LIKE LIONS WE PUT OUR TEETH IN THE MATERIAL AND OUR 'CLAWS' FIRMLY IN THE GROUND TO ACHIEVE FUNCTIONAL CREATIVITY.
Nathalie Lans won her first essay contest at the age of seven. After secondary school, she studied Dutch language and literature at Leiden University and Communication Sciences at Utrecht University. Nathalie founded FreeLans B.V. in 1993 and built it into a successful communication agency and publishing house. In 2001, she started a second company, NL2, to express her love for music.
As Chairman of Jazz Museum Rotterdam, Nathalie worked to organize the best international jazz photography and art exhibition in Europe to mark the 40th anniversary of the world-famous North Sea Jazz Festival in 2015. For over twelve years, she has been a member of the Dutch jazz society Jazzpodium Waterweg, where she bears responsibility for communication and programming. she has been a member of Pro Amicis, the alumni association of Stedelijk Gymnasium Schiedam, for over ten years, a member of The Ketel Kitchen since 2019 and — last but nor least — a member and ambassador of the legendary Dutch Genever Society for over fifteen years.
Nathalie Lans
Writer, creative person
& owner
click here for bio
ON THE JOB
THINKING ALONG
WITH THE CUSTOMER
IS SECOND NATURE
TO US.
At FreeLans, we don't like endless meetings, strings of e-mails and long deadlines. We are flexible, efficient and creative. We only need half a word to get things done. Thinking along with the customer is second nature to us.
We have that typical 'Rotterdam' pragmatic mind-set. And we don't mind travelling!
We can work wherever our customer needs us. From Tokyo to Singapore and from
New Orleans to Rotterdam.
WHAT WE STAND FOR AT FREELANS
Communication in the broadest sense of the word.
We have been writing and designing magazines, books, annual reports, brochures and newsletters since 1993.
We draw up communication plans, design logos, develop websites and organize social media. Our activities also extend to special events featuring some of the world's foremost artists.
IN THE HEART of
world port Rotterdam
FreeLans' home base is an inspiring former mansion of a distiller built in 1850, located in the heart of the dynamic international port of Rotterdam and Offshore Valley. Here, we work hard on behalf of our clients, who include museums, schools, foundations and — how could it be otherwise — international maritime companies like Stena Line, Alphatron Marine | JRC, Damen Shipyards, ROG, OSA and Rotortug.
Click here for an overview.
Eva Winkelman
Art Director
Click here for bio
During her study 'Creative Communication', Eva Winkelman heard a quote by Tate Linden: 'Design is an opportunity to continue telling the story, not just sum everything up.' A quote that applies to daily work at FreeLans. Each assignment is an opportunity to add an extra chapter to the story, by combining text, images, colors and fonts. Working at FreeLans offers the chance to carry out communication in the broadest sense of the word.
THE MARITIME SECTOR MAKES OUR HEARTS
BEAT FASTER.
“AS A PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION AGENCY, FREELANS HAS HELPED US MOVE TO THE 'NEXT STAGE'. THEY PRODUCE A FANTASTIC MAGAZINE FOR OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, WITH INPUT FROM AND FOR OUR CUSTOMERS WORLDWIDE. THIS PUBLICATION IS WIDELY APPRECIATED AND CAN BE FOUND IN THE HOMES OF NUMEROUS SHIP-OWNERS, IN SHIPYARD WAITING ROOMS, ON BOARD THE VESSELS THEMSELVES AND ON DESIGNER'S DESKS. FREELANS' NO-NONSENSE APPROACH, WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN OUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR CUSTOMERS AND QUALITY ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHY MEANS THAT WE ATTACH A LOT OF VALUE TO OUR PARTNERSHIP.”
Jeroen Kortsmit - Group General Manager Key Accounts JRC | Alphatron Marine
STORYTELLERS
To become successful as a company, you need to have a firm grasp of your DNA. Because you only understand the specific strengths and weaknesses of your identity after first mapping out what has formed it. What are your roots? Where does your specific strength lie? We are able to condense these insights into the right story for the world outside your organisation — and this has an impact.
Storytelling plays a vital role in both
internal and external communication.
At FreeLans, we have been honing this technique for close to three decades.
Nathalie Lans has written
several book.
STORYTELLING PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION.
"FOR YEARS FREELANS HAS BEEN PROVIDING US WITH VARIOUS COMMUNICATION TOOLS. AS A FOUNDATION WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL LARGE CHANGES, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST YEARS, WITH WHICH NATHALIE AND EVA HAVE HELPED US. IT IS A GOOD COOPERATION BETWEEN 'HET FONDS' AND FREELANS. THEY TAKE THE EXTRA STEP TO FIND OUT WHAT WE STAND FOR AS A FOUNDATION AND WHAT IT IS THAT WE FIND IMPORTANT. THAT REFLECTS IN OUR CORPORATE IMAGE, OUR ‘JOURNAAL’ AND OUR ANNUAL REPORT. NO WONDER WE REGULARLY RECEIVE COMPLIMENTS ABOUT THIS."
“FREELANS' ROOTS LIE IN THE PORT OF ROTTERDAM. THEY SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE AS THEIR MARITIME CUSTOMERS. AND THEY ARE VERY INTERNATIONAL: THEY TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD TO GET THE RIGHT STORIES. ROTTERDAM OFFSHORE GROUP DID NOT JUST CHALLENGE FREELANS TO PRODUCE A BOOK AND BROCHURES FOR OUR COMPANY, BUT ALSO ASKED THEM TO DESIGN THE INTERIOR OF OUR NEW HEADQUARTERS. FREELANS' STRENGTHS GO FAR BEYOND THE WRITTEN WORD — AS CAN LITERALLY BE SEEN IN OUR NEW CORPORATE IDENTITY. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT I RAN INTO EVA AND NATHALIE AT THE WORKBOAT SHOW IN NEW ORLEANS.”
COMMUNICATION IN THE BROADEST SENSE OF THE WORD.
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