Centraal Beheer

Centraal Beheer is an insurance company sited in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. It is part of Achmea, the largest insurance companiy in the country. It is usually referred to as "Apeldoorn".

Commercials

Centraal Beheer is famous for its campaign of TV commercials that has lasted for over fifteen years now. These are short humoristic spots, generally without dialogue, in which something goes horrendously wrong, followed by the catchphrase "Even Apeldoorn bellen" ("Let's call Apeldoorn"). This phrase is sometimes used as a general saying, in meme-like fashion to mean something like "oops" or "doh", and it is for this reason that the company is generally referred to as "Apeldoorn" rather than its proper name. On the international versions of the commercials, the catchphrase is simply "Just call us".

For instance - a nervous man is offered a place in a secure witness protection program if he will testify against a mafia leader. He accepts and testifies. Then he packs his bags and drives off to an idyllic, friendly town in the middle of nowhere. Unpacking and settling in, he breathes easily once more. Then the doorbell rings. He opens the door to find the mayor and town officials giving him an official welcome as the 100,000th inhabitant of their village, accompanied with dozens of journalists and film crews. Fade.

Many of their commercials have won the Gouden Loeki, the so-called Academy Award for Dutch commercials. One of them, featuring President of the United States Bill Clinton and a voodoo doll, was quickly taken off television at the request of the American government.

External links

* [http://centraalbeheer.nl Homepage Centraal Beheer]
* [http://www.centraalbeheer.nl/cbi/cb/corporate/fun/commercials.jsp TV Commercials Centraal Beheer]