Ampco/Flashlight aid €112m Dutch tsunami shows

27 January 2005

The Netherlands - In the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami and the outpouring of grief and donations that followed, the Dutch people's contribution to the relief effort was focused on a unique joint broadcast event in Holland on January 6 which raised a staggering €112 million in one night. The country has a long-established tradition of raising money via television and radio programmes, and the nation's major broadcasters decided within days of the tragedy to pool their resources. All public and commercial TV stations took part, sharing presenters and facilities, while Holland's five leading radio networks combined under the joint name of 'Radio 555' (Giro 555 being the bank account for donations). Virtually every available Dutch celebrity volunteered their services and the donations phone-in panel included the former Prime Minister.

Two large-scale concerts were organised to form the hub of the evening, one on a large stage in Amsterdam's central Dam Square for an audience of 30,000, the other being the core TV broadcast event, staged at Studio 22 in Hilversum.

Ampco Pro Rent and sister company Flashlight Rental provided audio and lighting systems for both events, using the company's Synco by Martin Audio line array systems, Synco stage monitoring and an array of DiGiCo and Midas consoles. The lighting rig in Amsterdam featured 26 High End Studio Color 575s, 36 HES Studio Spot 575 CMYs, a Flying Pig Wholehog 3 and assorted conventional equipment. The Dam Square event finished at midnight with a grand finale set by Dutch star DJ Tiesto, while leading TV broadcasters TMF and MTV also contributed their own show, beamed from their jointly-operated Concordia Studio in Bussum, also using Ampco Pro Rent audio systems.

Ampco Pro Rent managing director Fred Heuves commented: "It was an immensely successful evening with €116 million raised on the night from the Dutch population of 16 million, and money is still pouring in to the Giro 555 fund. The emotion throughout Holland, as everywhere in Europe, was incredible and we were proud to be asked to contribute our services."

(Mike Lethby)