Go find your pancake!

26 October 2025

During the kick off event Gappie gezocht on November 4th at De Balie, ‘Pancake Man’ Willem Dieleman shared what he learned during a 2.5-year journey through Asia. He was warmly welcomed everywhere, invited for meals, and helped with accommodation, so he wanted to give something back. He decided to bake pancakes wherever he went. This allowed him to connect with people and led to beautiful encounters. Below are some quotes from his talk.“Giving is a special thing. We don’t have to give, it’s not prescribed by law. Yet we do it, it’s in our nature, animals do it too. We often don’t know what we get in return. Giving is a part of compassion. The definition of compassion is: The emotional response you get when faced with someone who is suffering and the authentic desire to help alleviate that person’s suffering. You can give something, but if you don’t feel anything about it, it has little effect. And vice versa, if you do feel something, but you don’t do anything, then there is also no impact.”

Giving is not only nice for the receiver, but also for the giver

“Giving is not only nice for the receiver, but also for the giver. Scientific research shows that people who give become more resilient, experience less stress, are less likely to get depressed, live longer, are happier, and find it easier to give. Then they become happier again, live longer, and give more. So, you can also have selfish motives for giving.”

Why don’t we give more often?

“If it’s so good for us, why don’t we give more often? Why isn’t there a waiting list for buddies? We feel like we live in a country where everything is well arranged for everyone, where there are few worries. Our natural urge to show compassion is not often triggered. For example, during my trip, I noticed that peers were already taking care of their parents. I have never thought about that. I trust the healthcare system in the Netherlands.”

Tips for the giver

Step out of your comfort zone.“When I did that, I experienced beautiful adventures and met all kinds of nice people.”
Don’t run away from peopleHello,but embrace them“Most people mean well. You have to experience that in practice. We tend to remember the scary stories the most!”
Participant and no spectator“If you are a participant, you feel part of the community. Also in Amsterdam, it is positive if you know who the people are who live around you.”
Don’t turn a pancake into a 3-star dishHello,But look for something that is simple.“I was too focused on myself and my career in the beginning. I made it all very big and complex. Then I started collaborating with the local population and local entrepreneurs. That worked well.”
Find your own pancake!