Agenda and meetings ArkinPlus

On a cold, foggy and windless Tuesday morning in January 2025, five ArkinPlussers came together in Bussum-Zuid for the very first winter walk. After a hot cup of coffee, they started their journey in good spirits. We want to repeat that in 2016. For those who are not afraid of a bit of climbing and descending, a second walk will soon follow in the Schoorlse Duinen, the highest dune area in the Netherlands. Here you can get a breath of fresh air and enjoy nature. With this walk we start the year 2026 in a fun, healthy and sporty way. Walking together connects and creates beautiful memories. Will you join us?

Date and time: Monday 2 February 2026 starts 10:30 am to approx. 2:00 pm;
Coordination: Corrinne Sluiters;
Registration: corrinnesluiters@gmail.com or wiekenolet@gmail.com;
Location start: Restaurant IJgenweis Schoorl, Oorsprongweg 1, 1871 HA Schoorl;
Costs: For free. Lunch in the restaurant is at your own expense;
Other: Good walking shoes, warm clothing, possibly binoculars.

On the initiative of some enthusiastic Arkin plussers, a table was reserved for the first time at Freud in the Spaarndammerstraat in Amsterdam on April 26, 2021. Under the motto: "How nice can it be to eat with a group of like-minded people at the Roads Restaurant Freud", Arkin retirees meet every quarter to talk about 'life during and after Arkin'. The leadership and coordination is done by Frits Nieuwstraten. Usually about 6-10 Arkin retirees enjoy themselves with a nice meal and a good conversation. A short report with photo can be found in the Newsletter. Sign up!

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 7 p.m.;
Coordination: Frits Nieuwstraten, frits@nieuwstraten.nl;
Registration: Frits Nieuwstraten, frits@nieuwstraten.nl of wiekenolet@gmail.com;
Location: Restaurant Freud, Spaarndammerstraat 424, 1013 SZ Amsterdam;
Costs: Menu at your own expense except for dessert offered by ArkinPlus.

Arkin's spiritual caregivers started a reading group for employees in 2024. Arkin retirees are welcome to brainstorm, discuss and exchange experiences together with young, experienced and senior professionals. The chosen literature is always in line with mental health and meaning. One of the participants provides a pan of soup and sandwiches and that is already a good start to a good conversation. Next time we will discuss The Children's Act by Ian McEwan. A juvenile court judge must decide whether a 17-year-old son of Jehovah's Witnesses will receive a life-saving blood transfusion against the wishes of his family. The leadership of the circle is in the hands of Robin Knibbe and Ben de Boer.

Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 6 p.m.;
Theme: The Children's Act, Ian McEwan;
Coordination: Ben de Boer, Ben.de.Boer@arkin.nl, Robin Knibbe Robin.Knibbe@arkin.nl;
Registration: Robin Knibbe Robin.Knibbe@arkin.nl of wiekenolet@gmail.com;
Location:Clinic Nieuwe Meer, Vlaardingenlaan 5, report to the reception;
Costs: For free.

In March 2026, the Oranje Fonds, together with thousands of social organizations, is organizing volunteer actions in the country. NLdoet is the largest volunteer action in the Netherlands. NLdoet puts volunteering in the spotlight and invites everyone to make a difference for a day! Active and involved citizens are the beating heart of many social initiatives and carry society. ArkinPlus shares this conviction and is happy to roll up its sleeves at one or more Arkin locations, such as cleaning up the garden, painting a shed, planting bulbs, organizing a loan cabinet, organizing a bookcase, baking pancakes.

Date: Friday and Saturday 13 and 14 March
Coordination: Wieke Nolet, wiekenolet@gmail.com
Registration: Wieke Nolet, wiekenolet@gmail.com;
Location: Various Arkin locations
Cost: Free

In five weekly meetings, (almost) retirees are prepared for the third phase of life as a retiree. In a small group of up to eight participants, the themes: new opportunities, healthy living, dealing with loss, thoughts and feelings and meaning are introduced by Marianne and deepened through conversation and practice. The rich life experience of the participants and the experience of Marianne's numerous courses create a mix of theory, experience and practice. Each participant has his or her own unique inbring.

Date: Monday, March 23, 2026, in the afternoon;
Coordination: Marianne de Pundert arkin.nl/preventie/cursussen;
Registration: Marianne de Pundert marianne.de.pundert@arkin.nl of Wieke Nolet wiekenolet@gmail.com;
Location: De Jellinek, Jacob Obrechtstraat 92, Amsterdam, report at reception; Costs: For free.

More information will follow later.

More information will follow later.

More information will follow later.

More information will follow later.

Save the date
Book 21 and 28 September for the ArkinPlus meeting. The final date will follow in April.

Save the date
Book 21 and 28 September for the ArkinPlus meeting. The final date will follow in April.