So, the Netherlands has a brand new initiative to try to restore the gloss to the country’s reputation as an international financial centre. And part of the initiative led by the sparkling Holland Financial Centre is the setting up of a new training institute, the Duisenberg School of Finance.

This is supposed to attract the world’s finest financial brains, competing with the likes of Insead, the London Business School and doubtless, Harvard on the Amstel.
The latter is the new financial institute that Amsterdam city council and Barclays bank are planning to set up in the city. This too aims to attract top financial brains from around the world and, of course, to further develop Amsterdam’s reputation as an international financial centre.
There are, of course, other initiatives centred on business and finance. One cannot leave out Amsterdam University’s very own Business School. And there is the Vrij University’s plan to revamp its campus on the edge of the Zuidas business district to cash in on its allure.
And we must not forget to mention the Amsterdam Financial Institute which was set up 20 years ago – to promote Amsterdam as an international financial centre. The suits in charge of all these plans are clearly deeply fond of market forces and competition.
But perhaps all the money, PR and effort could be put into creating just one top financial institute that might actually be effective in attracting the business community to Amsterdam?