Neighbourhood party Atolwijk connects

Meeting each other. That is what local residents of the Atol neighbourhood did on Friday during the community festival. Braving the wind and rain, residents settled down in the warmth of Open Haven, the Ontmoetingskerk and community centre Atolplaza. To eat together, do a fun workshop or just have a cup of coffee or tea. 'Neighbourhood Day is very important in this neighbourhood, because people need each other. And besides, it's much better to have a good neighbour than a good friend,' says community worker Jennifer Daal.

Being there for each other

We organised the community festival together with our neighbours: foundation Ido and the Ontmoetingskerk. have been working together for some time, but organised a community festival for the first time. 'If we are keen for people to meet and connect, we as organisations need to do the same,' says Jennifer.

Residents steal the show

After the opening speech at Open Haven, music sounded and some local residents shone as models on the red carpet. They showed off the most beautiful creations and these clothes are available for sale in the Almost Free Shop at Open Haven. Inside, coffee was poured with mini stroopwafels and baklava. Residents split into groups to play a game of bingo, for a wood-burning workshop and still others learned to make Moroccan tea.

Eating together connects

The central hall of community centre Atolplaza filled with delicious smells during the morning. Fresh mushroom soup, Surinamese noodles with chicken, nasi, sour, a couscous salad and a quiche were on the buffet. The snacks had been made by local residents together with staff from the three organisations. 'Food connects. Today is all about meeting and connecting.'

Packed programme

For the neighbourhood, there was more than enough to do. In Open Haven, you could decorate cupcakes, braid hair, face painting and a dress-up market. In the Ontmoetingskerk, you could arrange flowers, make your own painting and there was an exhibition of hobby painters. In Atolplaza, both children and adults enjoyed the interactive magic show and visitors could meet various organisations. Neighbourhood worker Jennifer looks back on a successful day. All three of us do beautiful and different work. Nice that we could show that on a day like this.'