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Learning from other countries: A glimpse

To gain insight into how arts in health can support the healthcare transition in the Netherlands, it can be useful to see how similar initiatives have been proposed, and implemented in other countries.  All the countries discussed here recognise that transformation is needed in healthcare systems. They all argue for the support that the arts can offer.

Arts in health in the United Kingdom

The modern field of arts in health had its start more or less in the United Kingdom in the 1960’s. Initially driven by countercultural social movements, it took some time to gain a place in mainstream institutions and policy. It is only in the last couple of decades that the field really blossomed.

A number of important projects were developed in the UK between 2004 and 2007. For example, a project called Invest to Save; Arts in Health had the goal to “develop the capacity of the North West Region’s arts and health communities, and research the impact of creativity, culture and the arts on health and economic outcomes” (Parkinson, 2009, p.43). Amongst other things, this project involved visual arts and creative writing activities for older people in rehabilitation.

Around the same time, the Arts Council England and the Department of Health published a report on the prospectus of arts and health. Although this report did not initially receive a great deal of notice, over time the cultural change it recognised began to emerge.

The Arts Council has continued its work on Creative Health and Wellbeing. The National Centre for Creative Health has further supported the development of policies and research. In recent years the London Arts in Health movement has found some success hosting an annual Creativity and Wellbeing Week,  which has seen tens of thousands of active participants. This celebration of the field includes talks, film screenings and workshops. Because that event is attended by people with a variety of backgrounds, it also encourages the intersectoral collaboration that is integral to arts in health programmes.

The arts in health field has seen some developments in other regions of the UK. The Arts Council of Wales, for example, has partnered with the Welsh NHS confederation to raise awareness of the how the arts support wellbeing. The partnership set out to “embed arts and health initiatives across the NHS in Wales”. 

Arts in Health and the WHO

In 2019 the WHO commissioned a report in which they scoped over 3500 articles about the role of the arts in supporting health and wellbeing. Since then, the WHO has begun issuing policy materials and strategies for the use of  arts in health for use by the member states. Importantly, these emphasise intersectoral decision-making and planning, for example between the cultural and culture sectors. 

In 2023, the WHO launched the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, to encourage research and disseminate findings on arts in health. The Lab also organises events that celebrate, and advocate for, the introduction of national and regional arts in health initiatives around the world. 

Arts in Health and the European Commission

A report by European Commission recognises the societal value of the arts and culture for wellbeing. Policy recommendations and briefs have been issued which argue for the positive impact of the arts on wellbeing, recommending that member states implement policies to promote “long-term collaboration and mutual learning partnerships between cultural practitioners, healthcare professionals, and community organisations”. The Commission-funded organisation Culture for Health commissions research and publishes reports on culture for health, including strategic recommendations for facilitating intersectoral dialogue and action. 

Arts in Health in other European countries

Other countries in Europe are introducing arts in health plans and programmes.  The arts in health field has gained a strong foothold in Ireland, for instance: The Irish ‘Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan’ for 2021-2025 includes a commitment for local authorities to plan long-term cultural and arts involvement in promoting wellbeing.

As early as 2004, the Irish Arts Council wrote a practical handbook for setting up projects and networking for arts in health, and that handbook is still useful today. It outlines a step by step approach to developing an arts in health project, from initial ideas to project implementation.

Other EU countries working on arts and health projects and policy include Bulgaria, France, Luxembourg and Portugal. Scandinavian countries are particularly active in integrating arts in health into social systems. Finland, for instance, has a “coordinated national effort to publish local cultural wellbeing plans” and a Masters degree is offered in Creativity and Arts in Social and Health Fields. Denmark and Sweden are part of a pilot by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region, to experiment with ‘arts on prescription’, and the Nordic School of Arts and Health also runs many projects. 

Arts in Health in Australia and New Zealand

New Zealand’s national network for creative wellbeing, ‘Te Ora Auaha’ (Creative Wellbeing Alliance), was established in 2019 to help ensure access to arts and culture. New Zealand is also investigating arts on prescription as a way to support arts in health. Australia’s ministries of health and culture have since 2014 committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians by formally recognising the role of the arts in supporting wellbeing. They have an active Arts and Health Network too, with regular meetings and several events. 

Arts in Health in Canada and the United States

Canada and the United States have active arts in health programmes and are creating national support networks, along with efforts to focus research and policy for the field.

Canada, like other countries including the UK and Finland, for example, is home to an arts in health-focused research group and offers degree programmes. Efforts to integrate research-based arts in health strategies into public policy are underway in the United States. Organisations like the National Endowment for the Arts and Americans for the Arts are now actively supporting arts in health projects. Several national projects are currently running, however funding for projects is usually not structural.

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This brief introduction to arts in health in other countries is not exhaustive, but merely offers a glimpse into some of the strategies, structures, and experiences in other countries, in the hope that they will be of use to Dutch arts in health advocates. Overall, support for arts in health is increasing in many countries and major institutions. 

For arts and health movements to become sustainable anywhere, local and national governments must systematically collaborate across sectors and with arts and health professionals.

The level at which strategies and projects are integrated into institutions varies widely. Furthermore, the structural funding for arts in health is not correlated with the wealth of particular countries: While the Greek ministries of Culture and Sports, and of Health, have both signed a memorandum which includes plans for intersectoral collaboration and the implementation of arts in health policies, the United States and Canada struggle to implement national, intersectoral, structural funding for arts in health.

Nor does a long tradition of arts in health funding guarantee ongoing structural support. Although the modern arts in health field largely developed in the UK, changes to healthcare funding in recent years has seriously impacted the field there.

Institutions Offering Art Programmes

The arts and culture are an ongoing part of programming for AxionContinu’s clients in the Utrecht area. In addition to an extensive music programme — including a choir and the popular “apple pie concerts” — residents can take part in numerous cultural  activities such as the Museum on Friday program. AxionContinu also collaborates with students from the Utrecht University of the Arts (HKU) on We Heart Society, in which music students and residents create new songs together.

Vitalis (Eindhoven region) also offers a rich arts programme. The theatre project Trotse kameraden (“Proud Companions”) brings together residents, young people and local neighbourhood members to create a performance. Furthermore, there is AtelierSkon, a working place where care home residents, neighbours and other interested people upcycle cast-off  materials to make beautiful arts and crafts.

In Amsterdam, Cordaan provides care for people with intellectual disabilities, and also for older adults living with dementia. Cordaan’s Art in Care program focuses on improving quality of life, for example with the ambulant kunstteam (mobile art team) in which visual artists, writers, dancers and others use creativity to engage with Cordaan clients in the community, for example by visiting a museum together or making an artwork. Cordaan’s Mulltimedia digitale kunst (Digital Multimedia Art) program brings artists and people with intellectual disabilities together, to practice  photography, filmmaking and graphic design. 

Organisations Offering Art Activities

Dance

Dans op Recept (Northern Netherlands and Limburg) provides classes and workshops in creative movement and dance for older adults and people with chronic conditions, often within residential care settings. Dans op Recept  also trains care professionals to  integrate dance into their work. The dance company Leefmeesters, a part of Dans op Recept, creates dance pieces for public performance, in which professional dancers collaborate with people living with chronic illnesses.

Meerdandans (North Holland) offers dance lessons for people with Parkinson’s disease and acquired brain injury. Requests from other regions are referred to teachers within their network.

Het Huiskamerdanspaleis (Living Room Dance Palace) organises dance ‘moments’ for adults with dementia in their own, warmly decorated, surrounding. Instructors are present to guide participants. The work of Het Huiskamerdanspaleis also includes a special program for fall prevention: Het Danspaleis Valpreventie.

Even when they do not aim to produce therapeutic outcomes, participatory arts programs can provide positive support for wellbeing. Marc Vlemmix Dance offers creative movement classes for people living with MS, rheumatism and Parkinson’s. Participants are prepared for creative movement by teachers who help people with chronic conditions to build strength, balance and flexibility. 

Switch2Move combines music and movement for people with Parkinson's disease, dementia, MS or other chronic illnesses. People can join the lessons in the regions of Amsterdam, Tilburg and Den Bosch. People who are not able to leave their homes can join the dance lessons through video recordings.

Theatre

Theatre Veder performs shows in care homes, especially for demented elderly people, and using the Veder Contactmethode. In their performances, artists use poetry, music and theater to engage the long term memory of participants. Staff at  Theatre Veder also train care professionals to use  the Veder Contactmethode to improve communication with clients.

Cliniclowns is the longest-running Arts in Health program in the Netherlands, with ongoing programs in nearly every hospital in the country. Cliniclowns’ highly trained professional performers use play and music to engage children and healthcare staff find a sense of fun even in tense care environments. Cliniclowns has also developed a successful program for adults living with dementia. 

Visual Arts & Museums

Many museums have special programs at the intersection of art, healthcare, and well-being, see for example the Museum van de Geest, Rijksmuseum and Mauritshuis. For more information, you can also contact the Museum Association.

There are also initiatives that older adults with health issues to experience visual art in a meaningful way, such as the MuseumPlusBus. The program brings traveling exhibitions of high-quality reproductions to care homes. The program also arranges  transport that brings elderly people to museums.

KOO (The Hague) uses multiple arts strategies  to engage   elderly people living with chronic illnesses. Kleurenparade  is a series of five workshops that introduce seniors to a variety of art forms. During the creative activities, participants are encouraged to discuss their experiences and inspirations. Kunstknuffel uses  creative activities to “encourage meaningful artistic experiences where memories can take shape.”  All activities are guided by specially trained instructors.

Amphion Cultuurbedrijf is part of the programme Long Live Art, which offers a wide range of activities for residents of care facilities in the Achterhoek region. Their Cultuur met zorg (Culture with Care) program places resident artists in care centers, leading  small-scale activities such as felting, dancing and photography, and theatre. 

What Does the Science Say?

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) published an extensive review of research regarding the impact of  the arts on well-being. 30+ years of research on Arts in Health supports a compelling argument  that the arts support wellbeing.

A selection of the findings:

• Stroke rehabilitation: Dance improves muscle strength, posture and balance, and may stimulate memory and executive function.
• Parkinson’s disease and MS: Dance strengthens muscles and improves posture, mobility and quality of life.
• Psychogeriatrics: Drama activities improve contact between residents and care staff. Dance appeared to have a positive effect on speech. Literary activities can improve memory, listening skills and attention in people with dementia, and also reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
• Palliative care: Art activities improve physical and psychological well-being and support conversations about illness and end-of-life.
• Anxiety and depression: Art can reduce feelings of anxiety and depressive symptoms related to illness, such as cancer.
  
  

Research programs in the Netherlands

The Dutch Ministries of Education, Culture & Science (OCW) and Health, Welfare & Sport (VWS) collaborate with Stichting RCOAK, Fonds Sluyterman Van Loo in the programme Arts and Culture in Long-Term Care and Support.  One of the goals is to map existing art initiatives in order to identify the success factors that contribute to an effective and sustainable offer. Amsterdam UMC and the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing also joined forces in an Art in Health program to research the value of art in long-term care by describing existing art initiatives and evaluating their impact.

The Summer School introduces students to the emerging field of arts in health, and how it uses creative practices to provide care, support wellbeing, and encourage healthy living. Students experience the theory, practice, and ethics of using the arts to support care and wellbeing.

“The Summer School brings together a diverse group of people, to build a common understanding of how arts is health works,” says Ferdinand Lewis, director of education for Arts in Health Groningen (AiHG). “They leave the School as a community of learners, ready to explore how they might want to contribute to the field.”

The week-long Summer School is designed for people at different points in their careers, and is open to mid-career graduates of MBO, HBO, and universities, as well as current students at any of those institutions. “Establishing a permanent place for the arts in our healthcare system will require professionals who can work across sectors, disciplines and traditional roles,” Lewis says. 

The Summer School introduces students to the scientific research on how the arts are being used to re-humanise the health professions, to support wellness and recovery, and to encourage healthy living. The curriculum includes an innovative pedagogical approach that integrates the learning of theory and practice together in a unique workshop setting. “Students are immersed in the practice of arts in health right away,” Lewis explains, “while they are also learning the science and theory that explains the field. They follow up on those experiences with structured reflection, to integrate experience and knowledge”. 

Each student is encouraged to formulate their own goals for working in the field. The School’s unique teaching-learning strategy, plus the wide diversity of backgrounds among the students, means that each graduate takes away their own set of tools, ideas, and inspirations. One graduate reported, “For me it was about getting to know what is out there in the field”, while in contrast, another student in the same cohort said that she learned how to work in the field of art in health, and to organise her own programmes. 

Finally, all of the teaching and learning in the Arts in Health Summer School occurs in a community of people exploring their common passion for this exciting new field. Students who complete the School can receive an official ‘digital credential’ from the University of Groningen to use on CV’s. They also have the opportunity to join Arts in Health Learning Community, especially for former Summer School students, which meets every six weeks to share knowledge, discuss current issues, and build a network across the Netherlands and EU. 

Development of the Summer School
The Summer School was first piloted in June of 2023. AiHG’s program director Kirsten Krans said, “We made 15 spaces available for students, and all of them were filled right away. So many people want to learn how the arts can support care in hospitals, long-term care, and in our communities!” 

Since that 2023 pilot program, the Summer School has quickly evolved. In 2024, AiHG was awarded support from the University of Groningen to develop a formal summer school curriculum. AiHG partnered with the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, University College Groningen, Prins Claus Conservatorium; the Faculty of Religion, Culture & Society at the University of Groningen; the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: and the University of Hamburg for the 2024 Summer School. Enrollment was increased to 25, for which the Summer School received more than 50 applications in 2024 and 2025. Accepted students included visual and performance artists, medical doctors, social workers, university assistant professors, undergraduate students, administrators, and policy makers. Lewis says, “In the Netherlands and EU, the Arts in Health field needs people from a variety of backgrounds, all learning and working together. The Summer School was created to facilitate that”.      

Learn more

Arts in health professionals use a variety of approaches to support the wellbeing of healthcare patients and staff, in hospitals and also in long-term care facilities. This might include anything from listening to recordings to a live performance at a patient’s bedside, or  getting staff and families to sing and play along, and even improvising new music with patients and families. 

In hospitals
Music for health projects are enhancing the well-being of patients and staff in hospitals around the Netherlands. For instance, the Boedijn music school and Dijklander Hospital are collaborating on a multi-year partnership called Muziekmaatjes (Music Buddies), using live music to create moments of relaxation, escape, and joy, among pediatric patients and their parents. Another initiative specifically designed for children is "De Liedjesfabriek’" (The Song Factory), in which children write their own songs under the guidance of a music professional. Children from all over The Netherlands get to write and record their own song on the topic they choose and in the style of music they want. 

Music for health can even be found in hospital intensive care units. One example of this is the organisation MuzIC that works with interested hospitals throughout The Netherlands,  supporting the recovery of patients, which can minimize the health impacts of an ICU stay.  Also the organisation ‘Muziek aan bed’ (Music at the bedside) provides musical interventions on all hospital wards.

Outside the hospital
Music in health is also found in rehabilitation centers and hospices. For example,  the organization Muziek aan Bed brings live music to people living with dementia in nursing homes through its Muziek aan tafel (Music at the Table) program, where everyone sings along, conducts, or moves. Professional Arts in Health organizations such as Mimic and Embrace Nederland encourage music-making in institutions as well as in private homes. Embrace Nederland also works to build social cohesion in the social domain, for example, with its "Slagkracht" project. Both Embrace Nederland and Mimic provide workshops for healthcare professionals and informal caregivers, teaching them to incorporate music into their daily interactions with patients and families. 

What the science says
There is evidence that music contributes to recovery from illness, reducing pain, stress, anxiety, and depression. There are even indications that music can positively influence the immune system's responses.

In private homes, music in health professionals provide real support for people living with neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, or dementia.

Music appears to have positive effects on people with neurological disorders, activating the areas of the brain involved in thinking, feeling, movement, and emotion.

Research suggests that music can be a powerful tool to support the wellbeing of healthcare professionals and informal caregivers, by encouraging relaxation, building social connection, and helping staff to reflect on their work in new ways.

A study by Mimic suggests that music leads to stronger, positive contacts between patients and nurses, as well as an increase in compassion in nurses.

Professors Dick Swaab and Erik Scherder gave a lecture on Music and the Brain, which beautifully explains the positive health effects of music.

Organizations in the Netherlands in the field of Music in Health
There are many more organizations offering music in health services in hospitals, long-term care, and the social domain. Below is an overview: 

• Bedside Buskers
• Muziekids
• Zingen in de Zorg
• Hier is Muziek!
• Muziek voor de Zorg 
• Genetic choir
• REVA BEATS
• Stichting Muziek in Huis
• Zing mee in het Participatiekoor
• Bedside Singers – Zingen voor de ziel op reis) 
• MuzIC
• Mimic muziek
• ThuisMuziekZorg
• De Liedjesfabriek 
• Muziek Aan Bed

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Five artists collaborate with UMCG staff on participatory, care-focused art projects

Since February 2025, five artists have been working with the medical centre staff on participatory, care-focused art projects in different departments of the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG). The artists’ aim is to co-create participatory art projects to support the wellbeing of staff. The project reflects the UMCG’s core value, See the person (Zie de mens).

The pilot is an initiative of Arts in Health Groningen (AiHG) in collaboration with UMCG and theatre company PeerGroup.

Why this pilot?

Arts in Health is a growing field in which trained artists use creative methods to contribute to the wellbeing of healthcare workers and patients, and to promote healthy living. Arts in Health does not replace care, but supports it.

This pilot focuses on healthcare staff, in response to the pressures of modern healthcare—workload, technological focus, and compassion fatigue—the projects aim to create space for connection, inspiration, and to develop meaning in the work environment.

Five artists, five departments

AiHG worked with five UMCG departments to recruit and train five artists with part of five departments for a period of five months:

• Morgan Ton, multidisciplinary artist & filmmaker → Beatrix Children’s Hospital
• Anne Varekamp, spatial designer & visual artist → Communication & Marketing
• Emma Berentsen, performance-maker & dramaturg → Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery
• Eva Koopmans, relational artist & designer → Spiritual Care
• Wiesje Gunnink, artist & arts educator → Orthopedics

Pilot phases 

During Phase 1 (February–July 2025), artists got to know the staff of their UMCG department, exploring ideas and building connections with creative activities. Together, the artists and staff developed creative projects that reflect the unique context and culture of each department.

Phase 2 started in (October–November 2025). During this phase, the focus will shift to deepening and presenting the experience of art-making and ‘seeing the person’. 

Throughout both phases, the artists, programme makers, coordinator, and researchers have met regularly in a learning community. These sessions provided space for reflection, peer support, and shared learning. At the same time, researchers were collecting and analyzing  data to evaluate the pilot's process and impact.

Adrenaline

The second phase included the development of Adrenaline, an interactive audiowalk created in collaboration with Peergroup. Adrenaline brings together creative outcomes from the participating departments and translates the pilot’s themes into a shared, public format. Wearing headphones, visitors move individually through the UMCG and enter spaces that are normally closed to the public. During the walk, the hospital itself functions as a narrative voice, drawing on stories and experiences of staff, patients, and policymakers. In this way, the audiowalk further develops the theme See the person and offers a reflective perspective on care, work, and daily life within a medical centre.

Adrenaline can be experienced at the UMCG from 25 February to 22 March. Tickets are now available.
The audiowalk will be presented alongside the pilot’s evaluation and final report.

Pilot Team

The pilot is led by programme makers Kirsten Krans & Dirk Bruinsma, researcher and trainer Ferdinand Lewis, pilot coordinator and researcher Nina van den Berg, and student assistant Twan Tromp.

Steering Committee

Strategic guidance and supervision are provided by the UMCG steering committee, chaired by Michiel Kahmann. Members: Barbara van Leeuwen, Hanneke van der Wal-Huisman, Jaap Tulleken, Bertrand de Jong, Edwina Doting, Joke Fleer, and Mark Dessing.

Pilot Partners

UMCG, University of Groningen, Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, Peergroup, and Nationaal Programma Groningen.

Buur & Boek is a pilot project by NOORDWOORD and Arts in Health Groningen, focused on the joy of reading and writing in the hearts of four local communities. From October 2025 to March 2026, residents from different neighbourhoods and villages across the province of Groningen come together with trained group leaders, to read, write, talk, and reflect on short stories, poems and novels.

The goal of the project is to use reading and writing to inspire connection and care in the communities, and encouraging new groups to form. The five groups meet bi-weekly in the Korrewegwijk, Beijum, Finsterwolde, Noordlaren en Feerwerd. The groups are guided by four workshop leaders who each bring their own unique background and approach to creative reading and writing. No previous literary experience or nor is preparation necessary to join the groups. Participants from a wide variety of backgrounds join in experiencing ‘shared reading’, creative writing, deep listening, and reflective conversations. 

Arts in Health Groningen leads a bi-weekly learning community to support the four group leaders and project coordinator. The learning community involves peer discussion, reflection, planning, and coaching as needed. The group also discusses scientific literature on the health benefits of reading and writing, to inform practice. Self-care is also addressed, and the ethics of community-based work. 

The project creates space for community members to meet one another in new ways. Reading and writing become starting points for reflective conversations, deep attention, and sharing inspiration. Along the way, social connections are built or strengthened. “We meet with neighbours to talk about life through literature and poetry,” one of the workshop leaders explains. “We read and talk, and if people wish, also create. Everything is allowed, nothing is required.” Another workshop leader adds, “It is not about having the same opinion, but about daring to speak and to listen.”

The four workshop leaders, Charlotte Beerda, Gemma Jissink, Lieke van den Krommenacker and Willemijn van de Walle, each bring their own background in literature, performance and community work. Want to know more about who they are?  

At the end of the pilot project, each group will have the opportunity to share what they have created or discovered at a ‘mini-festival’ in each of the four communities. Some may present poems or short stories, others may simply celebrate the conversations and connections that have formed.

For Arts in Health Groningen, Buur & Boek is part of a broader programme of using the arts to encourage  reflection, dialogue, and social connection in support of well-being. By creating spaces where people can meet around shared curiosity and creativity, Buur & Boek helps build a sense of community and imagination in daily life.

Participation in Buur & Boek is free of charge. The project runs from October 2025 to March 2026 and is organised by NOORWOORD in collaboration with Arts in Health Groningen and local partners in each of the four communities.

Want to learn more about research literature and well-being?

The effects of reading on wellbeing have been investigated for decades by researchers from the humanities, social sciences and health sciences. Findings suggest that reading is not only a source of knowledge and entertainment, but also contributes to psychological and social health. Reading fiction is often described as a form of mental simulation that exercises social cognition, empathy, and Theory of Mind [1, 2]. These contribute to people's social and psychological wellbeing. For such effects on wellbeing, it is important that people engage with, and reflect on, what they read [3]. Inspired by such research, shared reading programmes have been used to reduce loneliness, start conversations and strengthen the sense of belonging, especially among people from different backgrounds or generations [e.g. 4; 5].

Expressive and reflective writing—such as diaries, short stories, or letters—can improve both mental and physical health as research in psychology and the health sciences highlights [6, 7, 8]. There is even evidence that points to writing reducing depressive [9] and PTS(D) symptoms [10] and that it allows people to better deal with grief [11]. For writing workshops to support wellbeing, it is important to create a trusting environment[12].

References:

1. Dodell-Feder, D., & Tamir, D. I. (2018). Fiction reading has a small positive impact on social cognition: A meta-analysis. Journal of experimental psychology. General, 147(11), 1713–1727. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000395 
2. Oatley K. (2016). Fiction: Simulation of Social Worlds. Trends in cognitive sciences, 20(8), 618–628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2016.06.002 
3. Carney, J., & Robertson, C. (2022). Five studies evaluating the impact on mental health and mood of recalling, reading, and discussing fiction. PLoS ONE, 17(4), e0266323. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266323
4. Billington, J., Carroll, J., Davis, P., Healey, C., & Kinderman, P. (2013). A literature-based intervention for older people living with dementia. Perspectives in Public Health, 136(3), 139–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913912470052 
5. Longden, E., Davis, P., Carroll, J., Billington, J., & Kinderman, P. (2015). Shared reading: Assessing the intrinsic value of literature. Medical Humanities, 41(2), 113–120. https://doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2015-010704 
6. Valtonen J. (2021). The Health Benefits of Autobiographical Writing: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. The Journal of medical humanities, 42(4), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-020-09631-9 
7. Pennebaker, J. W., & Seagal, J. D. (1999). Forming a story: the health benefits of narrative. Journal of clinical psychology, 55(10), 1243–1254. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(199910)55:10<1243::AID-JCLP6>3.0.CO;2-N
8. Toepfer, S. M., & Walker, K. (2009). Letters of gratitude: Improving well-being through expressive writing. Journal of Writing Research, 1(3), 181-198. https://doi.org/10.17239/jowr-2009.01.03.1 
9. Reinhold, M., Bürkner, P.-C., & Holling, H. (2018). Effects of expressive writing on depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 25, e12224. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12224
10. Pavlacic, J. M., Buchanan, E. M., Maxwell, N. P., Hopke, T. G., & Schulenberg, S. E. (2019). A meta-analysis of expressive writing on posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, and quality of life. Review of General Psychology, 23(2), 230–250. https://doi.org/10.1177/1089268019831645 
11. Den Elzen, K., Neimeyer, R. A., & Lengelle, R. (Eds.). (2024). Living with loss: From grief to wellbeing (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003460657 
12. Wiltshire, K. (2022). Using the short story as a tool for well-being in arts and health workshops for the NHS staff. Short Fiction in Theory & Practice, 12 (The Health of the Short Story: Part 2), 203–218. https://doi.org/10.1386/fict_00062_1 

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Willemijn van de Walle | Korrewegwijk

On community: “The group in Korrewegwijk reflects the city: diverse, multilingual and constantly changing. Participants vary in age and background, and bring different relationships to reading and language. Differences are present and openly discussed. Questions raised by the literature — such as where someone really comes from — often open up conversations in which multiple viewpoints exist alongside one another.”

On safe space: “Among the participants there  is a willingness to go beyond the surface. When one member speaks openly, others follow. Through small, attentive gestures — sharing tea, listening without interruption — a safe space develops where personal stories can be told.”

On connection: “Meeting on Tuesday evenings, the group is a place for people to  pause together. People come looking for calm and connection. Together, we use literature and poetry to help focus our attention, and to support moments of genuine encounter.”

Gemma Jissink | Noordlaren

On common interests: “Noordlaren has many overlapping networks. Buur & Boek has added another one: a group of people who connect  through their common interest in stories and poems, and their curiosity and willingness to explore together.”

On engagement: “Many of the participants already know one another, but reading and discussing stories and poems  creates a new kind of closeness.  This closeness is valuable, and at the same time the atmosphere must also remain open and light. People feel involved in the practical aspects of the project, and also in the content, so they stay engaged.”

On shared experience: “In this group, literature is a shared experience for us. Stories and personal reflections continue to emerge and surprise all of us—including me, as the facilitator.”

Lieke van den Krommenacker | Beijum – Feerwerd

On everyday life: “We have a small group of very committed readers who meet regularly. Ages range from early thirties to late seventies. Short stories and poetry provided the starting point for this group, but our conversations now move easily between discussing literature and everyday life.”

On sharing: “Over time, our relationships have deepened. Participants begin to share more of themselves, they exchange books, they offer reading suggestions to each other. Some of our members have started writing, which they share with the group.” 

On care: “After a few meetings, you can see a sense of care emerging in the group. Through shared attention and working together, the group has developed a kind of togetherness, and it becomes more meaningful the more we read and reflect together.”.

Charlotte Beerda | Finsterwolde

On knowing each other: “Many of the participants in the Finsterwolde group have known each other for years. The group is warm, and also has a certain reserve. Personal sharing unfolds slowly, and humour is important in this group, and laughter is common.” 

On vulnerability: “Vulnerability is not something we aim for in the group, but rather the point is being together and sharing. Trust  is more felt than spoken in the group, it is in the atmosphere, and in all the ways they are patient, attentive and appreciative of each other.”

On the unexpected: “Unexpected moments arise: someone shares a poem, or two married people discover they have both started writing, but without the other realising it. These wonderful moments are met with caring and gradually more space opens for writing and sharing, guided by the rhythm of the group.”

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Wiesje Gunnink, visual artist | Orthopedics department 

“At first, the hospital felt like an overwhelming maze. I began by observing, getting to know staff, and finding moments for art breaks. Some weren’t keen to make art yet I soon felt welcome, especially among the doctors, whose openness encouraged collaboration. Working with healthcare staff felt like finding a missing puzzle piece, connecting my artistic practice with my background in a family of care workers. I translated my experiences into poems and visual works, discovering parallels between art and care, such as precision, repetition, and dedication. Together we created by drawing lines without looking, pulling threads, cutting, gluing, and reflecting on how the past, present, and future meet in care”

Emma Berentsen, performance artist | Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgery department

“At the start of the project, I shadowed different people from the HPB department, from observing liver transplants to joining nurses in their patient meetings. I quickly learned how flexible everyone had to be with their time and decided to claim ten minutes in the weekly team meetings for my own artistic moments, which I called Emma’s Dilemmas. Finding time and space for art wasn’t always easy, and in the beginning, I sometimes felt unnecessary among people with “real” jobs. But as I grew closer to the team, I felt more at ease. Watching a liver transplantation struck me as an artwork in itself, the precision, rhythm, and silent collaboration between surgeons almost felt like a choreography. Seeing everyone create blackout poems together was one of the highlights of the project. In those moments, I noticed small signs of connection and vulnerability as people revealed something of themselves beyond their professional roles.”

Eva Koopmans, relational artist and designer | Spiritual Care department 

“Chaplains occupy a unique position in the hospital: one of great freedom and of deep attentiveness to the humanity of each patient. Initially, I had expected to accompany them during patient visits, but for privacy reasons that wasn’t possible. This felt limiting at first but then became a source of inspiration. I realized that their work often goes unnoticed within the hospital structure, they are literally and figuratively invisible. Once, I even went on a small quest through the hospital to find their workspace, only to discover that few people knew where it was. That invisibility became central to the project: how could we make their work visible and tangible? We are now creating an artistic representation of the safe space they build with patients—a space where everything can be said and nothing has to be solved. I’ve come to feel at home within the hospital, part of a team whose quiet presence spreads like ink in water” 

Morgan Ton, visual artist and filmmaker | Beatrix Children’s Hospital 

“I began by shadowing nurses, physicians, and palliative care professionals to understand their workload, rhythms, and perspectives on care. This helped me shape an arts-based project that would not interfere with their routines and could unfold through their own initiative. My aim was to bring a sense of playfulness and enjoyment into their busy workday. What truly struck me was how strict many staff members were about their own creativity. So in the first activity, I invited them to draw themselves, or a colleague, as a child might: using bright colours and imagination, creating space for art that did not need to be ‘perfect’. The drawings that emerged were surprising and full of play. This activity also sparked curiosity about how patients perceive their caregivers. That led to a second assignment in which staff asked patients to draw them. I was often present during these drawing moments, and it was moving to see how such a simple request created moments of connection, distraction, and joy. It encouraged caregivers to sit with patients without a medical reason, and to experience a shift in roles by becoming the ones observed.”

Anne Varekamp, designer and visual artist | Marketing and Communication Department 

“In the communications department, I’ve been exploring how creativity can ease work pressure without disrupting daily routines. We found that short, pre-planned creative sessions worked best. At first, many employees were hesitant, saying things like “I can’t do this,” but by the end of the sessions, their attitudes often shifted completely. These workshops became moments of connection, and word soon spread that they were fun, relaxing, and a great way to meet colleagues from other teams within the same department. Often staff felt too busy or didn’t see the value at first, but over time, curiosity drew more people in. The process took patience as I was keen on letting it happen organically. For me, the conversations during the workshops were the most powerful aspect. People felt safe enough to open up, not only about work, but also about personal things. And for me as an artist, it was deeply rewarding to see participants surprise themselves with their own creativity.”