Why do we use cookies?

• To ensure that the website works properly and you have an optimal user experience.
• To understand the number of visitors visiting our site and the pages they view.
• To allow social media to be integrated on the website.
• To generate adverts tailored to your needs.

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a simple small file sent with pages from this website and stored by the browser on your computer's hard drive. The information stored therein can be sent back to our servers the next time you visit. A cookie is a file containing an ID (a series of letters and numbers) that is sent by a web server to a web browser and stored by the browser. The ID is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. Cookies are small pieces of data stored in a visitor's browser. They are usually used to keep track of what settings users have selected and what actions they have taken on a site.

Cookies cannot be used to identify individuals; a cookie can only identify a machine. Cookies generally do not contain information that personally identifies a user, but personal information we store about you can be linked to information stored in and obtained through cookies.

Use of permanent cookies

A permanent cookie allows us to recognise you when you visit our website again. This allows the website to be set specifically to your preferences. Even if you have given permission for cookies to be placed, we can remember this by means of a cookie. This saves you having to repeat your preferences each time you visit, thus saving you time and making our website more user-friendly. Permanent cookies are stored by a web browser and remain valid until the set expiry date, unless they are deleted by the user before the expiry date via your browser settings.

Use of session cookies

A session cookie expires at the end of the user session when the web browser is closed. They usually store information in the form of a session identifier that does not personally identify the user. A session cookie allows us to see which parts of the website you have viewed with this visit. This allows us to tailor our service as much as possible to the browsing behaviour of our visitors. These cookies are automatically deleted as soon as you close your web browser.

Google Analytics

Through our website, a cookie is set by the company Google, as part of the 'Analytics' service. We use this service to track and receive reports on how visitors use the website. Google may provide this information to third parties if Google is legally required to do so, or insofar as third parties process the information on Google's behalf. We have no influence on this. We have not allowed Google to use the analytics information obtained for other Google services.

The information collected by Google is anonymised as much as possible. Your IP address is expressly not included. The information is transferred to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google states that it adheres to the Privacy Shield principles and is affiliated to the Privacy Shield programme of the US Department of Commerce. This implies an adequate level of protection for the processing of any personal data.

Right to access and correct or delete your data

You have the right to request access to and correction or deletion of your data. To prevent misuse, we may ask you to provide adequate identification. When it comes to access to personal data linked to a cookie, you must send a copy of the cookie in question. You can find this in the settings of your browser.

You can send your question using the contact details found on our Privacy Statement.

The cookies we use

Enabling, disabling and deleting cookies

You can set your internet browser not to accept cookies, to warn you when a cookie is installed or to delete cookies from your hard disk afterwards. More information on enabling, disabling and deleting cookies can be found in the instructions and/or by using the Help function of your browser.

Most browsers allow you to reject cookies and delete existing cookies as well. The methods for doing this vary from browser to browser and from version to version. Do bear in mind that certain graphics may not appear correctly, or that you will not be able to use certain applications.

You can get up-to-date information on blocking and deleting cookies via these links:

(a)          https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en (Chrome);

(b)          https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences (Firefox);

(c)          http://www.opera.com/help/tutorials/security/cookies/ (Opera);

(d)          https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies (Internet Explorer);

(e)          https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21411 (Safari); and

(f)           https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy (Edge).