Frank Oostdam at farewell: from now on I will be 'the other Frank'

With a well-attended reception, Frank Oostdam said goodbye as director of the ANVR on Thursday evening. More than 200 industry colleagues had traveled to Hooge Vuursche Castle in Baarn, where the ANVR’s New Year’s reception took place for years. Various speakers shed light on 17 years of Oostdam and ANVR, often interspersed with teasing humour, but warm and sincere. ‘I found our collaboration incredibly efficient and pleasant,’ said Steven van der Heijden, who was closely involved in Oostdam’s appointment as ANVR director in 2007 as a member of the selection committee and formed a duo with him for five years when he became ANVR chairman in December of that year. A period of five years of intensive cooperation followed. Directness Van der Heijden looked back on the corona period, when he and Oostdam were often guests on the same talk show.
‘At the time, we were both Dutch celebrities against our will.’ Van der Heijden, CEO of Corendon during the corona period, stated that Oostdam sometimes had some difficulty with his directness and with the choices Van der Heijden made with Corendon during that time. With Steven van der Heijden.
‘I can remember that at the time we as Corendon were not exactly the most well-behaved boy in the class. And that we made it very difficult for you by starting corona-free holidays and flying to Turkey again with people who had been tested. At the talk show tables, we sometimes tried to coordinate our stories. In the end, we found a nice model, from good guy and bad guy.’ Oostdam’s greatest achievement during corona was that, as director, he managed to keep the ANVR and its members together, according to Van der Heijden. ‘And then you also made a great effort to repair the damage from that period.’
Excellent According to Van der Heijden, Frank Radstake, Oostdam’s successor as director who was known for years as ‘the other Frank’, inherits an ANVR that is in excellent shape.
‘We have to work hard to keep it that way, but you have been entrusted with it.’ Van der Heijden referred to the fact that Oostdam and his wife Anouk would go to Norway with the recently purchased caravan the day after his farewell.
‘You understand, such a trip with a tow-cabin is not a type of holiday that we as travel organisations earn a lot from.’ Patience Deputy director Walter Schut, who has 25 years of service at the ANVR, poked fun at Oostdam’s impatience.
‘That’s kind of his biggest flaw. The man has no patience at all. If you have to present a board meeting and he starts looking at his watch, you know what to do: finish your sentence, shut up and sit down.’ With Walter Schut. At the same time, Schut let those present guess how many times he had had quarrels with Oostdam in 17 years. The answer: zero times. ‘The man is flexible like elastic bands, but with a straight back. He is now handing over the baton to the other topper with the same first name.’ Poem ANVR chairman and TUI CEO Arjan Kers recited a poem on behalf of the ANVR board. He reminded us of Oostdam’s way of leading: always steadfast, never wavering. Watch Kers’ lecture here.

With Arjan Kers. On behalf of the ANVR board, Oostdam received a ‘non-covid’ travel voucher as a gift, to be cashed at an ANVR member, explained successor Radstake. ‘But you have to hand it in within 12 months.’ The donations for War Child, the charity Oostdam had chosen as a farewell gift, raised more than 10,000 euros. In his farewell speech, Oostdam answered the question he has often been asked: ‘What is the most going to miss? What makes this sector so attractive is its people. Traveling makes you a more complete person. Traveling is a combination of emotion and excitement. I have experienced that for 17 years in this sector and I wish everyone such a job. The relationship with you has become very dear to me. I am very happy that Frank Radstake will be my successor. I am happy to take the name ‘the other Frank’ from him. From now on, I’ll be ‘the other Frank’. As is known, Frank Oostdam was officially re-elected in mid-June for a new two-year term as chairman of ECTAA, the European umbrella organisation of travel industry organisations. He is also active for the TUI Care Foundation. Oostdam would like to take on an advisory or supervisory role for one or two more days. “I’ll see what comes my way.” The applause from the packed hall echoed for a long time.
With Arjen van Hijum. The row of speakers was surprisingly concluded with a performance by Arjen van Hijum, known for his spoken columns during the ANVR congress, who delivered a roast about Oostdam for the occasion. His presentation can be seen here.