2026

For many people, Pride is a moment of visibility and connection, but not everyone has the freedom or opportunity to be physically present. That is why KPN explicitly aligns with the theme UNITY during WorldPride, in which connection also revolves around access.

As Official Technology Partner of Pride Amsterdam, KPN is once again deploying the award-winning Pride stream boat. This boat, equipped with the safe and reliable technology KPN is known for, makes it possible to stream the Canal Parade live to the whole world.

This way, everyone – wherever in the world – can sail along online with the KPN boat and be part of the moment. For people in countries where celebrating Pride openly is not a given or is even risky, the livestream offers a way to stay connected with the global community. Connectedness, therefore, is not just about being together, but also, and perhaps even more importantly, about being able to participate.

Throughout the campaign, the search bar reappears in various ways, and during the Canal Parade, this central campaign element is literally brought to life. A life-sized search bar displays real search queries that have helped people worldwide on their personal journeys of discovery. In this way, KPN shows how online connection can contribute to the freedom to be yourself – during the Canal Parade in Amsterdam and far beyond. By actively involving viewers and allowing them to share their own search queries, a collective story emerges in which personal experiences converge. UNITY thus gains meaning on two levels: on the water and online.

A #BetterInternet for the LGBTQIA+ community

The new Pride campaign is part of KPN's broader commitment to a better internet. With #BeterInternet, KPN is working on a digital environment that is safer, more social, and more inclusive, especially for people for whom online visibility is particularly important.

Previous initiatives such as Pride Verified, which focused on online hate against the community, and Loud & Proud, in which stories contribute to visibility and acceptance, show that this commitment is structural. With the new Pride campaign, KPN builds on this and brings it back to the core: an internet where everyone has the space to discover themselves.

KPN Pride: inclusion as the foundation of employership

That conviction starts within the organization itself. KPN actively works on diversity and inclusion and on a work environment where employees feel safe and free to be themselves. The internal network KPN Pride plays an important role in this and advocates for the interests of LGBTQIA+ employees.

This translates into concrete measures. For instance, the collective labor agreement stipulates that maternity leave also applies to rainbow families and that employees undergoing gender transition receive additional leave. Partly due to this, KPN received the Winq Workplace Award in the past, an acknowledgment for organizations actively committed to a safe and inclusive work environment.

Outside the organization, KPN also actively contributes to the LGBTQIA+ community, including through initiatives such as the Pink Christmas Dinner for the elderly and long-term support for scientific research into acceptance in the workplace.

“KPN is committed to diversity, freedom, and equality, both in the workplace and beyond, offline and online. We believe in the power that diverse teams and an inclusive and equitable organizational culture bring. Regardless of who you are, everyone benefits from it. That is why we continue to work on diversity and inclusion. That is good for our colleagues, for KPN, and for the customer,” says Chief People Officer and KPN Executive Board member Hilde Garssen.

"We are delighted that KPN supports the Rijksmuseum in its mission to connect people, art and history. Together with KPN, we will enable even more people to enjoy the wonderful art in the Rijksmuseum. The fact that KPN is, at its heart, a Dutch company, with millions of people in the Netherlands connected to it, makes it a particularly good fit with the Rijksmuseum", Taco Dibbits, General Director of the Rijksmuseum.

“KPN connects the Netherlands, and art has the power to move and connect people. As a Founder, together with the Rijksmuseum, we are investing in the best art experience, including digitally. From connectivity in the museum to new features in the app: this makes it increasingly easy for everyone to experience, share, and pass on art”, Joost Farwerck, CEO of KPN. 

KPN, the leading Dutch mobile and internet provider, has been the museum’s main partner since the reopening of the Rijksmuseum in 2013. Since then, the company has made a substantial financial contribution while also supporting the museum in the areas of connectivity and IT.

KPN was the digital partner of Operation Night Watch, the largest and most extensive research project ever conducted into Rembrandt’s most famous work. In addition, the company co-developed the Rijksmuseum app, through which millions of visitors continue to make free use of interactive multimedia tours. KPN was also involved in the development of Collection Online, the digital platform through which the collection can be accessed digitally, worldwide. This AI-driven database makes 800,000 artworks and 500,000 books digitally searchable for everyone in the world from a single central location. Later this year, 800 metres of archival documentation will be added.

In summer 2024, KPN donated the sculptures Signaal 1 and Signaal 2 by Dutch artist Carel Visser to the Rijksmuseum. These sculptures, which stood outside the headquarters of the former Postal Cheque and Giro Service (PTT) from the 1960s, are now on view in the Rijksmuseum gardens.

From 2001, Philips was associated with the Rijksmuseum in the role of Founder. The Rijksmuseum is pleased that Philips is continuing its relationship with the Rijksmuseum as a partner and continues to contribute to the significance of art and culture for society.

Precisely at a time when millions of Dutch people are following the Oranje team at the World Cup, KPN and the KNVB are making clear how they will be working together in the coming years. Within the extended sponsorship agreement, they are focusing on three areas: a strong and reliable digital foundation for the KNVB, an improved digital fan experience for the Oranje and the Oranje Leeuwinnen, and support for amateur football with practical digital solutions.

Together behind Orange

The extension builds upon the existing sponsorship and IT partnership. KPN will continue to provide connectivity and digital support within the KNVB organization. In addition, KPN and the KNVB are working on digital applications that enhance the fan experience surrounding the Dutch national team and assist amateur clubs with their further digitalization.

Joost Farwerck, CEO of KPN: “A tournament like this shows just how much football connects the Netherlands. In such situations, you need to be able to rely on the infrastructure working. Thanks to our networks, millions of people can follow the game without delay and share their football moment instantly. With the KNVB, we are continuing to build a partnership in which technology supports football and connects people.”

From top-level football to amateur clubs

The sponsorship relationship focuses on the full breadth of Dutch football. In addition to the national team and the women's national team, extra attention will be paid to amateur clubs. KPN and the KNVB are exploring how digital solutions can practically assist clubs, both organizationally and sportively. In this way, the impact of major Orange moments should also become visible at clubs throughout the country.

In addition, KPN and the KNVB are continuing to focus on digital channels, including E_Oranje, the KNVB's Gen Z platform. In doing so, they are responding to how new generations of fans follow football: live, digitally, and always connected.

KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds

In addition, KPN and the KNVB continue to invest in initiatives that contribute to more inclusive football. Through the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds , the growth of Walking Football at amateur clubs is supported, aimed at actively involving older people at risk of social isolation.

Long-term collaboration

The new agreement runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030. KPN remains 'Partner of Football'. Running parallel to this is the integrated IT and telecom collaboration, which forms the basis for further digitalization and innovation towards 2030.

Nearly 750,000 households in the Netherlands struggle with problematic debt. This situation often leads to long-term stress, uncertainty, and health problems. Due to the lack of financial buffers, small setbacks can quickly escalate into complex situations in which people lose perspective. This calls for an approach that transcends domain boundaries.

Integrated cooperation needed

Effective debt relief requires a broad and coherent approach. Debt rarely exists in isolation; it's often linked to issues like work, health, and housing. The current fragmentation in debt management leads to societal costs of at least €8.5 billion annually, due to factors such as absenteeism and lost productivity. Marieke Snoep, member of the KPN Board of Directors and also a member of the SFGN steering committee, emphasizes the importance of this collaborative effort: “The foundation of financial health is recognizing people's good intentions. That's why I find this hackathon so powerful. The real story is key. Thinking not from assumptions, but from empathy. Looking at what helps people, what hinders them, and where technology can support rather than burden them. With this hackathon, we've made a positive contribution to this. I'm proud of that.” During the hackathon on January 28th and 29th, government agencies, implementing organizations, social partners, and various major employers and financial institutions—including KPN and Nationale-Nederlanden—pooled their knowledge and data. Multidisciplinary teams developed concrete prototypes and concepts such as data-driven early warning, a digital debt overview, and "Next Best Actions": personalized and proportionate interventions at the right time. All with respect for privacy and social security.

KPN's commitment

KPN actively identifies customers' payment problems early on and supports them with appropriate solutions, such as flexible payment plans. Furthermore, KPN provides technology, data expertise, and facilities to collaborate with public and social partners to achieve improvements in the debt relief chain, within the framework of privacy legislation and regulations.

Looking ahead

The hackathon has yielded valuable insights and concrete starting points. This will significantly contribute to the shared ambition of reducing the number of financially vulnerable households in the Netherlands by 50 percent by 2030.

Digital safety is a growing concern. In 2024, 2.4 million Dutch people fell victim to online crime, according to the CBS. Yet many people do not know how to protect themselves against it. 

Control over digital resilience 
"KPN is committed to making the Netherlands more digitally resilient,” says Marieke Snoep, responsible for the Consumer Market and a member of KPN's Board of Directors. “Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly clever and exploit the lack of knowledge and skills, which is why we still click on that one link. We help with technology by providing free extra protection for your home internet connection and by increasing knowledge with the platform digitale-weerbaarheid.nl. In addition, our employees will go out into the country with SeniorWeb to personally support people. Together, we increase digital resilience.”

Volunteers from KPN and SeniorWeb 
The on-site assistance on October 8 will be provided by KPN volunteers who are committed through the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds. This fund connects KPN employees to social initiatives that contribute to inclusion and digital accessibility. On this day, they join forces with the volunteers from SeniorWeb. Together, they are ready to help visitors with their digital questions and to raise awareness. “Many people have questions but do not always know where to turn," says René Kuster, director at SeniorWeb. “It’s great that we can now offer an accessible place together with KPN. Everyone is welcome with all kinds of digital questions, such as about phishing or creating strong passwords. This aligns well with what we do every day: helping people with their digital questions in a reliable way. Just personally, in the store, library, or community center.”

Help Moments: all questions are welcome 
On October 8, participating KPN stores or SeniorWeb locations will be open for visitors.  No appointment is necessary; you can walk in freely. Visit our website for a list of participating locations and the times when volunteers will be present.

More about digital resilience 
KPN is committed to a #BetterInternet: not only faster and more stable but also safer, more social, and greener. That is why KPN collaborates with SeniorWeb, a national association aimed at making the digital world understandable. The 'Help Moments' during the Day of Digital Resilience are the beginning of this collaboration. More information can be found at kpn.com/seniorweb. Earlier, KPN launched the platform digital resilience in collaboration with ING, which offers free training sessions. These training sessions explain how to deal with phishing, WhatsApp fraud, spoofing, and social engineering. Read here for more information about the various training sessions. 

Home Free against online exclusion
Young people are spending more and more time in group chats such as Snapchat, WhatsApp and Instagram, on average around 4.1 hours a day. As a result, online exclusion is becoming increasingly common; a form of bullying where someone is deliberately ignored, blocked, or removed online. The song ‘Home Free’, which also serves as the soundtrack to the short film ‘Iedereen Behalve’ (‘Everyone Except’), captures the impact of online exclusion and the role bystanders play. “My song Home Free reflects the loneliness and sadness caused by the pressure the digital world can put on young people,” says S10. “When people turn against you online, it can feel endless, as if it will never stop. At those times, I wish I could just say ‘home free,’ so I wouldn’t have to keep hiding. And to the bystanders: with even the smallest gesture, anyone can bring a little light into someone else’s life. One message, one comment, one bystander speaking up… that can make all the difference.”

Social isolation and depression caused by online exclusion
New research by Helpwanted, in collaboration with School & Veiligheid and Dr. Remco Spithoven from Saxion University of Applied Sciences, shows how widespread the issue is among young people aged 10 to 20: more than half have experienced being excluded online at some point, and as many as one in four (23%) face it at least once a month. Online exclusion can lead to serious psychological effects such as insomnia, social isolation, and depressive feelings. Young people who are excluded online report feeling mainly sad (42%), angry (35%), and lonely (30%). About a quarter (25%) regularly feel depressed or down because of online exclusion. “These figures highlight how group chats, as a social environment, have a huge impact on young people’s wellbeing,” says Rivka Otten of Helpwanted, a helpline for online transgressive behavior. “It is alarming that young people feel so lonely after being excluded online, yet only a small percentage receive help. It is essential to encourage them to break through group behavior and speak up as soon as they see something that isn’t okay. The message is clear: Stand up for each other. Also online.”

Peer pressure is strong for bystanders
The role of bystanders is crucial. A third of young people (33%) have at some point felt pressured to join in with online exclusion. While many want to intervene, the biggest barrier is fear of negative consequences for themselves (64%). Dr. Remco Spithoven, social scientist and professor of Online Resilience at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, explains:  “Young people are in a stage of life where social validation is extremely important. This makes them more vulnerable to peer pressure. That’s precisely why we need to equip them with the skills to recognize this pressure and to turn it into something positive.”

The Week Against Bullying: an opportunity for dialogue
“The research shows that young people believe adults underestimate the seriousness of the problem,” says Marijke van der Zalm of School & Veiligheid. “69% of young people report that teachers are unaware of how often online exclusion occurs, and 68% believe that schools should do more to prevent it. That’s why, during the Week Against Bullying, taking place from 22 to 26 September, School & Veiligheid together with KPN will offer an interactive module that shows young people the moments in which they, as bystanders, can make a difference.”

How was your day online?
This initiative was made possible with the support of KPN and is backed by Helpwanted, School & Veiligheid, Stop Pesten Nu, De Kindertelefoon and Dr. Remco Spithoven. The song ‘Home Free’ and the film ‘Iedereen Behalve’ (‘Everyone Except’) are part of a broader campaign aimed at starting the conversation about online exclusion and raising awareness among young people, parents, and teachers about both its impact and the responsibility of bystanders. As part of its mission to make the internet better, KPN is committed to creating a safer, more social, and greener online world. Following last year’s campaign with MEAU about online shaming, KPN is now focusing on online exclusion. Because the internet should be a place that connects and empowers people, not one that excludes or divides. With these initiatives, KPN wants to spark conversations, also at home. So that parents don’t just ask how school was, but also: “How was your day online?”

For more information see www.kpn.com/iedereen-behalve

Two separate worlds
Recent research shows that parents often lack sufficient insight into their children's digital lives. A staggering one in four parents (26%) has little to no insight into their child's online activities. At the same time, a full nine out of ten children between the ages of ten and seventeen (89%) say they would definitely go to their parents if something bothered them, as long as they expect their parents to understand.

“How was your day online?”
To help parents gain more insight into and control over their children's online lives, KPN offers practical tips for having open and positive conversations about the internet at kpn.com/beterinternet . The company is also launching a video series in which parents and children independently answer questions about the uncertainties they experience online.

Because many parents want to, but simply don't fully understand the digital world of teenagers. By providing insight into popular apps, online behavior, and hidden risks, KPN helps parents be involved and start the conversation, every single day. Simply asking, "How was your day online?" can make a world of difference.

#BetterInternet​

The video series is KPN's next step in its mission to create a safer, more social, and greener internet. A place where everyone can participate. Click here for more information.

“These people fought for their visibility and rights before the internet era and now see how that fight continues online. By sharing their stories online, we show that being yourself is not a fad,” says Hilde Garssen, Chief People Officer and member of the Executive Board of KPN. “As an employer but also as a company at the heart of society, we stand for a Better Internet where the LGBTQIA+ community feels safe and comfortable.”

Marjet Bos (73 years old) is one of the participants in the campaign. Marjet has been committed to the LGBTQIA+ community for years. In her video, she emphasizes the importance of visibility and representation. She emphasizes that being queer is a lifelong reality: "We have always been here and we will always be here." In addition to Marjet, Gerard Robben (73 years old) and Flip Strik (75 years old) are also portrayed. They all grew up without examples. Without words for what they felt. And without the internet, a place that could have opened up a world full of recognition, knowledge and connection.

KPN sails on all Pride boats

In addition to the campaign, the boats during the Canal Parade will again be equipped with smart sensors from KPN this year. These IoT sensors ensure that the boats remain at the correct distance from each other and can be accurately located at any time. In this way, KPN contributes to the safety of the largest boat parade in the Netherlands. KPN has also supported the Canal Parade with technology in recent years as an official technology partner. In 2015, KPN won a prize for a completely empty boat with a 360° camera. This allowed people all over the world, including in countries where LGBTQIA+ is prohibited, to follow Pride live.

KPN Pride

As an employer, KPN has an active policy in the area of diversity and inclusion and strives for a safe and free environment for all employees. The KPN Pride network specifically promotes the interests of LGBTQIA+ employees. For example, the employment conditions stipulate that maternity leave also applies to rainbow families and that employees in gender transition are given leave. Partly because of this, KPN won the Winq Workplace Award, intended for companies that actively work towards a safe working environment for everyone. Based on its social involvement, KPN also supports the LGBTQIA+ community outside the company. For example, KPN supported a chair at Leiden University as the main sponsor for five years in order to contribute to scientific insights into inclusion in the workplace.

The lives of young people are largely played out online. Online dating and sexting are therefore part of relational and sexual development and are therefore experienced by many young people as fun and exciting. Research shows that 1 in 8 young people have engaged in 'sexting' in the past six months, for example by sending an intimate photo of themselves to someone. For these young people, this is an accessible way of flirting and entering into relationships. Sexting only becomes a problem if boundaries are crossed within this contact, yours or the other person's. #BeterInternet offers not only knowledge and tools on how to keep online contact fun and healthy , but also the right help if boundaries are crossed.

“Piece of Me with the message Think before you forward brought our organizations together. Together we have succeeded in putting the subject on the social agenda. This is not just a campaign but a theme that we are committed to for the long term,” says Joost Farwerck CEO of KPN and board member of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds. “Moreover, we realize that this concerns a large group of young people who are at risk of becoming socially isolated. That is why we continue to commit ourselves together with the three partners who were also involved last year.” The KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds has been committed to stimulating social contact for people for whom this is not self-evident for over 17 years.

“Now is the time to convert that peak in attention into sustainable impact. As long as young people have insufficient knowledge of online sexual abuse and online sexual harassment, its impact is underestimated and respect and consent are not self-evident in our society, young people will remain vulnerable. Prevention and structural behavioral change are therefore crucial,” says Nathalie Gaal-Franse, policy advisor at Fonds Slachtofferhulp .

Manouk Vermeulen, from Rutgers, says: “It is important that young people can also grow up safely online, this collaboration contributes to that.” Evelien Spek, from Soa Aids Nederland, adds: “We are grateful for the opportunity that the KPN Mooiste Contactfonds offers us. Thanks to this unique collaboration, we are working on both sides of the coin: giving young people the tools to keep their online world fun and safe. Together we focus on good information provision and structural behavioral change— online, at home with parents and at school.”

Official national championship
On Saturday 19 April, the competition day starts with the quarter finals in Zeist, where the esports players of Ajax, AZ, Almere City, Feyenoord, FC Twente, FC Utrecht, Heracles Almelo and Willem II will compete against each other. Of the eight clubs, four clubs will advance to the semi-finals, where the two finalists will be determined. The semi-finals and the final will be played in the Rijksmuseum, surrounded by the heroes of the past.

There is a lot at stake. During the denouement of the eighth season of the KPN eDivisie, it will be determined who can officially call themselves national champion for a year. In addition, the clubs play for qualification for the most important international tournaments. The winner and runner-up qualify directly for the FC Pro World Championship and the top four qualify for the prestigious eChampions League.

The fusion of sport and culture
The Rijksmuseum will be the battleground for the first time this year. The Dutch esports masters will compete against each other under the paintings of the original Dutch Masters. “We saw a unique opportunity. As the main sponsor of the Rijksmuseum for many years and as the naming partner of the KPN eDivisie, we can not only introduce young generations to the treasures of the Rijksmuseum, but also bring sports and culture together, all through gaming on the best network in the Netherlands,” says Mark Versteegen, Director of Sponsoring at KPN.

"Dutch Masters meet in perhaps the most beautiful spot in the Netherlands. Old meets young. I think history will be written again," says Jan de Jong, director of the Eredivisie. "The digital speed of action with the Dutch championship at stake, in a unique setting for me of real art, unprecedented beauty and perfection. I call that Dutch pride," De Jong continues.

Because is there anything that has given the Netherlands more world fame than our football and paintings? De Jong is certain of the opposite: “Both forms are, however you look at it, important ingredients of our cultural heritage. And now they come together. It can’t be otherwise: these images are going around the world.”

KPN eDivisie awards and its emerging talents
In addition to the final, three awards will be presented in the museum's hall of fame, in the categories: Player of the Year, Talent of the Year, Goal of the Year and an Appreciation Award for a former champion of the KPN eDivisie, to express a word of thanks and to show what this player has meant to the eDivisie competition.

Before the final of the pros, the best amateurs of the Netherlands get the chance to play themselves into the spotlight of the eighteen Eredivisie clubs. They compete against each other for the KPN eDivisie Cup, which is organized especially for talented gamers. The winner of this Cup wins €2000 in prize money and a GXTrust Gaming Chair.

Broadcast worldwide
The championship will be broadcasted worldwide, so fans can follow it live. The finals start at 20:00. In the Netherlands, the matches can be followed via ESPN and via the YouTube and Twitch channels of KPN eDivisie. Internationally, the event can be followed live via the YouTube and Twitch channels of EA SPORTS FC.

KPN has been a fan of Dutch football for years

Football fans are in good hands with KPN, thanks to the main ESPN channel in the basic package, everyone can watch the matches in the Eredivisie. In addition, KPN offers Goal Alerts from the 2025/2026 season, so you are immediately informed about the progress of your favorite club from the Eredivisie, wherever you are at that moment. This way, you know immediately via KPN who has scored, you can watch the winning goal back immediately and you can watch the summary immediately after the match. As a partner of the KNVB, KPN supports Dutch football in its full breadth, from amateur football to Oranje and from the Lionesses to the KPN eDivisie.

Participants

The following esports players will compete against each other:

• Levi de Weerd, Ajax
• Chris de Boer, AZ
• Giovanni Bakhuijsen, Almere City
• Talha Demirel, Feyenoord
• Brent Weerink, FC Twente
• Max Koelemaij, FC Utrecht
• Collin Dekkers, Heracles Almelo
• Luuk Wijdeveld, Willem II

#BetterInternet

KPN is making the international plea based on the conviction that a better internet is only possible if the players who shape the digital world join forces. Organisations that sign the cooperation agreement for #BetterInternet declare that they will work together in the field of online safety, an accessible internet for everyone, protection of minors, a more sustainable digital infrastructure, responsible internet use and international cooperation. The Dutch provider presented the call during MWC Barcelona.

Logical continuation

The international initiative is a logical continuation of KPN's national mission. Under the banner of #BeterInternet, the provider has taken several steps in recent years to make the internet in its own country safer, more social and greener. For example, it launched a TikTok talk show for young people, improved the accessibility of the internet for people with support needs and made the energy supply of the Dutch network more sustainable. In addition, millions of young people were reached with Stukje van mij, a campaign against the unwanted forwarding of nude images, in collaboration with singer MEAU, Stichting Rutgers, Fonds Slachtofferhulp, Helpwanted and Soa Aids Nederland.

An international approach

Because the internet is not bound by national borders, KPN is now advocating an international approach. Marieke Snoep, Chief Consumer Officer at KPN: “We are all responsible for an internet that helps society move forward. Companies, NGOs and research institutions can each make a valuable contribution based on their specific expertise. Various other organizations have expressed their support, and we look forward to working together to create a better internet.”

KPN published the plea in English on kpn.com/betterinternet .

Best mobile network

This is not the only news about KPN during MWC Barcelona. Benchmark organization Umlaut named KPN's mobile network as the best in the Netherlands with the highest score worldwide. KPN received a score of 989 on a scale of 1,000, the highest score the organization has ever given. In addition to user tests, the research is based on technical network measurements at numerous locations in all large and medium-sized cities, in more remote locations, on highways and provincial roads and from public transport.

A majority of respondents (51%) prefer texting to calling. At the same time, almost half of respondents (47.5%) acknowledge that a phone call or visit would often have been better than sending a message. Furthermore, research shows that a third of Dutch people have days when they do not speak to anyone in person. Some 30% consider their social contacts to be insufficient. These trends are worrying because a lack of contact can be a precursor to loneliness.

The human need for real contact
More than 15% of respondents pick up the phone less than once a month to call a loved one. 1 in 4 people think they receive too few visits, and this percentage is slightly higher for people aged 30 to 50. 30% dare to say more via a message (via email, WhatsApp or other apps) than in a personal conversation. A large majority of respondents agree with the statement that they make and receive fewer calls due to the advent of smartphones. And more than half of people find it difficult to start a conversation with someone who is busy with their smartphone. However, the figures also show that there is a need for conscious human contact. More than 45% of people want to invest more in real conversations and visits in 2025, a promising step towards breaking the poverty of contact.

Most Beautiful Contact Month
This research was conducted in the context of the Mooiste Contact Month. This month is intended to make people aware of the fact that they can take action themselves to reduce contact poverty, for example by stopping scrolling for a moment and making personal contact through a phone call or visit. The month is an initiative of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds; an independent foundation that has been committed to strengthening social contact since 2007. Together with social partners, the fund uses technology, people and resources to support vulnerable groups and create meaningful connections. The fund takes initiatives that connect people with the world around them, such as KlasseContact, which brings seriously ill children who are unable to go to school back into contact with the classroom.

The upcoming anniversary edition promises to be another connecting mega event. As main sponsor, KPN makes it possible for the many crews, the more than two million visitors and all fans to be connected carefree during SAIL. In addition, KPN provides secure and fast mutual connectivity for the entire SAIL organization. Among other things with additional mobile coverage on and around the IJ and with the SAIL Social Boot . As a result, millions of visitors, at the event, at home or on the road, can enjoy #SAIL2025 to the fullest. KPN also made a crucial contribution to SAIL in 2010 and 2015.

Joost Farwerck, CEO at KPN: “SAIL2025 is about the power of mutual connection. Between people, on and around the water. This is therefore a unique opportunity for us to ensure good connectivity for everyone in this area, where hundreds of thousands of visitors come every day, with our people, technology and expertise. We look forward to supporting this special anniversary edition of SAIL, during Amsterdam’s birthday.”

Mitra van Raalten, director of the SAIL Amsterdam foundation: “KPN is a dream partner for SAIL: sustainable, innovative and successfully connecting. It is fantastic that KPN is once again on board to help make the upcoming anniversary edition possible. KPN ensures a good connection for visitors, crew and everyone in the organization! In this way, we work together towards August 2025: when ships from all over the world will moor in our capital city celebrating its anniversary!”

In addition to KPN, the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds (MCF) is also contributing to SAIL 2025. Mark Versteegen, director of KPN MCF: "SAIL is by and for everyone, and should therefore be as accessible as possible. That is why the fund makes the so-called 'SAIL Together' cruises possible. During these cruises, approximately 6,000 people are invited, for whom social contact and a visit to SAIL are not self-evident. Accompanied by 600 KPN employees, they board various ships and experience the anniversary edition from the water." With this participation, the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds is one of the Social Impact Partners of SAIL 2025.

About SAIL 2025:
SAIL 2025 (20 to 24 August 2025) is organised by the SAIL Amsterdam Foundation. The foundation was established in 1977 after the success of the first SAIL edition in 1975, in honour of 700 years of Amsterdam. In 2025 we will therefore celebrate a triple anniversary: 10 editions and 50 years of SAIL during the 750th anniversary of our capital. As the largest event in the Netherlands, SAIL is only possible with the help of countless volunteers, partners and sponsors. RTL, Booking.com, Heineken, Sligro, Tommy Hilfiger, Verpact, Heren2 and KPN are already on board as Presenting Partners (main sponsor). More information at www.sail.nl or via the SAIL app, available in the various app stores. SAIL 2025: United by Waves.

In modern-day society, with its ever-expanding technological possibilities, digital resilience is an important issue. This means that we all have to work on increasing our digital resilience. KPN and ING are therefore launching the “Unlock Digital Resilience” campaign in close coordination with the police and the government, as announced in July. ING and KPN are developing the campaign in collaboration with the Lowercase foundation.

Marieke Snoep, member of the KPN Management Board responsible for the Consumer Market: “Technology like artificial intelligence creates new opportunities that help us move forward as a society. But at the same time, it’s getting increasingly harder to distinguish real from fake. When we blindly rely on what we are familiar with, scammers can easily take advantage of this, leaving especially young people and the elderly vulnerable to digital abuse. Consider, for instance, fake websites or fake voices that can’t be distinguished from real ones. Increasing our knowledge about these threats and sharing experiences and examples are instrumental to increasing our digital resilience. Unlock Digital Resilience contributes to our mission to create a Better Internet. Not just better in terms of speed and stability, but also safer, greener, and more social.”

Marnix van Stiphout, member of the Management Board Banking and Chief Operations Officer for ING worldwide: “We are committed to making banking as safe as possible and preventing online risks for our customers. It is also important to have greater awareness of and more educational resources about surfing the Internet safely, and thus safe online and mobile banking. Everyone needs to be aware that they should become more digitally resilient and how to do so. That’s why this platform is so incredibly important and why we are proud to have initiated it in partnership with KPN.”

Jim Stolze, founder of the Lowercase foundation, saw firsthand how great the need for digital resilience was. “We all know of someone who clicked on a suspicious link or who was scammed when making an online purchase. But the latest wave of online scams takes it to an entirely new level. Criminals are operating so sophisticatedly that we all have a lot to learn if we want to prevent worse from happening.”

“Unlock Digital Resilience” campaign
The campaign will kick off at “Portus Meridiem” college in Rotterdam Zuid. Aad Lensen, a police officer, will speak to a group of students about digital crime, Dave Maasland (ESET) will explain how hackers operate, and Marieke Snoep (KPN) will talk about “How was your day online?” with students. She will also touch on the message of Meau's song Stukje van Mij (A Piece of Me): “Think before you share”. These courses will also be available on an online knowledge platform where everyone who is interested in learning more about digital resilience can find out about the fun but also not-so-nice aspects of the Internet. Participants can take the courses online but also in their neighborhood if they prefer.

To compile the course materials, the Lowercase foundation put together a special advisory board with experts from organizations like the Dutch Consumers’ Association, Fraud Helpdesk, Hackshield, Meta, Media Literacy Network, the Dutch Police, Rutgers, SeniorWeb, SIDN Fund, and Veilig Internetten (Surfing the Internet Safely). The platform is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Dutch Police, among others. Reports on the level of digital resilience will be issued on the basis of insights provided by the platform. To promote the course and tutorials in Dutch libraries, the platform has also partnered with the Dutch National Library.

Day of Digital Resilience
On the very first Day of Digital Resilience, KPN employees throughout the country pitched in to raise awareness of digital resilience. For example, knowledge sessions and presentations on the topic of digital safety were held in selected stores, inviting consumers to increase their digital resilience and take online courses developed in the campaign at home. For KPN, the very first Day of Digital Resilience marks the start of helping customers feel safer online in as many ways as possible. With nearly 9 million customers, ING can achieve the greatest impact by using its own channels. In communications to customers, ING will highlight the courses and tutorials the platform has to offer. For example, in the week of the campaign launch, ING will point customers to the available “suspicious links” tutorial.

In addition to two online webinars, in which viewers could participate interactively, the broadcast was shown several times on Beleef TV (channel 41). In this way, almost 13 thousand households participated in these sessions. Now everyone in the Netherlands can watch the broadcast.

Also at schools, information lessons about online shaming

In addition to the online parent evenings, KPN is offering more than 60 information lessons on online shaming for Dutch secondary schools this year. The lessons are given by experienced expert Francien Regelink and are free of charge for the participating schools. For example, Francien recently stood next to MEAU at the Vechtstede College in front of almost 300 third-year students and together they passed the proverbial baton in the fight against online shaming. Young people who are not offered the lesson through their school can go to www.wtfff.nl for more information and practical tips.

KPN donated these sculptures to the Rijksmuseum and also funded their restoration. The PTT’s Postal Cheque and Giro Service commissioned Carel Visser to create the sculptures back in the early 1960s. Like two modern temple guards, they flanked the entrance to the Postal Cheque and Giro Service building at Bezuidenhout in The Hague.

To further promote this important theme, KPN is offering more than 60 information lessons on online shaming for Dutch secondary schools this year. The lessons are given by expert Francien Regelink and are free of charge for the participating schools. Today, Francien stood next to MEAU at the Vechtstede College in front of almost 300 third-year students and together they passed on the proverbial baton in the fight against online shaming, with the important message: think before you forward. 

Young people who are not offered the lesson through their school can find more information and practical tips at www.wtfff.nl. Especially for parents who want to know more about online shaming and want to learn how to discuss this topic with their child(ren), KPN is organizing digital parent evenings together with Fonds Slachtofferhulp, Soa Aids Rutgers and Helpwanted. These live webinars will take place on September 9 and 17. You can still register via overons.kpn/ouderavond. 

About Piece of Me 

‘Piece of Me’ is an initiative of MEAU and KPN and is supported by the Rutgers Foundation, Fonds Slachtofferhulp, Helpwanted, Soa Aids Nederland. Piece of Me went viral within three weeks: the accompanying video was viewed more than 33 million times, the hit was in the top 50 for 16 weeks and achieved no less than 15 million streams on Spotify, for which MEAU received a gold record in July. The campaign sparked a social debate that took the topic of online shaming out of the taboo sphere, and resulted in questions and action in the House of Representatives. In response to this success, MEAU and KPN also released the song in English: ‘Piece of my Soul’. See https://www.kpn.com/stukjevanmij for more information.om/stukjevanmij voor meer informatie.

Discovering your own superpower
This first edition of Superpower Day took place at the PEC Zwolle stadium. We invited children from years 7 and 8 at local primary schools who are experiencing temporary or structural problems at school and feel lonely or alone. They had the opportunity to meet other children, play exciting games, meet rapper Qucee and watch singer Alessio perform.

In groups, the children went on a journey through five ‘worlds’ where they could discover their own superpowers. The games were about being yourself, overcoming setbacks, and seizing opportunities. By completing all the challenges, the children unlocked a surprise performance by singer Alessio.

Superpower Days to be rolled out more widely
The Superpower Days are part of the new strategic partnership between KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds and Kinderpostzegels. Based on the joint mission ‘connecting together’, over the next three years we will strive to help children who are socially isolated or at risk of social isolation. Sofie Vriends, director of Kinderpostzegels: “We want to make children feel that they are not alone and to help break through their isolation. In 2025, we want to expand the Superpower Days to reach even more children. In the future, we also want to improve online connectivity within this target group, so that children and young people can discover their own superpowers and learn how to use them in this way.”

More impact together
Mark Versteegen, director of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, is also enthusiastic about the cooperation with Kinderpostzegels. “Social contact is important to all of us. Online and offline connections aren’t a given for everyone. The KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds has been bringing people together, including children and young people, for nearly 15 years. To do this, we leverage all possible communication channels and tools, not to mention the enthusiasm of the many thousands of KPN colleagues who volunteer their time. During the recent Superpower Day, our volunteers also made an important contribution to building resilience in children – and they will do the same on Superpower Days to come. We’re very proud of that.”

Loneliness: a growing problem
Loneliness is a growing problem among children and young people. It is often associated with poverty or a difficult domestic situation.

• 230,000 children grow up in poverty in the Netherlands.
• 1 in 4 children has a parent with an addiction or mental health problem.
• 1 in 8 children receives assistance from youth welfare services.

Many of these children are completely on their own. They have problems at school, their world gets smaller and smaller, and they end up isolated. Their lives lack a good foundation for developing resilience.

Technology such as artificial intelligence provides new possibilities that help us move forward as a society. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish real from fake . Simply relying on what we know is easily damaged, making the elderly and young people in particular vulnerable to digital abuse. Just think of fake websites or voices and photos generated by Artificial Intelligence that cannot be distinguished from the real thing. Increasing our knowledge about this and sharing experiences and examples are an important key to becoming digitally resilient.

Both ING and KPN see the importance of a digitally resilient society and have therefore started the knowledge platform initiative. KPN is committed to a #BetterInternet and recently launched the Stukje van Mij campaign with singer Meau to draw attention to the problem of Online Shaming. Think before you forward. ING recently launched the new 'Check the Conversation' functionality in the ING app, which allows customers to check directly in the app whether a caller who contacts on behalf of ING is a real ING employee and not a scammer who is out to get by. on their money.

Online safety belongs to everyone
Companies and governments are making efforts to monitor our online security with technology. But online security is a social challenge to which everyone must make their own contribution: companies, governments and also consumers themselves. At the same time, it appears that a large proportion of consumers have insufficient knowledge of online security. For example, because they do not know how to recognize a dangerous link or attachment in a fake email, or do not know how to create strong passwords with a password manager, or how to better secure their WiFi. It is therefore important that companies and governments also increase the knowledge of end users of their services, so that everyone is able to use the internet safely.

ING and KPN are taking the first steps and welcome other organizations to join
Together, ING and KPN are undertaking two initiatives to show that online security is a shared responsibility. They welcome other partners to join this effort and thus contribute to increasing the digital resilience of consumers. The following two initiatives will be further developed in the coming period:

Launch of Digital Resilience knowledge platform
The newly built knowledge platform will contain online lessons that will allow both young and old people to become acquainted with the fun and less fun sides of the internet. Consider: How do I recognize fake emails with dangerous attachments? How do I keep my data safe? What is a secure password? The training courses can be followed online and, if desired, also in the area. Both ING and KPN employees volunteer to supervise the lessons. In addition, consumers on the platform are also reminded of lessons on how to recognize and prevent fraud, as part of the campaign “Fraud, that's how it works!” of the NVB.

The knowledge platform is being developed by the Lowercase foundation, known for the National AI Course, which has now reached half a million people. The platform is supported by, among others, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the police. In addition, the level of digital resilience will be reported on based on the insights from the platform.

Digital Resilience Day
In addition to the knowledge platform , an annual theme day 'Digital Resilience Day' will be launched on October 8 . On this day, activities will take place throughout the Netherlands to share knowledge and experiences with online danger. The knowledge gained through the online platform can be put into practice in the form of workshops and meetings in the neighborhood.

MEAU’s initial reaction? “Wow, how great!”. “I wrote 'Stukje van Mij' (Piece of Me) in collaboration with KPN after hearing the personal stories of six really brave young people who had had their naked images shared without their consent. The song and video tell of the consequences, the shame and the feelings of guilt experienced in situations like this. KPN and I both want to spread the song’s important message as far and wide as possible: ‘Think before you forward someone’s images to anyone else.’ I’m very proud of the impact this song has had and grateful for the appreciation this golden record represents.”

Stukje van Mij & international success
The golden record isn’t the only award that 'Stukje van Mij' has won. At the end of last month, the campaign launched to accompany the song won a Grand Prix at Cannes Lions, the world’s most prestigious advertising festival. The international jury particularly applauded the fact that KPN is encouraging Dutch society to change its views on ‘online shaming’.

Since the release of 'Stukje van Mij', hundreds of secondary schools throughout the Netherlands have added lessons about online shaming (and the video created by MEAU and KPN) to the curriculum. “There’s never been a campaign with such a broad reach before: from the kitchen table to the classroom. MEAU deserves her golden record because she has found a very special way to highlight this sensitive subject. That’s important because talking about this issue is the first step towards finding a solution to it”, comments Bartho Boer, Director Brand, Communication and CSR at KPN. “We will soon be launching new initiatives to make the internet a little safer and more socially aware for everyone. Our mission for a better internet isn’t over yet.”

The campaign by KPN and Dentsu Creative Amsterdam was created in response to the more than 33,000 young people who have experienced their intimate photo or video being forwarded to someone else without their consent in the past six months. Singer/songwriter MEAU spoke to several victims and wrote the song ‘Stukje Van Mij’ based on their experiences in February of this year. Within three weeks, the song went viral, the accompanying video, made by Emma Branderhorst, was viewed and shared more than 33 million times and ‘Stukje Van Mij’ even overtook Beyoncé in the Spotify charts.

With this, KPN placed online shaming on the social agenda. And even better: the music video is now part of the curriculum at hundreds of schools in the Netherlands to talk to young people about the consequences of forwarding other people's intimate images. The campaign has already won awards (D&AD Pencils, Dutch Creativity Awards) and now also on the international main stage of advertising in Cannes.

"It is unprecedented what this campaign with MEAU has unleashed, from the kitchen table to the classroom. That is important, because attention for this sensitive subject is the first step towards a solution", responds Bartho Boer, Director Brand, Communication and CSR, pleasantly surprised. "As a company, we show that we dare to stick our necks out to make the internet a little better for everyone. The team behind this campaign has worked on this with great dedication and care in recent years. They deserve all the credit."

The Grand Prix award is a recognition of the creative strategy behind the idea and the execution of the campaign. It is the icing on the cake after three times a Silver Lion, in categories: ‘Health&Wellness’, ‘Entertainment Lions for Music’ and ‘Creative Strategy’.

Boris Nihom, CEO of Dentsu Creative Amsterdam: “Wow! This was the king category for us. And not just because the competition is fierce. In ‘creative strategy’ everything comes together for us: the insight, the idea and the approach behind this campaign. It is a huge honor that with the #beterinternet platform we have been able to inspire not only KPN and society, but now also the global industry.”

In 2018, KPN already won a Grand Prix with the advertising campaign Evert 45. Dave Frauenfelder, director Brand and Marcom: “KPN has already made many special advertisements in the past. The fact that this is now also happening with a campaign with such a social impact makes it perhaps the most beautiful.”

Ensuring that everyone is made to feel welcome, celebrating differences, finding out how people identify themselves… these often simple wishes can contribute towards a more pleasant online environment for the LGBTQIA+ community. All suggestions are properly collated and given expression in the KPN’s Pride Verified manifesto.

"We not only want the LGBTQIA+ community to feel safe and comfortable on our streets, but also online", explains Hilde Garssen, Chief People Officer and Management Board member of KPN. "The tips we get seem obvious, but unfortunately bad behavior is not so easy to change. Just take a look at the responses on any random topic on social media about gender of sexual preference. You can’t help but feel affected.” Pride Verified kicks off this Saturday during Groningen’s ‘Pink Saturday’, and then continues via social media.

TikTok Talkshow during Milkshake festival
Pride Verified will also be a presence on 29 and 30 July in Amsterdam during Milkshake – Amsterdam’s queer dance festival - when KPN will host a special edition of the TikTok Talkshow on the festival grounds. Last year saw the first social talk show with Robbert Rodenburg. The aim of the talk show is to give young people a platform to talk about topics that are important to them. It provides the LGBTQIA+ community with their own place to talk about what is required to create a safe and civilized online environment. The talk show can be visited by those attending the festival but can also be seen by a wider community via the social media channels of KPN and TikTok Talkshow.

Official Technology Partner KPN Pride
This year KPN will again be present on all Pride Amsterdam boats. The boats at the Canal Parade will once again be equipped with smart sensors provided by KPN. These ensure that the boats stay at a safe distance from each other and are locatable any time. In this way, KPN contributes to the safety of the Netherlands’ largest boat parade.

As with its participation in Canal Parade in previous years, KPN continues to make the link with technology. In 2015, for example, KPN won a prize with an empty boat equipped with an on-board 360֯° camera. Live streaming made Pride accessible to people across the globe for the first time, even in countries where the LHBTQIA+ community has no rights at all.

KPN Pride
KPN has an active policy on diversity and inclusion and strives to create a safe and free environment for all employees. The KPN Pride network is dedicated specifically to the interests of LGBTQIA+ employees. As an example, our Collective Labor Agreement enshrines that birth leave also applies to rainbow families and that employees in transition are entitled to take time off work. Partly in recognition of this policy, KPN won the Winq Workplace Award, an award intended to honor companies that actively promote a safe working environment for everyone.

KPN is committed to diversity, freedom, and equality, both in the workplace and beyond, offline and online. We believe in the power of diverse teams and an inclusive and equal corporate culture. Irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, cultural background, religious beliefs and age, as well as neurodivergency and working capacities. Everyone stands to benefit. That’s why we are continuing to work on diversity and inclusion. "It’s good for our colleagues, for KPN and for customers too", Hilde Garssen adds.

As part of its social engagement, KPN also champions the LGBTQIA+ community outside the company. In partnership with the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, KPN Pride has helped make the Pink Seniors’ Christmas Dinner at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam a resounding success. Last but not least, for five years, KPN has been lead sponsor of a Chair at Leiden University for the acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders in the workplace.

Of course, KPN cat Louis will also make an appearance in Germany to cheer on Oranje. In the special European Championship TV commercial, you can follow his journey alongside Dutch football stars like Virgil van Dijk, Daley Blind, Mats Wieffer and Xavi Simons in the run up to what promises to be a spectacular European Championship.

KPN: a proud sponsor and fan of Dutch football
Football has the power to connect people and is rooted in our culture and history. That’s why KPN, as KNVB partner has been supporting all ranks in Dutch football for many years, from amateur football to the Lionesses (women's national football team), the KPN eDivision, as main sponsor of the Dutch Premier League and, of course, Oranje. And with the European Championship coming up, KPN will of course go all out to get us into the festive Oranje spirit.

Top quality and competitive deals
KPN customers will have a sharp eye on the ball, as KPN broadcasts the European Championship in UHD quality. Moreover, with the EK Pakkers, customers can score some great deals, take part in sweepstakes, and get their hands on a personalized European Championship smartphone case, available from June 1. KPN also invites its customers to get into the Oranje spirit during the send-off matches in De Kuip.

A major final round in a neighboring country means that hundreds of thousands of fans will travel to the German venue cities to cheer on Oranje. KPN will be there too, when fans are escorted in parades to the UEFA fan zones, where the matches will be broadcast live on a big screen.

KPN kicks off the summer sport season
In addition to the European Football Championship in Germany, there are many more top sporting events to look forward to this summer. With the Tour de France and the Olympic Games in France and numerous other tournaments and championships, millions of viewers will be able to enjoy sport at the very highest level with KPN.

It will be a unique and innovative way to experience the Eredivisie clash live without actually being there. So, from the comfort of your home but without compromising on the stadium experience. ESPN and KPN have worked with Go!Gaming Leidsche Rijn to make this possible on Saturday 6 April 2024. By linking a special, unique camera position in the Philips stadium to VR headsets, 100 fans will experience the match via GoGaming! Utrecht as if they were sitting close to the pitch in the Philips stadium.

Mark Versteegen, Head of Sponsorships at KPN: “In the years ahead, KPN will continue to invest significantly in the digitalization of the Netherlands and improve the Dutch digital infrastructure. Besides rolling out fiber and investing in new 5G applications, KPN is developing the best digital service possible for its customers by working with leading partners in the field of entertainment, gaming and security. Our main sponsorship of the Eredivisie and relationship with ESPN are enabling us to bring Dutch football closer to our customers as part of an innovative and digital approach.”

Matthijs van Elk, Digital Director at ESPN: “ESPN’s mission is to serve sports fans anytime and anywhere. Obviously, the stadium itself is the ultimate place to be, but ESPN is the best alternative to the live football experience for a number of reasons. It enables you to watch matches on the TV in your living room, online on your second screen and on your smartphone when you are out and about. By screening this special match in VR, we are the first in the Netherlands to take this technology to another level: offering you the real stadium experience from the comfort of your home. We can’t wait to hear what people think.”

KPN and Eredivisie are the perfect match

KPN and the Eredivisie have been a perfect match for years. From 1990 to 2002, KPN was the main sponsor and the league even carried KPN’s former name, the PTT Telecompetitie. In 2014, KPN again partnered with the highest Dutch football league and, since the 2017/2018 season, is once more the main sponsor.

KPN is intensively involved with Dutch football and supports the sport across the board, from the Eredivisie, the national team, and the successful Lionesses, to local amateur football clubs. With the sponsorship of the eDivisie and E-Oranje, KPN is also able to connect with Dutch gamers.

Yesterday, MEAU launched the video of her latest number ‘Stukje van Mij’. The singer wrote the song after calling on her followers on Instagram to share their experiences of intimate images being forwarded against their will. Six of her followers, supported by Fonds Slachtofferhulp, shared their personal story with MEAU. Inspired by these stories, the song and the video tell of the consequences, the shame and the feelings of guilt experienced by someone whose intimate image has been forwarded. “I am touched by these stories and far too often I have experienced up close that intimate images are forwarded against someone’s wishes to people for whom they are not intended,” says MEAU. “We are already making a huge difference by discussing this issue openly with each other. It is important to shift the focus, away from the victim to never forwarding someone else’s intimate images.”

In the past six months, 33,000 young people have been the victim of unwanted forwarding of nude images
New research by Rutgers and Soa Aids Nederland, in collaboration with Statistics Netherlands, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and municipal health authorities, shows that 15% of young people have sent intimate images of themselves to someone in the past six months. But online flirting also goes wrong sometimes: One in a hundred young people have experienced having their own intimate photo or video being distributed against their will in the past six months.

“That works out to over 33,000 young people in the last half year alone,” states Willy van Berlo, expert in sexual violence at Rutgers. She welcomes the initiative by MEAU, KPN and partners: “Victims of this form of online boundary-crossing sexual behavior often face shaming, negative self-image, and victim blaming. This is highly damaging and, worse, the person who sends the image gets away with it. We need to focus much more on breaking this harmful culture. ‘Stukje van Mij’ contributes to this and simply calls on everyone not to forward nude images.”

Nathalie Franse, online sexual abuse expert at Fonds Slachtofferhulp: “The consequences of online shaming can be huge: ranging from feelings of depression and loneliness to sometimes even suicidal thoughts. ‘Stukje van Mij’ raises awareness and contributes to recognition. So that young people who experience this know that they have nothing to be ashamed of and that the blame always lies with the person who forwards an intimate image without permission.”

How was your day online?
‘Stukje van Mij’ is made in association with Rutgers, Fonds Slachtofferhulp, Helpwanted, 113 Suicide Prevention and experience expert Francien Regelink, and was created with the support of KPN. With a mission to make the internet better and to increase the digital resilience of its users, the first topic that KPN is tackling is online safety. This is because, according to KPN, the internet should be a place that connects people, a place that brings out the best in people and does not divide them. With this, KPN hopes to make this topic something that can be talked about among young people and within families. So that at home, at the dinner table, people can ask: “How was your day online?”

www.kpn.com/stukjevanmij

KPN and the football organization Eredivisie CV announced that they are committing themselves to the KPN eDivisie for the next three seasons. Last season the KPN eDivisie achieved millions of views, the largest number in its six-year history. So gaming and eSports have now become an integral part of youth culture.

According to Mark Versteegen, director of Sponsoring at KPN, the next step is to put the football fans in touch with the gamers. “In ‘Achter de Knoppen!’ we are going to show that the link between the fans of the eDivisie and the fans of the Eredivisie is becoming increasingly close. The KPN eDivisie is a top-level eSports competition and, just like the star footballers in the Eredivisie, our eSporters deserve a personal portrait and a stage to display their talents.”

“The KPN eDivisie is a platform for Eredivisie clubs that is attracting a new, not easily accessible generation of football fans,” says Jos van Helvoirt, Content Manager (e)Sports Eredivisie. “With ‘Achter de Knoppen!’, in which we bring footballers and eSporters together, we will enable the KPN eDivisie to take another big step forward.”

Gaming on the best network of the Netherlands
Many variants of gaming rely on a fast, stable connection with a low response time. KPN’s high-quality network connections, both at home and via the mobile network, are indispensable for the best gaming experience.

“Achter de Knoppen!” kicks off at Heracles with eSporter Collin Dekkers. The first four episodes can be seen on KPN’s YouTube account starting on January 30. Would you like to see the eSporters in action live? At the finals on March 30 in H20 in Purmerend you can do just that.

Social contact is at the heart of the Mooiste Contact Fonds. The initiative brings people together and makes it possible for everyone in the Netherlands to be in contact with others – especially those for whom this is not always easy. As such, the fund is organizing an unforgettable, music-filled evening for 600 elderly people at three locations in the Netherlands, with a sumptuous Christmas dinner and real social contact with each other and some 200 volunteers.

The guests mostly come from the three cities where these evenings are celebrated. They will be picked up and taken to the festively decorated KPN locations for an unforgettable evening. Mark Versteegen, director of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, explains: “With Christmas just around the corner it’s important to remember that not everyone is able to celebrate the festive season with loved ones and enjoy a festive meal together. That’s why we organize these Christmas dinners and invite people who struggle with loneliness to come and celebrate Christmas with us.”

The Christmas dinners will take place in Groningen on December 11, in Amersfoort on December 12, and in Rotterdam on December 13.

About the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds
For more than 16 years, the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds has been reconnecting people who lack social contact with the world around them. The fund supports initiatives by various social partners that are aimed at stimulating social contact for vulnerable groups in society. The fund uses knowledge, ICT, resources and people (KPN volunteers) to change that.

Marieke Snoep states: “We are always connected with our customers, even in times of financial difficulty. Instead of letting the problems get worse, we look for solutions that enable everyone to stay connected. Access to the internet and telephony is vital if people are to find a way out of debt and avoid ending up in social isolation.”

Currently over 726,000 households in the Netherlands either have debt problems or are at risk of them. The NVVK welcomes KPN’s commitment and the leading role it is playing. "Four years ago, KPN led the way by signing the first covenant", says Marco Florijn, Chair of the NVVK. "This prompted other companies and government authorities to change their stance on debt collection and their responsibilities in dealing with their customers, even when they’ve hit a rough patch."

KPN Teletolk is a text and image mediation service for the deaf and people with a hearing or speech impairment. It enables them to make phone calls to people who can hear and to organizations. Users can communicate in text, speech, or Dutch Sign Language. The interpreter translates everything that is said or gestured. This helps ensure equal access to telephony, which is in keeping with KPN’s mission to connect everyone in the Netherlands to a sustainable future. KPN is also committed to helping those for whom that is not a matter of course, for example through the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds and KPN Teletolk. This service will become even more accessible over the next five years; since the beginning of October, for example, the service has been free of charge, and the opening hours have been extended from 7 am to 10 pm.

Marieke Snoep, member of the KPN Board of Management and responsible for the Consumer Market, is delighted that KPN will continue to operate the Teletolk service. “For four decades, KPN has been championing greater inclusivity through connectivity for people for whom this isn’t always a given. For example, since 1983 it has been possible for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to make text relay calls, and since 2013 we have been doing this under the auspices of KPN Teletolk, where interpreters translate phone calls in both text and images. We are delighted to be able to continue to provide this important service and make it even more accessible in the years to come. This is another example of our commitment to connecting the deaf and hard-of-hearing with society.”

Pascal Ursinus, owner and founder of Berengroep, is also pleased that their interpreters can continue to contribute to equal communication. “KPN Teletolk is a great example of inclusion; it ensures that everyone can make a phone call, even if you can't hear or speak well. In 2013, we started out with four Dutch Sign Language interpreters, and in that year we mediated nearly 3,000 minutes of telephone traffic each month. Over the past ten years, this service has become an increasingly important communication tool, and we now mediate 20,000 call minutes a month.”

The ratio of text mediation to image mediation is now almost 50-50, which is very different from a decade ago when nine out of ten users were still making text relay calls. Three years ago, during the pandemic, KPN Teletolk broke records, mediating around 2,700 calls and more than 25,000 minutes every month. KPN provides all the underlying connectivity, and all calls are translated by Berengroep’s interpreting center in Bilthoven.

The third KPN Football Friends Day took place on Sunday, October 22. Once again, everything on the KNVB Campus was completely geared towards this special day for young people with disabilities. The event is an initiative of Fonds Gehandicapten Sport and the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds. 

Football Friends Day has just one goal: to make sure that young disabled people and their families have a day to remember. A day filled with football, sport, games and the color orange. Another highlight was the meet & greet with ex-international, ex-professional footballer Siem de Jong. A simulated press conference was organized for the young football fans to ask Siem as many questions as they wanted and have their photos taken with him.

Take a look at the aftermovie we made of this special day.

This wonderful event was the result of collaboration between KPN, Fonds Gehandicaptensport and the many KPN employees who traveled to Zeist to volunteer for the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds.

About the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds
For more than 15 years now, the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds has been connecting the lonely with the world around them. Thanks to numerous initiatives, the fund has already reached many tens of thousands of people. The KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds uses technology, resources, and people to support its projects.

Why does KPN celebrate Diversity Day?
“Diversity, inclusion and equality are important values at KPN. We believe in the power of diverse teams and an inclusive and equal corporate culture. Regardless of gender identity, origin, religion and age but also ability to work, neurodiversity and sexual orientation. Everyone stands to benefit. That’s why we are continuing to work on diversity and inclusion. It’s good for our colleagues, for KPN and for customers too.”

Diversity is about more than just gender diversity. What else are you doing?
“Cultural diversity and, of course, the LHBTQIA+ community are two crucial elements of our policy. Our Kleurrijk KPN network is there for all people from multicultural backgrounds and colleagues who want to learn more about the richness that diverse cultures bring. We have also included in the KPN collective labor agreement that colleagues can exchange a public holiday for a holyday of their choice. In addition, there is the KPN-Internationals network, where we want to give our colleagues from abroad a warm welcome and, for example, pair them with a Dutch colleague as part of the Culture Coaching program. And at KPN, we have one of the oldest Pride communities, with hundreds of members who feel free to be themselves: KPN Pride. This network has existed for over 13 years and is considered one of the oldest Pride business networks in the Netherlands.”

How is KPN doing in terms of gender diversity?
“Gender diversity is an important part of our policy, it always has been. Our Board of Management consists of six people and has a 50/50 male/female ratio. That makes us the absolute front-runner among Dutch corporates. Thirty-three percent of Supervisory Board members are women. So, we are comfortably in compliance with the Diversity Quota and Targets Act (Wet ingroeiquotom en streefcijfers) that entered into force last year. I’m very proud of that. However, there are other areas in which we want to improve male/female ratios as well, despite the big challenge this will be. For example, we want more than 30% of senior management to be female by the end of 2024. We aren’t there yet, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure it happens.”

What is KPN doing to make sure it actually achieves its ambitions?
“We are developing tailor-made plans for each division to help us achieve our ambitions. For example, management-team compositions that enable us to gain an insight into the diversity of our teams. Our next step, this year, has been to add some optional questions to our employee involvement survey about the perceived inclusivity of our organization. The insights these questions generate will be used to continue to work on specific plans in the various divisions that will facilitate the achievement of our ambitions.”

What’s on the program for the days ahead?
“The theme this year is 'Difference enriches, but there is more that connects us' and there’s a very good reason why we chose this particular theme. Diversity provides us not just with different perspectives but also a connection that helps us make KPN an organization that is inclusive for everyone. The theme features in every event and we cover all the latest digital developments as well. We bring science, practice and technology together. For example, we join forces with Masuma Shahid (a PhD researcher) to consider the positive and high-risk effects of Artificial Intelligence on the human rights of various target groups. And, in her keynote, Marcia Goddard (a neuroscientist) tells us all about how our brain and unconscious bias influence decision-making.

I myself am particularly proud of the exclusive exhibition of works we have put together at our office in Rotterdam especially for Diversity Day. Taken from the KPN Art Collection, these works of art tell the story of diversity in terms of culture, gender and sexuality, etc. I look forward to admiring them with colleagues and then discussing topics that are sometimes very sensitive.

So, there will be plenty of scope for dialog, fun, new experiences and also to learn from each other. Because, by empathizing with someone, you learn to understand them better.”

In the Netherlands, 3% of Dutch households do not have a fixed internet connection, 11% do not have a device that works well and almost 23% struggle to take part in the digital world. Research has revealed that the difference between people who are connected through digital technology and people who aren’t is growing: the digital divide. To bridge this divide, the goal of the pilot is to gain a better insight into underlying problems and solutions. It will focus specifically on households that are financially vulnerable and - in the case of the municipality of Utrecht - do not have a fixed internet subscription. The Digitaal Meedoen Pakket will provide participants with a laptop or tablet, an internet connection (for a discounted price) and community-based support to ensure they gain the skills they need.

“Internet access, devices and support are vital to connecting people and giving them the ability to take part in today's society”, says Wietske Kamsma, program manager for the Alliantie Digitaal Samenleven. “Reducing the digital divide and making sure that everyone has access to technology is a shared responsibility. We can all contribute. We are launching this pilot to see how the Digitaal Meedoen Pakket impacts people’s lives and also if it makes them feel they can keep up better with the growing use of digital technologies.”

The approach of the pilot will vary from one municipality to another. In the Westerkwartier, the package will be tested at neighborhood level, while Utrecht is opting for broader participant recruitment via various social organizations. The Center for Digital Inclusion at the University of Twente will monitor and interpret the effects and results of the various approaches. The participating municipalities will invite a total of 250 households to take part on the basis of their own local social-assistance schemes.

Elske Lagard (75) is taking part in the pilot in the municipality of Utrecht. “I’ve always been afraid of making mistakes online and I often don’t know what to do with the messages I receive. I rely on my daughter at the moment, especially with things like online banking and using gift vouchers online. But I also believe that you're never too old to learn. I hope that in a year from now, the Digitaal Meedoen Pakket will have made me a more confident and skilled person, so that I can take part in the digital society independently.”

After the pilot starts, other municipalities and companies from the telecom sector will be invited to take part in this project as well. The pilot will run for one year. After this, all the participating parties will evaluate the pilot, see whether the Digitaal Meedoen Pakket actually does improve access to the digital world and also identify what needs to be done to be able to extend it to include other municipalities.

The online wellbeing of young people is the main focus of the shows. As well as the youngsters, experts are invited who can continue talking with the youngsters around the table and via social media after the TikTokTalk Show. Almost half of the younger generation (47%) consider it important that they “fit in” online and 61% think that the internet puts pressure on people to come across as perfect. 70% of young people say that the internet makes it easy for people to be nasty. And 4.1% of all young people say that they are often bullied online. Cyberbullying, loneliness, an unrealistic self-image, and internet addiction are just a few of the examples of the unwanted side effects of the internet on youngsters.

Young people and experts round the table
Initiator KPN wants to facilitate discuss of these issues and offers experts the chance to sit down with the youngsters and talk about them. For example, the victim support fund Fonds Slachtofferhulp will talk with the youngsters about shaming, and HelpWanted gives tips about cyberbullying. It is essential for youngsters to be able to discuss these issues more easily among themselves. The new TikTokTalk Show fits in with KPN’s aim of making the internet better and more inclusive.

KPN is starting with four episodes of the TikTokTalk Show with Robbert Rodenburg. The first episode can be seen live on Wednesday, October 4 at 8 pm.

“Important role in the development of football”
“One of the KNVB’s goals is to take all aspects of Dutch football to the next level, and our partner KPN plays a huge role in helping us achieve that,” said Dave Dekker, commercial director at the KNVB. “Their contribution is what we can call ‘total football’: technical support for both national teams and amateur clubs. Take, for example, the KPN Data Services Hub for national team staff and the connections needed for the E_ROOM and VAR at the KNVB campus in Zeist. The KNVB and KPN are working together in all these different areas, which is why we are very happy with our renewed commitment.”

KPN is also happy with the extension of the partnership. “Our partnership with the KNVB allows us to connect people to football,” says Mark Versteegen, KPN’s sponsorship director. “Thousands of KPN customers have had the opportunity to watch the Dutch national side, and many more will do so in the years to come. At the KNVB campus, we organize ‘Train like Oranje’ football clinics for children during our football camps as well as the Football Friends Day for children with disabilities. In collaboration with FC Mooiste Contact, we regularly invite people who struggle with loneliness to watch matches of the Dutch national team. In the years ahead, we will continue our efforts to help as many people as possible enjoy football, whether that’s watching or taking part.”

As a launch partner of E_Oranje, KPN has also been successful in connecting with gamers in the Netherlands. For example, a KPN E_ROOM has been constructed in Zeist, E_Oranje’s home base for training camps and international matches. Thanks to KPN, the E_ROOM has the fastest and most stable fiber connections, enabling the team to excel in the digital FIFA landscape. This year, E_Oranje finished second at the 2023 FIFAe Nations Cup. The KNVB and KPN recently transformed the KPN E_ROOM into the KPN E_ESCAPE ROOM for the first time.

Extension of VAR
The KNVB and KPN also signed a new agreement for the connections required between the ARAG KNVB Replay Center in Zeist and the Eredivisie stadiums. Since the introduction of VAR in the Eredivisie in the '18/'19 season, KPN has been supplying the necessary data and internet connections to facilitate the use of VAR in the Eredivisie. KPN's services are available for all matches in the Netherlands where VAR is used: in the Eredivisie, play-offs, the TOTO KNVB Cup, and the match for the Johan Cruyff Shield.

“A chance to immerse yourself in art for a while”
One of the guests was Diny; she is an artist herself and her eyesight is deteriorating. This was a very unique day for her: “I ‘looked’ at art in different ways today. Touching a miniature version of a sculpture brought the work of art to life even more. My visit to the Depot gave me the chance to really immerse myself in art for a while.”

The KPN Mooiste Contact Dagen are an initiative of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, a fund that has championed more social contact for vulnerable groups in society for the last 15 years. Mark Versteegen, director of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds: “Regular social contact is essential for people’s well-being. Without it, feelings of loneliness and even social isolation can develop. This is why we organize the KPN Mooiste Contact Dagen - during which social contact is key - every year. The conversations between our guests and the KPN volunteers make a real difference because there’s nothing better than enjoying art in the company of others”!

KPN and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is the world’s first publicly-accessible art storage facility. More than 152,000 works of art are stored in the Depot, arranged and housed together in 14 storage compartments with five different climates. Besides the objects, the activities necessary when managing and maintaining a collection can all be seen as well. Part of KPN's art collection - which is one of the most prominent corporate collections in the Netherlands - has been housed at the Depot since it opened in 2020. As such, it is accessible to the Dutch public as well. The KPN art collection includes a large number of masterpieces by Dutch artists like Anton Corbijn, Jan Schoonhoven, Marlene Dumas and Rineke Dijkstra and also international works by Per Kirkeby and Thomas Demand.

KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds
The KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds is an initiative of KPN and celebrated its 15th anniversary last year. The fund supports initiatives by various social partners aimed at stimulating social contact among vulnerable groups in society for whom this contact is something that cannot be taken for granted. The fund uses knowledge, ICT, resources and people (KPN volunteers) to change that.

Teamwork
The door of the KPN E_ESCAPE ROOM shut behind Weijland, Rokus and Slot at exactly 15:00 this afternoon. To escape, they will aim to win a number of (E_)football games to guess what their FIFA FUT cards are. They will also do this by finding codes that have been hidden in the KPN E_ESCAPE ROOM, playing FIFA 2023 against viewers and hanging up the washing, etc. They’ll need to dig deep into their football knowledge and will be put to the test to identify their own connection. The ultimate aim: to decipher their personal FIFA FUT cards. Escape will only be possible with the help of amateur football clubs, the KNVB’s innovation network and the esports players from E_Oranje, who recently qualified for the FIFAe Nations Cup.

You can follow the KPN E_ESCAPE ROOM live on twitch.tv/E_Oranje from 15:00 on June 7, 2023. If you would like to be part of the escape effort – by helping to solve puzzles, etc. –join the chat and post responses.

KPN E_ROOM
The escape room is in the KPN E_ROOM. Located on the campus in Zeist, it’s the home of E_Oranje for training camps and international matches. Thanks to KPN, the KPN E_ROOM has the fastest and most stable fiber connections, which enable the team to deliver top performances in the digital FIFA landscape. Weijland, Rokus and Slot are the very first participants to try out the escape room. Their goal is to escape in the shortest time possible and achieve a high score that challenges new guests to escape even faster next season.

E_Football
In January 2021, KPN became the launching partner for KNVB’s digital football offer, which it had started in October 2020. The KNVB wants digital football to enhance football fans’ experience of the sport, reach the biggest number of physical football fans and E-football players possible and connect them with each other. The launch of E_Oranje, the KNVB’s national digital football team, has resulted in the rapid growth of E_Football, both inside the KNVB and beyond.

The Queen had conversations with the founders of Refugee Team, which uses its “Video Friends” project to bring refugees and volunteers in contact digitally to enlarge the social network of newcomers. She also talked with the founders of Mommy Friends, Mantelzorgelijk and Thuisgekookt. Mommy Friends has set up a national online friendship platform to combat loneliness among mothers. Mantelzorgelijk offers informal caregivers information, advice and contact with people in a similar position via an online community. And Thuisgekookt connects home cooks with vulnerable neighbors who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to cook for themselves. Participants then get not only a hot meal but also social contacts.

As well as these four projects, since 2021 another fourteen social entrepreneurs have received support in their mission to combat loneliness. And that is desperately needed, confirms Bartho Boer, Chair of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds: “Two out of five adults sometimes feel lonely. The effects of that are underestimated. The initiatives of these special entrepreneurs help in tackling loneliness. It was great to see them get recognition from the royal family for their unstinting dedication and personal commitment.”

Entrepreneurs against Loneliness
With the project Ondernemen tegen Eenzaamheid the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds and the Oranje Fonds are able to help strengthen the participating organizations and scale them up. For three years, the participants will get assistance in the form of training courses, meetings and networking, visibility and funding. Dozens of KPN employees support the entrepreneurs, as a coach or by giving workshops for example. The participants are organizations that operate both locally and nationwide and that all use digital means to combat loneliness.

About the Oranje Fonds and the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds
Both the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds and the Oranje Fonds have for years been committed to a society in which everyone has social contact. The past fifteen years, the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds has been connecting people who feel cut off from the world around them, and thanks to numerous initiatives the fund has already reached many tens of thousands of people. The Oranje Fonds is the largest national fund in the social domain and supports some 10,000 projects in the Netherlands each year.

Canoe sprint
The canoe sprint is an Olympic discipline which involves paddling as fast as possible from start to finish across still waters (i.e. without waves or currents). Under the guidance of national coach Nicole Bourke, a team of men and women is training hard to achieve their goal in two stages: to take part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and to win a medal in Los Angeles four years later.

The contribution of the TEAMKPN Sports Fund is being used to give more depth and intensity to the training program, including a comprehensive analysis of the paddling techniques in a special training channel in Berlin. Thanks to the TEAMKPN Sports Fund, the team can also take part in the World Championships for more experience at the highest level and can purchase a new C2 (two-man canoe).

The Netherlands bowling team
Last year, the ambitious young Netherlands bowling team accomplished a unique feat by winning the European Championships. The target for 2023 is to show that this is not a one-off achievement but that the Netherlands can remain in the top echelons in Europe. With the support of the TEAMKPN Sports Fund, the team can prepare itself even better for that goal.

Beach tennis
Beach tennis is a sport that is growing rapidly in popularity throughout the world. Anneke Rijks and Martine van Woudenberg have been the Dutch beach tennis team at the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour since the summer of 2022. Both women are in the top 200 of the ITF World Beach Tennis Ranking. Thanks to the support of the Fund, this team can take part in tournaments and gain points to push through to the European top level.

About the TEAMKPN Sports Fund
Since its foundation in 2015, the TEAMKPN Sports Fund has supported 24 national teams in sports that are recognized as top sports or international match sports, but that are not front-line sports. The sports teams utilize the temporary support to achieve outstanding performances such as competing in a World Championship or qualifying for the Olympic Games. Thanks in part to the support of the TEAMKPN Sports Fund, sports such as women’s softball, 49er sailing, and curling have attained elite status.

Online experience: Closer to Johannes Vermeer
The Rijksmuseum is currently hosting a unique exhibition on the seventeenth-century master Johannes Vermeer, in which there is tremendous public interest. The online experience Closer to Johannes Vermeer, made possible thanks to KPN, has already had more than three million views. The website gives Vermeer enthusiasts around the world the opportunity to immerse themselves in the life and work of the Delft master. British actor Stephen Fry leads the tour in English, while Dutch actress Joy Delima guides Dutch-speaking visitors. Thanks to ultra-high-resolution photographs, it is possible – for the very first time – to zoom in on the minutest details of paintings, such as on The Milkmaid, from the Rijksmuseum’s own collection, and Officer and Laughing Girl, from the Frick Collection.

KPN and the Rijksmuseum
In the coming months, KPN will also be inviting customers and employees to visit the Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum. Every year, KPN also organizes live online tours for customers, and thousands of customers are invited to the exclusive KPN Customer Month. Regular customers then receive extra special treatment during their visit to the Rijksmuseum. Via the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, KPN invites vulnerable groups to visit the museum. Guests are accompanied by KPN volunteers.

Since the reopening of the Rijksmuseum in 2013, KPN has – as lead sponsor – not only made a financial contribution but has also supplied all services in the domain of telephony, data, and ICT. KPN is a digital partner of Operation Night Watch and one of the developers of the Rijksmuseum App. Thanks to this app, which is literally ‘connected by KPN’, as many people as possible can enjoy the museum’s collection.

Picture: Photo: Taco Dibbits (Rijksmuseum) Joost Farwerck (KPN) in front of Vermeer’s The Little Street

For large groups of people, social contact does not come naturally. The elderly, people with disabilities, children who can’t go to school because of illness, there are countless examples where help is desperately needed to stay in touch. KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds brings people in contact with the world around them. For fifteen years!

In 2022, the fund connected thousands of people to the world around them. For example, 700 carers of people with dementia were treated to an Easter lunch at the football stadiums of several Eredivisie clubs in cooperation with Alzheimer Nederland. And FC Mooiste Contact and the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) took hundreds of people to matches of the Dutch national team. Hundreds of children who cannot be physically in school very easily due to serious or chronic illness were able to be digitally present in the classroom thanks to KlasseContact. We ended the year with the KPN Mooiste Contact Days in the Rijksmuseum and a Pink Elderly Christmas Dinner in the Concertgebouw with KPN Pride.

Mark Versteegen, Director of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds: “We all need contact and connection. Unfortunately, for many people in our society, social contact on a structural basis is not a given. By doing more together, experiencing together, and sharing beautiful moments with each other, we give loneliness less of a chance. That is what the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds has been aiming at for fifteen years and I am extremely pleased that we have done our bit again in this regard in 2022.”

KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds
The Mooiste Contact Fonds is a KPN initiative. The fund was established in 2007. With the fund, KPN supports initiatives by various social partners that are aimed at stimulating social contact for vulnerable groups in society. For various reasons, some people have less connection to the world around them than they would like. Consequently, they face the risk of social isolation. The KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds deploys ICT, resources and people to do something about this.luiting bij de wereld om hen heen dan ze zouden willen. Daardoor ligt sociaal isolement op de loer. Het KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds zet ICT, middelen en mensen in om daar wat aan te doen.

Proud sponsor
KPN has been a proud sponsor of the KNVB for years, supporting both the Dutch national team and the Lionesses during all matches and tournaments. Mark Versteegen, Director of Sponsorships at KPN: “In sporting terms, the World Cup is the very highest stage that players and millions of fans worldwide spend years getting ready for. So it’s fantastic that the Dutch can be there too. From the ‘Huis van Oranje’ we’ll be massively behind Oranje and we’re cheering on our men. Together with our customers, we will make it one big party”.

In de Johan Cruijff ArenA, which will be transformed into the ‘Huis van Oranje’, 55,000 Oranje fans will have the opportunity to watch the matches of the Dutch national team live on screens totaling 600 m². An extraordinary viewing experience never before seen on this scale in the Netherlands. Prior to the match, visitors will enjoy Dutch top artists such as Ronnie Flex, Flemming, Typhoon and Emma Heesters. DJ La Fuente will provide a spectacular show at half-time. From the giant stage, several Oranje legends and vlogger and former footballer Soufiane Touzani will look ahead to the match. Jack van Gelder will recall unique memories of previous World Cups and, of course, in the case of a win, the party will continue after the game!

Tickets for KPN customers
KPN customers have an advantage and have the chance to win free tickets and VIP tickets with meet & greets for the ‘Huis van Oranje’ through various competitions*. New customers taking out a KPN Unlimited data subscription between 17 October and 6 November will receive two tickets as a gift (while stocks last)!

Check here for more information on the ‘Huis van Oranje’ and for ticket sales.

*Competitions will be announced on kpn.com/beleef and via KPN social media

The guests were taken by bus to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam for the event, which took place on two separate days. The KPN volunteers received them like real VIPs and accompanied them during the tours. With time for a nice chat as well as enjoying the Dutch masters. Of course, the visit wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to ‘The Night Watch’.

The KPN Mooiste Contact Days are an initiative of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, a fund that for the past 15 years has championed more social contact for vulnerable groups in society. “Loneliness is a major problem in the Netherlands: two in five adults feel lonely,” says Mark Versteegen, director of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds. “And not only the elderly. Also refugees and people with dementia or a mental impairment. A visit to the museum is an unforgettable experience and the conversations between our guests and the KPN volunteers make the difference. After all, there’s nothing better than enjoying art in someone else’s company.”

The guests at this edition of the KPN Mooiste Contact Days were chosen by a number of different organizations that are taking part in the program Ondernemen tegen Eenzaamheid [entrepreneurs against loneliness]. This is a program run jointly by the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds and the Oranje Fonds in which 18 organizations have a common goal: to reduce the feeling of loneliness for as many people as possible in this country.

KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds
The KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds is an initiative of KPN and celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. The fund supports initiatives by various social partners aimed at stimulating social contact among vulnerable groups in society for whom this contact is something that cannot be taken for granted. The fund uses knowledge, ICT, resources and people (KPN volunteers) to change that.

KPN and the Rijksmuseum
Since the reopening of the Rijksmuseum in 2013, KPN has – as lead sponsor – not only made a financial contribution but has also supplied all services in the domain of telephony, data and ICT. KPN is one of the developers of the Rijksmuseum App and a digital partner of Operation Night Watch. Online live tours are organized for customers and, every autumn, thousands of customers are invited to the exclusive KPN Family Month. Via the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, KPN invites vulnerable groups to visit the museum.

Watch the video below, which shows the guests enjoying the visit to the museum. 

Why are diversity and inclusion so important?
“Of course, it is very nice that we give extra attention to this topic on a day like today. Because if you can really be yourself, then you are also the best version of yourself. And that ensures that you can contribute optimally to your work. Various studies have shown that diverse teams achieve better results and make more qualitative decisions. And innovation is also driven by diverse thinking and action. In addition to these arguments, at KPN we simply believe it is ‘the right thing’ to do! Every reason, then, for us to include diversity and inclusion in our CSR policy, making it part of our strategy and HR vision. As a company, we stand for a connected society where everyone – within or beyond KPN – is self-reliant and given opportunities to participate in this digital age, regardless of religion, orientation, gender, disabilities, socio-economic status, or other characteristics. And I am committed to that every day; so for me, every day is Diversity Day.” 

In terms of diversity, gender diversity often comes to mind, is that a focus at KPN, too?
“Absolutely, gender diversity is an important part of our policy, it always has been. We are proud of the representation of our women members on the Supervisory Board (4 of 8) and Board of Management (2 of 6). So, at 50% and 33%, respectively, we comfortably meet the legal ingrowth quota and targets that took effect this year. At the same time, we also still have ambitious challenges in terms of a better gender balance within KPN. For example, we’re aiming for 25% women across the company by 2024 and we want more than 30% of senior management to be women by the end of 2023. Within HR and our networks P.O.W. (top women’s network) and Women@KPN, many initiatives are being developed for female empowerment and collective awareness. For instance, since this year, we have a training course for every woman returning from maternity leave so that they can quickly find the right balance between working and being a mother if required. We are now exploring how to offer a similar training for brand-new fathers as well!”

What are the other pillars of the diversity policy?
“Cultural diversity and, of course, the LHBTQIA+ community are two crucial elements of our policy. Our Kleurrijk KPN network is there for all people from multicultural backgrounds and colleagues who want to know more about the richness that diverse cultures bring. We have also included in the KPN collective labor agreement that colleagues can exchange a bank holiday for a festive day of their choice. In addition, from this year, there is the KPN-Internationals network, where we want to give our colleagues from abroad a warm welcome and, for example, pair them with a Dutch colleague as part of the Culture Coaching program. And at KPN, we have one of the oldest Pride communities, with hundreds of members who feel free to be themselves: KPN Pride. We actually measured this and 92% of the community feel safe to be open about their sexual orientation and/or identity. This network has existed for over 12 years and is considered one of the oldest Pride business networks in the Netherlands.”

 KPN stands for a connected society in which everyone within and beyond KPN is given opportunities. What is KPN doing for the outside world?
“Together, we bear responsibility for allowing everyone to participate in this society in which the internet plays a major role. We’re also committed to supporting people with a disadvantage in the labor market. Whether you are partially sighted or hard of hearing, have a physical disability or are otherwise at particular disadvantage in the labor market, everyone can make a valuable contribution. With our learn-work company, we train 20 people every year to MBO3 level, and next year, for the first time to MBO4 level. Since 2015, 130 candidates have participated in the program, 80% have passed and 50% have found suitable work within three months. We want to be there for everyone. Digital inclusion is becoming increasingly important. That’s why we’re also working on the accessibility of our products and services. Irrespective of age and/or disability, our goal is for you to be able to use KPN independently and enjoyably. Our online environments must be accessible to people with visual impairments, and we are conducting pilots to improve TV viewing for the hearing impaired. This is how we’re maximizing our commitment to a connected society!”

Returning to Diversity Day, what is KPN doing on this day?
“This year’s theme is ‘Difference Enriches’ and at KPN we’ll spend two days reflecting on the benefits of differences. We’re organizing events at various locations for all colleagues, to give everyone the opportunity to immerse themselves in the issue, so that we can grow into a company in which everyone can be themselves. We have invited inspiring speakers, are preparing lunches from different world cuisines in our company restaurants, and have even planned a Brazilian musical parade through our office in Amsterdam. I myself am going to be inspired by Joris Luyendijk, eat delicious food, and attend the annual Rightbrains event where awards are presented to notable women in the digital sector. KPN has two nominees, I am proud to be able to attend”.

Finally, what would you like people to take away from today?
“Four years ago, diversity was a tense subject that people sometimes laughed about and didn’t understand why we needed to pay attention to it. Now, it is high on the agenda of leaders, and that is important. After all, it is an issue for all of us. But one for the long haul. It is a marathon not a sprint. That’s why I also think we should be more curious about and for each other, ask more questions and really embed inclusiveness in our daily behavior in all openness and vulnerability.” 

This also applies to Lynn, for example. She had leukemia and cannot go to school at the moment. Lynn uses KPN Klasgenoot, an innovative ICT solution that ensures that she can keep up with her class. Lynn talks about this in detail in the Jeugdjournaal.

KPN Klasgenoot (Classmate)
For fifteen years, KlasseContact is the project that has been ensuring that sick children can make use of Klasgenoot. Ed Bontrop, KlasseContact’s program manager, explains how it works and why it is so important: “Whether at home or in hospital, the children use a laptop that is connected to an IT device in the classroom: the “KPN Klasgenoot”. In this way, they stay in contact with their classmates and they do not have to miss school. This is hugely important for sick schoolchildren. They feel connected with their classmates and do not fall too far behind with their schoolwork. And for teachers, after two years of online education due to corona, dealing with Klasgenoot is a piece of cake.”

Recently renewed
KPN has some 700 Klasgenoten that are used free of charge to connect children with a long-term illness with their class. Since the start of KlasseContact in 2007, more than 4,800 children have been able participate and stay in touch with their classmates, despite the illness that keeps them at home or in hospital. A new version of Klasgenoot has recently been launched. The revamped Klasgenoot weighs just 2.2 kilograms instead of 8.5 kg and has a built-in battery. This means it is easy to take from one classroom to another and, more importantly, to the canteen and other break rooms. That makes it extremely suitable for secondary school pupils.

KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds
KlasseContact is the first and longest-running project of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, an initiative of KPN. The fund celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and supports initiatives by various social partners aimed at stimulating social contact among vulnerable groups in society for whom this contact is not self-evident. The KPN Mooiste Contact fund makes use of knowledge, ICT, resources, and people (KPN volunteers) to do something about this. 

The Rijksmuseum is not the only place where Rembrandt’s Night Watch can be found. The world-famous work inspires many art lovers. Some even have their own version at home. Large or small, on the wall, embroidered or printed on a cushion or sock. Lead sponsor KPN and the Rijksmuseum want to reward these fans. On three Saturdays in August, their Night Watch will gain them entry to the Rijksmuseum. They can take their private version in with them. If it is larger than A4, a selfie is sufficient.

Registration is via To The Night Watch - Rijksmuseum

KPN and the Rijksmuseum
Since the reopening of the Rijksmuseum in 2013, KPN has – as lead sponsor – not only made a financial contribution but has also supplied all services in the domain of telephony, data and ICT. KPN is one of the developers of the Rijksmuseum App and a digital partner of Operation Night Watch. Online live tours are organized for customers and, every autumn, thousands of customers are invited to the exclusive KPN Customer Month. Via the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, KPN invites vulnerable groups to visit the museum and – in partnership with Maya VR – is making virtual tours possible in care homes.

To reward gamers with the ultimate gaming experience, KPN connects all Go!Gaming locations with First Class Internet using fiber. Go!Gaming connected by KPN, ensures that gamers who don’t yet have a fiber connection in their own home can enjoy the best gaming experience at a nearby location. Various Pathé cinemas have Go!Gaming state-of-the art centers where gamers and their friends can enjoy the ultimate gaming experience via KPN’s fast and stable fiber network.

Go!Gaming is a collaboration between Pathé and H20 Esports Campus, bringing gamers, e-sporters and Pathé visitors together to discover the pleasure and excitement of gaming. The first such location was launched in December 2021 in Rotterdam. Other locations have since been added in Utrecht, Groningen, and Maastricht. Globally, gaming is the fastest growing sector of the entertainment market and an ever-increasing number of games are supported via the cloud. It means that gamers are increasingly demanding high quality network connections, at home and at nearby locations, whether via 5G or KPN’s fast and stable network.

Connecting gamers
Matthijs Vink, Co-Founder and CCO of Go!Gaming: “In KPN we found the perfect partner to increase awareness of Go!Gaming amongst a broad target group of gamers and others interested in gaming. Dedicated gamers know the importance of a stable, high-quality connection, which makes KPN’s fiber network indispensable for the best gaming experience. We are incredibly proud that KPN has had the confidence to make this investment. It gives us the confidence that a further step has been taken to establish a brilliant, successful concept in the Netherlands. We will join with KPN to bring gamers together in person, and connect them."

KPN, the provider for gamers throughout the Netherlands
KPN is currently focused on connecting everyone in the Netherlands through a sustainable, fast and stable fiber network. “It’s happening at lightning speed”, says Robin Clements, EVP Marketing and Products at KPN. “Nevertheless, some gamers will have to wait a little while longer to benefit from First Class internet in their own homes, with symmetrical speeds. Thanks to Go!Gaming connected by KPN they can spend time in a great environment discovering what it means to be able to game on the network in the Netherlands.” As chief sponsor of the eDivisie and launching partner of E-Oranje, KPN has enjoyed a long-term relationship with gamers in the Netherlands. Not to mention its collaboration with Microsoft on the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. With its 5G and First Class Internet, KPN’s network meets the needs of the most demanding gamers.

Go!Gaming connected by KPN
In addition to laying the fiber network, KPN and Go!Gaming are also joining forces to organize activities and gaming tournaments in gaming centers, KPN stores, and countless other venues.

Party for freedom
Pride Amsterdam starts next Saturday and, exactly one week later, the world-famous Canal Parade takes place, in which dozens of organizations support the LGBTQIA+ community with festively decorated boats. This year, the theme for the KPN boat is ‘Loud & Proud’ and the hundreds of thousands of spectators on shore will be in no doubt about it. After all, the three DJs love to party.

Message to the world
‘Loud & Proud’ stands for much more than just a party, however. It is also a signal to the world that Pride will never be silenced. That’s why KPN is collaborating with DJ Mag. The global platform for electronic music helped to select the DJs and will broadcast a live stream of the performances. Consequently, the DJ set will be seen all over the world, including in Jordan, Kenya, and Poland. In addition, KPN has purchased advertising space from various Dutch media to highlight the DJs’ personal stories and the repression in their countries.

Safe environment
Pride is one of the events with which KPN seeks to inspire and motivate employees to be themselves. Apart from the artists, the boat is only accessible to employees, so they can participate in this celebration of inclusiveness in a safe environment.

Hilde Garssen, Chief People Officer and member of the Board of Management of KPN: “We think it is important that we can and are allowed to sail with the Canal Parade. KPN is committed to diversity, freedom, and equality, both in the workplace and beyond, offline and online. For us, Pride Amsterdam is a real party, but one with a serious undertone. Millions of people cannot be who they really are and are not allowed to love who they really love. Although we have no illusions that we can solve this global problem, we do think it is important to raise awareness and tell the world that Pride will not be silenced. As KPN, we are happy to play a connecting role in this.”

Diversity and inclusion
KPN has an active policy on diversity and inclusion and strives to create a safe and free environment for all employees. The internal ‘KPN Pride team’ is committed to the LGBTQIA+ community within the company all year round. In recent years, KPN has been lead sponsor of a Chair at Leiden University for the acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders in the workplace. Last year, the company won the Winq Workplace Award, intended for companies who actively promote a safe working environment for everyone. 

Three DJs with an extraordinary story

DJs Avtomat from Poland, ICHE from Kenya, and Shamsa from Jordan will perform during the Canal Parade.

Avtomat (Poland)
An openly queer composer, producer, DJ, and singer, graphic designer, typographer, and 3D illustrator. His music is just as versatile: from almost folk-like electronica to dark techno. He performs worldwide and recently played at Berlin’s legendary Berghain club. Avtomat is a strong advocate of equal rights for LGBTQIA+ people and has participated in all sorts of initiatives supporting the community. His homeland of Poland is an unsafe place for the community, despite being part of the EU. A third of the country has declared itself an ‘LGBTQIA+-free zone’ and Pride festivals there are regularly violently disrupted. 

ICHE (Kenya)
A queer Kenyan-Tanzanian artist, DJ, music producer, and singer from Mombasa, Kenya. DJ Mag named ICHE ‘artist to watch in 2022’. They began their career singing, but as a DJ mainly plays rap, dancehall, and reggaeton. On the dance floor in Kenya, their performances lead to red-hot parties, so that bodes well for the Canal Parade. ICHE is in danger in their own country. In Kenya, transsexuality and homosexuality are forbidden by law and ‘offenders’ can go to jail. Unfortunately, therefore, a public Pride is still impossible in the country.

Shamsa (Jordan)
Shamsa is the first woman electronic DJ & producer from the Jordanian capital, Amman. Besides being a musician, she is an artist and curates events in Jordan, Egypt, Dubai, and Berlin. No wonder that her DJ sets are a melting pot of cultures, in which both her Arabic roots and Berlin influences come to the fore. This musical master chef takes ingredients such as Middle Eastern melodies, house vocals, and banging tribal techno, and serves them up as a delicious dish. In her own country, Shamsa can’t just be herself. Last year, Pride in Amman was banned for ‘violating public morality’ and homosexuality is considered unacceptable by the vast majority of the population.

The livestream can be followed during the Canal Parade on Saturday, 6 August 2022 via kpn.com/loudandproud.