The Muziekmaatjes project brings live music to children and their families at the Dijklander Hospital in Hoorn. Launched in November 2024 as a pilot on the pediatric ward, the programme has expanded to the geriatrics, dialysis, oncology and neurology departments. Specially trained music teachers from Boedijn Music School in Hoorn make music ‘with and for’ children and their families in the wards.
The music sessions take place twice a week. With advice from staff in the hospital wards, the music and interactions are personalized for each patient. For example, gentle sounds for a newborn, or an upbeat and fun song for an eight-year-old, or a ukulele lesson for a teenager. Throughout, parents are encouraged to join in making music.
The Muziekmaatjes programme supplements the care provided by medical and nursing staff, supporting the wellbeing of both children and their families. Read more about Muziekmaatjes in an article by the Noordhollands Dagblad.
Project leader Ciska Ruitenberg says that the idea for the programme was already brewing when she participated in the Arts in Health Summer School in 2024. “As a teacher I know how live music can lift the spirits of young people,” she says, “The idea of a hospital pilot program takes that to the next level”.
An experienced musician and music teacher, Ruitenberg had been in conversation with Dijklander pediatrician Noud Drewes, who wanted to use live music to help his young patients feel more human during treatment and recovery. Working with Drewes and hospital staff, Ruitenberg developed a proposal for the Muziekmaatjes pilot and submitted it to the VSB fund, which specializes in social domain projects. VSB partnered with Arts in Health Groningen to evaluate the pilot.
Directed by Arts in Health Groningen science director Ferdinand Lewis, and conducted by research associate Nina van den Berg, the study explored the implementation and outcomes of the Muziekmaatjes pilot, offering recommendations for strengthening the programme and supporting its long-term sustainability.
Read also our interview with Dijklander pediatrician Noud Drewes and Muziekmaatjes project leader Ciska Ruitenberg here.
