John Aarts, Alderman of the Municipality of Maastricht, is receiving explicit thanks from MECC Maastricht for his years of commitment, involvement and confidence in MECC Maastricht and its significance for the city and region. Since 2011, John Aarts has been actively involved with MECC Maastricht and has been intensively engaged in the development and positioning of the complex ever since. Today, Rob van de Wiel, General Director of MECC Maastricht, and Albert Verlinde, Chairman of the MECC Maastricht Supervisory Board, went to thank him personally for his years of dedication and unconditional support.
‘Ours again’
The acquisition of the majority stake in MECC Maastricht from Amsterdam RAI was a key moment in this partnership, a move that returned full ownership in the MECC to the city. ‘This enabled us to make the MECC literally and figuratively “ours” again,’ says John Aarts. In the years that followed, he played a central role in several complex briefs, including the buyout of the property from Annexum and the realisation of a large-scale renovation valued at over 50 million euros.
Rob van de Wiel, General Director of MECC Maastricht, looks back at the collaboration with great appreciation: ‘My adventure as director of MECC Maastricht began over a decade ago. At the time, I never would have dared to dream that working with the city of Maastricht and with John Aarts in particular would be so successful. As alderman for the Economy and later alderman for Hospitality, and as representative of the municipality of Maastricht, I collaborated with him on nearly every brief. When John bears responsibility for something, he goes for it one hundred percent, 24/7.’
According to Rob van de Wiel, the cooperation was characterised by clarity, mutual trust and loyalty. ‘No nonsense, clear agreements and always engaged with the substance. And no matter how exclusive the setting sometimes was, John stayed true to himself. No pomp and circumstance, just a man of the people.’
At MECC Maastricht, John Aarts is known as a stable and reliable factor, especially in turbulent times. His support for MECC Maastricht and his unwavering belief in its importance for the city and region enjoys widespread backing.
Aarts Paradijs
As a lasting token of its gratitude, MECC Maastricht is dedicating part of the future upgrade of the green space around the complex – at Duboisdomein, Itersondomein and Johan Willem Beyenlaan – to John Aarts. As part of the Groene Loper area, during the next phase, and in cooperation with the Maastricht municipality, a beautiful green environment will be created, symbolically named ‘Aarts Paradijs’ (a play on words signifying ‘heaven on earth’). Neighbourhood residents are also welcome to contribute ideas on the design of the space. The initiative symbolises growth, connection and sustainability, core values that John Aarts promotes both for MECC Maastricht and the city.
‘John, a big fat thank-you and kudos for everything you have done for and meant to us,’ concludes Rob van de Wiel.
