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From collective governance to a self-governing collective

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The Dutch Payments Association is a collective in which members work together to ensure secure, reliable and efficient payments. This collective is not static, but responds to changing circumstances. Payments are highly dynamic due to regulation, technological developments and changing consumer behaviour, raising the question of what this means for the collective.

Directors and employees bend over laptops in a conference room to technically prepare a presentation about payments.

“Take care of the collective”

Under the motto “take care of the collective”, Piet Mallekoote, Director of the Dutch Payments Association, introduced members to two engaging, passionate and relevant speakers. Simon Lelieveldt of Financieel Erfgoed and trendwatcher Vincent Everts held up a mirror to the collective at a location with historical significance for payments: the Rosarium in Amsterdam’s Amstelpark. During the Amsterdam Floriade in 1972, the Amstelpark nearly became the site of the first electronic payment trial. Three years later, a commemorative medal called the ‘Amsterdammertje’ was minted there for an exhibition about Amsterdam’s municipal giro service.

Simon reviewed the past one hundred years of payments and the historical origins of today’s collective: collective governance (presentation in Dutch). Vincent then looked ahead at possible futures and relevant trends. He shared his views on cryptocurrencies and blockchains, and on a sharing economy with connected devices that make autonomous decisions and payments: the self-governing collective (presentation in Dutch) .

Simon Lelieveldt presents a commemorative Amsterdammertje medal to Piet Mallekoote.
Simon Lelieveldt of Financieel Erfgoed presents the historic ‘Amsterdammertje’ to Piet Mallekoote
Trendwatcher Vincent Everts gives a presentation about self-driving and self-paying cars and devices.
Trendwatcher Vincent Everts discusses self-driving and self-paying cars and devices

Simon and Vincent offered a preview of their appearance at the General Meeting in this short video (in Dutch) .

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