Here we are. Euromedlab 2007 in Amsterdam just came to a close. Feelings are always varied at the conclusion of a great congress a one leaves behind a big event, great colleagues and high quality scientific interactions. We will recollect numerous fond souvenirs from Amsterdam. We have to acknowledge the exceptional contributions of the Organizing and the Scientific Committees to the quality of the congress and for the excellence of the selected scientific sessions. IFCC CPD, would like through this short article, illustrate some highlights of this success.Amsterdam: a city of water, a city of Art. Walking in of Amsterdam one is bound to cross many scenic canals. Therefore, we could imagine easily the impact of the water proximity on the Amsterdam city life, history and influence on commercial exchanges. The synergy between Amsterdam and water was well presented in the opening lectures by Dr. J.H. Raveloot (�a body of water�) and G. Schwartz (�H₂O in Dutch art�).  Art is another notable characteristic of Amsterdam and of the Netherlands. In parallel to the congress sessions, delegates have also enjoyed famous art places in Amsterdam such as the Van Gogh, the Rijk and Van loom museums as well as other pretty places. At the gala dinner, a human representation of one of the many Rembrandt paintings vividly depicted the life in Amsterdam in the days of this great observer of his society. The overall artistic capacity of this city was also very well appreciated at the Monday night concert at the prestigious Concertgebouw with an extraordinary performance of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra lead by Goran Nikolic. 



The signature of an extraordinary Queen. Which congress attendee never had this thought: �I have to wake up early for the plenary�? Which scientist never thought: �It would be an honour that my president, king or queen spend some time at the congress to shake hands�?We were impressed by her majesty the Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands by being not only present at 09.00 AM sharp to open to the congress exhibits and listen to the whole plenary session but also to deliver a message of appreciation to our profession and by stating: �You are important and recognized players for healthcare and patients diagnosis. Please keep fighting�. Without unduly publicity, delegates were responsive to the promotional campaign sponsored by a company entitled �Labs are vital� that illustrated so well the laboratory place in the diagnostic tree.



An exciting scientific program. Four fascinating plenary lectures, focused on the impact of modern genetics on society, the new options for obesity management, the biomarkers and early detection of pre-eclampsia, opened each day of the congress. The congress program proposed exciting symposia covering wide panel of recent developments and discoveries in Laboratory Medicine. Indeed, delegates had the possibility to choose between evidence in diabetes practice, standardization, hormonology trends, epigenetics, metabolic diseases, frontiers in technology and methods, laboratory automation, biomarkers of neurodegenerative disorders, bleeding disorders etc�. The great success of the different interactive symposia and the quality of the 368 displayed posters, close to the exhibition place, are also worthy of mention. Breaking news from the congress. Delegates were the first to congratulate the Netherlands Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (NVKC) for its 60^th anniversary. This memorable event was celebrated on Wednesday night at the Beurs van Berlage, an outstanding building located in the heart of the city, between the Central Station and the Dam. Delegates could also appreciate some typical music, local cheese girls and talented wooden shoemakers.



Professor Victor Blaton, President of the FESCC, adjudged the FESCC Scientific Award for Laboratory Medicine to Professor Mathias M. M�ller from Vienna at the opening ceremony. The IFCC/Abbott Molecular Diagnostics Award for significant contributions to molecular diagnosis was attributed to Professor Ulf Landegren from the University of Uppsala. Delegates at EuromedLab 2007 were also the first-hand witnesses of the birth of EFCC (European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine), the result of the merging of the EC4 (European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine) and FESCC (Forum of European Societies of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine). EFCC aims are to promote the profession at European level and to develop scientific and educational co-operation across Europe. The Organising committee under the leadership of his President Gerard Sanders, the International Scientific Committee and the NVKC members should all be congratulated for these four days of excellent science, social happenings in this beautiful city.