Agenda and meetings 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 an extension of 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. The group has grown nicely, we were with 10 people last time. Next time we will discuss The Therapist by Irvin Yalom, the well-known psychiatrist from California. It is an exciting and compelling novel about the inner life of the psychiatrist/therapist himself. The leadership of the circle is in the hands of Robin Knibbe and Ben de Boer.

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 6 p.m.;
Theme: The Therapist, Irvin D. Yalom
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. A light vegetarian meal will be provided.

On the initiative of only enthusiastic Arkin plussers, a table was reserved for the first time in 2021 at Freud in the Spaarndammerstraat in Amsterdam. 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. You would think that everyone has known each other for years, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are also retirees who only start talking to each other after retirement, often we are from different organizations that were spread over districts and cities. If you have not been to an ArkinPlus activity before, eating together is a nice way to get to know some people and to pick up old contacts. A short report with photo can be found in the Newsletter. Sign up!

Date: Tuesday, June 23, 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;
Cost: Menu at your own expense, except for dessert which is offered by ArkinPlus.

A small editorial team - Marijke Lans and Udo Nabitz - of the ArkinPlus working group compiled a first ArkinPlus Newsletter in 2022. The reason was the survey of the Keizersgrachtkerk meeting of 2022 in which a newsletter was the wish of the participants. At the beginning it was a modest email, and now a decent sheet of 15 pages, which is sent to all members of ArkinPlus via the membership administration by Wieke Nolet and Arkin communication Alissa van Meerveld to more than 270 email addresses. Anyone who has a nice text, photo or story is requested to contact the editors. Copies are always needed.

Date: March, July and December
Coordination: Marijke Lans and Udo Nabitz Marijke.lans@xs4all.nl; Udo.Nabitz@xs4all.nl
Cost: Free

Arkin has its own sloop to navigate the canals of Amsterdam. Sailing with the Mentrum sloop of the 1e Constantijn Huygenstraat clinic is part of the treatment of patients. Being at the helm of your life and giving and taking priority responsibly is literally practiced with nurse and skipper Rick. The ArkinPlus retirees also experience this experience as helmsmen. To see the facades of the canal houses from the water is not only a beautiful experience but also gives a new perspective on the city. Depending on the weather, the tour takes about 3-4 hours.

Afterwards, everyone is invited to have a drink together on the WG site, this is offered to you by ArkinPlus. In August, all applicants will receive an email with the route description and the exact details. We look forward to welcoming you on the Mentrum Sloop in good summer weather, we hope.

Date: Usually a Tuesday in August 2026, 2 p.m.;
Coordination: Hans Nusselder and Udo Nabitz
Registration: Hans Nusselder hansnusselderkj@gmail.com and Udo Nabitz Udo.Nabitz@Arkin.nl, Wieke Nolet wiekenolet@gmail.com
Location: Steiger, Bilderdijkkade 87, Amsterdam behind the Clinic 1e Constantijn Huyensstraat
Costs: Tour 15 Euro, treat afterwards by ArkinPlus

The annual meeting of (almost) retirees in the Keizersgrachtkerk attracted 125 (almost) retirees in 2026. We had announced our lustrum meeting on various channels and were able to hand out a Lustrum book. This booklet is available on our ArkinPlus website and gives a good impression of ArkinPlus since 2020.

At the 6th KGK meeting, the structure of the program is the same; walk-in, opening, Executive Board, keynote speaker, break, additional speaker, creative addition, closing and drinks. This year too, it is mainly about meeting, the atmosphere, the contact and the exchange in a beautiful, familiar environment of ArkinPlus. So far, that has always worked out pretty well. Sign up!

Date: Monday 21 September 2026 from 1 pm
Coordination: Hans Nusselder, Wieke Nolet, Marijke Lans, Joseff Iping, Udo Nabitz
Registration: Wieke Nolet, wiekenolet@gmail.com or with the members of the working group
Location: Keizersgracht 566, 1017 EM Amsterdam
Cost: Free

In five weekly meetings, (almost) retirees are prepared for the third phase of life as a retiree. In a small group of a maximum of 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 their own unique contribution.

Date: Monday 2 November 2026, 13.30 to 15:30
Coordination: Marianne de Pundert arkin.nl/preventie/cursussen;
Registration: Marianne de Pundert marianne.de.pundert@arkin.nl or Wieke Nolet wiekenolet@gmail.com;
Location: Jellinek, Jacob Obrechtstraat 92, Amsterdam, report at reception;
Cost: Free.