On January 12th,  during the opening day of the Tourism Fair of Utrecht (Vakantiebeurs), the Embassy of Brazil in The Hague, for the fifth consecutive year, granted the following recognition awards to 2009`s best Dutch promoters of Brazil in the field of tourism:

BEST TOUR OPERATOR 2009:  OLAF REIZEN

 
   Photo: Brice Massimo Cicconetti (Embratur). Olaf Hendriksz, director and partner of Olaf 
   Reizen, and Ivens Signorini (Embassy of Brazil)

Founded in 2004, Olaf Reizen is a specialized Dutch tour operator with an extensive knowledge of the Amazon, the Pantanal Wetlands and the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest  (Mata Atlântica). After living in the jungle between Brazil and Venezuela and visiting many places throughout the years, Olaf Hendriksz gained a lot of jungle experience, developed his passion for eco-tourism and made from his dream an independent company.

Previous years winners:
- FOX VAKANTIES (2005), represented by Maarten de Ruiter, director
- BRAZIL TOURS (2006), represented by Marius van Rij, owner and director
- KUONI TRAVEL NEDERLAND (2007), represented by Esther Hienekamp, product
   manager
- FLY BRAZIL (2008), represented by Ad van der Molen, owner and director

BEST PRESS/MEDIA 2009:  DE TELEGRAAF

  
    Photo: Katina Stravianos with the representatives of the Embassy and Embratur

Besides publishing more articles on Brazil in 2009, the  “De Telegraaf” got the prize for the  article “LEVENSLUSTIG BRAZILIË”, written by Katina Stavrianos and published on April 5th. “De Telegraaf” is the largest newspaper in the Netherlands.

Previous years winners:
- RTL TRAVEL (2005), represented by Floortje Dessing, TV presenter
- REIZEN MAGAZINE (2006), represented by Sander Groen, free-lance
   journalist/photographer
- BIJ MAGAZINE (2007), represented by Wim Achterberg, De Bijenkorf
- COLUMBUS MAGAZINE (2008), represented by Mark Mackintosh, Chief-Editor

BEST INNOVATIVE CONCEPT 2009:  THE BEAGLE VOYAGE - VPRO

Commemorating Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his “On the Origins of Species”,  Dutch television VPRO launched "The Beagle Voyage" project to remake in 10 months the trip of Charles Darwin around the world. The trip started in October last year at Plymouth/UK, on board Dutch clipper “Stad van Amsterdam” and, until July 2010, a total of 35 episodes will be produced.  Last October VPRO filmed three episodes in Brazil: Fernando de Noronha, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.  “The Beagle Voyage” was awarded the prize Best Innovative Concept not only because of its originality but also due to the outstanding quality of the images made in Fernando de Noronha. 

Previous years winners:
- BRAZIL OPTIMA FORMA (2005), represented by Jan-Willem van der Horn, owner
- HANS BOMMER (2006), for the work he carried out as director in KRAS Ster
   Vakanties
- GREAT BRAZIL EXPRESS (2007), represented by JaSing Chu, JBC Agencies
- DOMENICUS CITY GUIDE: RIO DE JANEIRO (2008), represented by Marcel
   Bayer, writer

BEST ENTREPRENEUR 2009:  WINDTOWN BEACH RESORT & SPA

  Photo: Alphons Jansen receiving the price from Wilco J. M. Sweijen, Director Passenger
  Marketing of Schiphol Group

"Windtown Beach Resort & Spa", situated in Cumbuco, State of Ceará, started its operation in 2006. Specialized in market of "kitesurfing", today, beside the Spa, has its own kitesurf-center-school.

Previous years winners:
- FLY BRAZIL (2005), represented by Ron Sampimon from DNJ Media
- TUI NEDERLAND (2006), represented by Steven van der Heijden, CEO
- TIWA AMAZONE ECORESORT (2007), represented by Peter-Jan Tilanus, director
- AMAZONAT ECOLODGES (2008), represented by Dolf Huijgers, share holder.