Henk Hilders brings ‘Jazz in the neighborhood’

Who are you and what do you do in daily life?

“My name is Henk Hilders and I live in Buitenveldert with my wife. We are both retired, I am now 85 years old, but we are not the types to sit behind the geraniums. My wife and I moved from Oud-Zuid to Buitenveldert 22 years ago and I have never regretted it. My wife started cooking in the neighborhood room and together we have become more and more involved in the community.”

“For a lifetime, the Concertgebouw and jazz have been my great passions. I combine these in my volunteer work at the Huis van de Wijk in Buitenveldert. In 2017 we started the project” Jazz in the Neighborhood. The then-coordinator Carla Latinga was fortunately open to it. We wanted to breathe new life into the activities, with lively performances. I wanted to do it my way: a hall where the audience sits around the stage, like in the old days at jazz concerts in the basement of the Concertgebouw on Sundays. I wanted to bring that atmosphere back.”

“We now organize jazz concerts eight times a year around a theme, in close collaboration with musicians. Pianist Luis van Dam is my regular partner in this. By profession, I am a biochemist and a real techie. I even once wanted to build an airplane. During my career, I have worked both domestically and internationally: as a hospital lab technician and later in the aviation industry, among other things with parts for jet engines.”

What makes you happy?

“I am happy to collaborate with people, especially with musicians. The contact with talented and creative artists gives me a lot of energy. Music plays a big role in that.”

To whom did you last give a compliment? And from whom did you receive one?

“I received a thunderous applause after our jazz concert on Easter Monday. And I recently gave a compliment to Wiebke Bonnet. She performed in a beautiful way, with swinging interpretations of, among others, Brel, Piaf, and Aznavour, all with a delightful jazz twist. That was in Hilversum. And I can be quite critical, so that says something — she knows that too.”

What is your favorite place in Amsterdam?

“Born and raised in Weesp, I lived and worked for a long time in the Concertgebouw neighborhood. After that, I commuted for a long time between California and the Netherlands. I have now been living in Buitenveldert for 22 years. Amsterdam is my favorite place.”

What is the most beautiful or important lesson you have learned in your life?

“I have taught myself a lot throughout my life as a self-taught person and have made the craziest wishes come true. What I have learned is that you can only create truly beautiful things together. Just look at the Jazz in de Wijk concerts.”

Feeling like doing some volunteer work?

Look for the current job openings on the Job board from the Volunteers Central Amsterdam.

Or call for a personal conversation in South with Melita Bacic .