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'Drunk' Obama on Queen's Day posterSaturday 18 April 2009 Amsterdam is attempting to attract international tourists to the city for the annual Queen's Day celebrations by using photoshopped images of world leaders enjoying themselves, the Parool reports on Saturday. On one poster, US president Barack Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin are portrayed walking down a street in t-shirts reading 'kiss me, I'm drunk'. In another, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and French president Nicolas Sarkozy are pictured wrapped up in an orange feather boa. A third poster shows US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in a orange afro wig and bikini top. The three posters will appear all over the city in the run up to April 30, when the traditional Koninginedag party takes place and the city turns into a giant open air market. The images will also be available on 160,000 free postcards available at bars and cafes, the paper says. Amsterdam Partners spokeswoman Geerte Udo said the aim of the posters was to show that the city is proud of Queen's Day and that 'everyone must come, including world leaders.' She said the organisation's advertising agency was certain that the images can be used, so long as royalties are paid. The posters will not be placed abroad. A spokesman for the Italian embassy told the Parool that it would discuss the posters with the ambassador. The French embassy told the paper that no permission for the posters would be given by the Elysée - Sarkozy's official residence. For the Parool article and the posters, click here © DutchNews.nl
Why don't the Dutch use their own politicians and royalty for their posters? Maybe New York City should make posters for the 4th of July with Queen Beatrix in a red/white/blue afro wig and bikini top. Then again, nobody would even know who it was.... By Quest | April 19, 2009 12:33 PM Really, when it comes to creativity leave it to those with imagination...something sorely lacking in this country By AW | April 19, 2009 6:59 PM an almost unbelievable lack of good taste... By seo2007 | April 20, 2009 7:30 AM Sounds like another great reason to avoid Amsterdam on koninginnedag. The city actually wants as many people as possible to travel there and get drunk? Imagine the scene, as well as the trains on the way home. Uurgh. By simplastic | April 20, 2009 8:43 AM I'd just presume that all the comments criticizing the posters are from American (or maybe also French, Italian and Russian?) expats. By Jimbo | April 20, 2009 9:19 AM For sure there are lots of worst things going on and i don't see nobody claiming about. After all, it's FREEDOM, no one's hurt By s.lopes | April 20, 2009 9:37 AM Geez...some reactions seem to come from truly unhappy NL residents...cheer up guys, even the sun is shining! By Outreacher | April 20, 2009 10:55 AM I think it's a great campaign. It will generate a bit of controversy and a lot of buzz - and that's exactly what the idea is. By stingo | April 20, 2009 11:06 AM Just more tastlessness from this truly CLASSless society. No surprise. By yo mamma | April 20, 2009 12:35 PM Wow, April 1st was 3 weeks ago, honestly I can't believe any major European capital city would acutally do this, who signed off on this publicity project and if they are a public servant why are we paying their wages? It's complete bad taste and not very diplomatic. By PoD | April 20, 2009 2:34 PM It is just a bit of lighthearted fun. Relax! By Dman | April 20, 2009 3:22 PM IT'S A GREAT CAMPAIGN! CONGRATULATIONS TO AMSTERDAM AND ALL HAVE A GREAT QUEEN'S DAY! By Scialo | April 20, 2009 4:19 PM I agree with all the negative comments about the campaign. It's stupid. Creatives with real talent and imagination can stimulate a buzz without having to resort to cheap ideas just to attract controversy. By Dimbo | April 20, 2009 4:23 PM @Quest, wait, you have not seen our poster of the Queen yet. You will love it! By ARCHIBALD | April 20, 2009 4:49 PM I'm American but I see nothing wrong with posters such as these...After all there are American programs like Saturday Night make fun of these politicians all the time. If you people can't take a joke, then just grow-up and get a life!! And personally I think politicians need to be joked about because we can't take them seriously anyway!! By Patrick Lee | April 20, 2009 7:40 PM Well, thank goodness someone told me who the folks in the posters were! Thought they were just Amsterdammers at large. By jaycee | April 20, 2009 9:09 PM Where is art in here? If feast equals "get drunk" no thanks. It's a shame for Europe. By Pierre | April 20, 2009 9:50 PM yup,i totally agree to match the spring sunshine's perfect mood by loosening up! leave all toxic baggage behind! looking forward to less humbug moods by the end of this month .....*** wink *** By pusanggala | April 20, 2009 11:22 PM The idea does not make sense! By Ken GFR | April 21, 2009 1:16 PM the posters are a bit of light-hearted fun, which we could all use a bit more of. those who said it wasn't creative - who decides what is creativity?? on what is 'art'? there is no definition and it's different for everyone. it's that kind of self-righteous uptight attitude that turns my stomach and makes me all the happier to live on this side of the ocean instead. By martac | April 21, 2009 7:30 PM Just drunk Obama wouldn't enough I think. Where are the other leaders such as Putin, Angela Markel, Sarkozy, Berlusconi? It would be nice to see Queen herself drunk and throw a party with these leaders in Red Light district ... As long as a people can make fun of themselves, there's no reason not to have fun with others. If there's no drunk queen, there shouldn't be any drunk Obama as well. By artist | April 21, 2009 8:32 PM Great poster ! And Queensday is a great day. They also made these posters with Merkel and Sarkozy and they don't mind ofcourse and those can stay. The Dutch are open minded and do whatever they want. Really love them, wish more people were like them. By Chris | April 22, 2009 12:05 PM I dont get it. By notyourfriend | April 22, 2009 2:14 PM I want the posters that show the heads of the Dutch royal family! Oh wait...they don't exist. Hmm. By Canal Jumper | April 23, 2009 9:47 PM it's a great poster with a great taste of humor. the idea of the whole poster is to let foreign visitors know that Queensday is one of the best parties in Europe! You should see Amsterdam on april 30, before judging it. Everybody would love it!!!! By Erik | April 25, 2009 3:32 PM People should relax a bit more why take it so serious the dutch are fun loving people and i think its really original, wish it was all true and they would all have a great party!! By michell Zelig | April 26, 2009 11:52 AM Now, that is some typical Dutch humor. I don't like it. I'm fine with it though, if they like it. But IMO, Dutch jokes -especially in campaigns and Dutch films- are too tawdry and cheap for me. By Dutch Girl | April 30, 2009 4:48 PM
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Yawn...a cheap, uninspired idea created by apparent simpletons. It's too easy of a concept. Whoever came up with the idea should be hugged in mud and ice cream and then fired. Geez...
By Canal Jumper | April 19, 2009 12:21 AM