Among the Dutch, it is customary to give guests klompen as a souvenir, meet Sinterklaas and prepare fancy orange costumes for King's Day. These traditions are years and years old and there is no memory. However, new ones are easily and organically added to them. A perfect example of this - A week against loneliness, which will take place in 2022 from 29 of September to 6 of October.
Government program against loneliness
About 47% of people in the Netherlands aged eighteen and over feel lonely from time to time or constantly. In the age group over 75, the figure rises to 56%. There will be proportionally more older people in the country, so the problem of loneliness will grow if no steps are taken.
In the Netherlands, the problem of loneliness is solved at the government level! In 2018, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport om eenzaamheid in Nederland) launched a corresponding program. Initially, it focused on older single people, but then managed to cover almost all age groups. If interested, read the government program action against loneliness 2022-2025
A week against loneliness
A sense of belonging and worth is a basic human need. However, each person deals with loneliness differently, and there are no ready-made solutions. At the same time, melancholy is aggravated in autumn, and with it - a feeling of loneliness.
That is why the idea of the Week Against Loneliness is to offer people of all ages a variety of activities: from the opportunity to chat over a cup of coffee in their village on the market square to visit an art exhibition with a stranger in Rotterdam. This is the whole of Holland and all the Dutch. Welcoming, open, friendly, always ready to share a positive charge with others.
The best opportunity for socialization and integration
Migrants, in particular Ukrainian refugees, feel loneliness very sharply and look for any excuse to join the Dutch society. Anti Loneliness Week events are perfect for this. You can participate in activities for free, in many cases you don’t even need to know the language. But positive emotions are guaranteed, because everyone can choose an activity to their liking! Someone will enjoy Dutch pancakes (pannenkoeken) at the Pancake Marathon, and someone will go on a musical walk around the castle.
The activities of the Week Against Loneliness are held both at the national level and at the municipal level. You can see the program of events in Holland here. You can find out what each specific hementa has prepared here. Have a good time!
Publication Date: 30.09.2022
