When Niki Jongman (36) heard last year that she could take extra vacation days at a discounted price, she decided not to spend them on a beach. Instead, she wanted to do something ‘fun and useful.’ This led her to NDSM Treehouse, an art incubator in Amsterdam-Noord. For two weeks, she contributed to their Art Park exhibition. “I now feel more at home in the neighborhood.”

After his early retirement, Frank didn’t want to go to the gym. He has now become indispensable as an all-around volunteer at the Woonzorgcentrum Het Schouw. The highlight is singing together on Wednesday afternoons. “I am slowly learning that it is quite nice to combine reason and emotion.”