Two municipalities, one personal Christmas gift

The municipalities of Heemstede and Bloemendaal together thanked over 640 employees and relations with Cadeo. In recent years, they traditionally organized this with a Christmas market featuring local entrepreneurs. That went well, but this time they wanted to refresh the concept and partnered with Cadeo. Everyone received a personal gift link and used it to choose a gift that suited them. For us, it was also a great project close to home: our founders come from the municipality of Heemstede.

Personal from the very first moment

Anyone who opened the gift link was not greeted by standard text. The municipal secretaries of both Heemstede and Bloemendaal had recorded a personal thank-you video together, which the recipients saw immediately upon entering the portal. A small gesture that makes all the difference: as a recipient, you immediately notice that thought has gone into it. It elevated the experience to something very personal.

And we saw that reflected in the numbers. Of the 640 recipients, over 91% actually chose a gift, and the campaign received a satisfaction rating of 9.5. Additionally, more than a third of the recipients spontaneously sent back a personal thank-you note. Not only nice to read, but also useful to see how people received the gift and which gifts they chose. A selection of the reactions:

"Thank you so much! What a great Christmas gift. I'm glad I can donate this to the food bank."

"Thank you for this beautiful Christmas package. I'm a fan! Responsible, lots of nice options, user-friendly. Great choice for a Christmas package!"

"Thank you for this Christmas token. My gift choice is a donation to the KWF as a symbol/remembrance of the colleagues we lost this year and in recent years."

Freedom of choice that works

The best proof that freedom of choice works: the recipients together chose 110 different gifts and options. From the Fashioncheque (the absolute favorite) to a DIY gift card or a good book. Everyone found something that truly suited them, instead of that same package for the entire organization - which often ends up unused in many people's closets or trash cans.

A significant portion also chose to donate instead of spending. Together, 58 recipients raised over €1,350 for 14 different charities, with the Dutch Council for Refugees, the Animal Protection Society, and Doctors Without Borders leading the way. And because over eight out of ten recipients chose a digital option, a lot of packaging material and shipping emissions were also saved.

All in all, an end-of-year campaign that everyone was highly pleased with.

And again next year

Proof that it was well-received: Heemstede and Bloemendaal have renewed with Cadeo for Christmas 2026. An end-of-year gift that is personal and sustainable, where recipients choose for themselves, and where there is also room for charity. We are very proud of this pleasant collaboration.

Curious about what Cadeo can do for your organization? You can schedule an introductory meeting without any obligation. We are happy to help you get started!