Monocle is
always a gratifying reading experience, but for Dutch people this is especially
so this month with a 6-page article about media-town Hilversum, sometimes jokingly
called ‘Hillywood’. The article itself doesn’t lend itself to be summarized,
but we can divulge already the five suggestions Monocle gives the Dutch town so it can survive in a changing media landscape.
Simplify the system
Monocle
praises the legislation decision to shrink Dutch public broadcasters from 24 to
8.
Export expertise
To build
its brand Hilversum needs to export its second to none skills, to for example
the BBC.
After-hour amenities
The media
park only has one coffee shop. Open businesses and bars to create 24-hour
charm, says Monocle.
Love your neighbor
Hilversum
can’t compete with Amsterdam, so it needs to become the perfect complement.
Transportation between the two cities needs to be improved.
Bring the past into the present
Instead of investing in new anonymous builds, Hilversum needs to turn its monuments into thriving
creative hubs.