About the National Foundation for the Elderly
Together with partners, donors, and volunteers, the National Foundation for the Elderly is committed to creating a society in which no older adult has to feel lonely. And this remains a critical need. Did you know that nearly half of older adults feel lonely? More than 590,000 people even feel severely lonely! For these people, even a small gesture can have a big impact.
That’s why the Ouderenfonds offers a wide range of activities. For example, seniors can go out together on the BoodschappenPlusBus, improve their digital skills with the Welkom Online program, or meet new people at a sports club. Or, of course, at a knitting club run by Samen Breien. Because growing older is something you do together!
Check the Ouderenfonds website for all the activities in your area.
About Knitting Together
The Ouderenfonds runs knitting clubs throughout the Netherlands where older adults and young people knit and crochet together every week. Of course, they enjoy a cup of coffee and often have a good chat! Doing crafts together makes it easy to form new connections and friendships.
Everyone is welcome at the knitting club: young, old, men, and women. This mix of knitters makes knitting even more fun and educational. Experienced knitters help beginners, and everyone shares ideas with one another. If you want to start a knitting club or if you want your existing club to join the Ouderenfonds, there are no costs involved. You also have no obligations to the Ouderenfonds.
Connect
Would you like to register your knitting club, join an existing Samen Breien club, or do you have a question? Please send an email or call 088 344 2000. You can find more information on the Ouderenfonds website!
Great Perks
If you register your knitting club with the Ouderenfonds, there are all kinds of great benefits. As a “Samen Breien” club, you’ll receive:
- A free yarn kit and a 10% discount on wool from Yarnplaza,
- A starter kit for the coordinator, including a manual, flyers, posters, a press release, etc.,
- Welcome kits for (new) participants,
- Digital newsletters featuring patterns, fun promotions, and Tips,
- Training and webinars on various topics,
- Free subscription to Gold magazine,
- Participation in fun activities and outings organized by the Ouderenfonds,
- Available upon request: a market package to help you make a great impression at, say, a street fair!
In addition, your knitting club will be listed on ouderenfonds.nl, so people can easily find your club. Together, we can reach even more seniors this way. After all, why would anyone sit at home knitting when they could be enjoying themselves while knitting with others?
Experiences of Knitting Club Members
Are you also curious about what it's like to be a member of a knitting club? Read some experiences from enthusiastic knitting club members from all over the country below!
Everyone comes for the fun of it
Cobi Schallenberg (70) used to teach science and chemistry at a mavo/vmbo school. Now she is the coordinator of the knitting club in Capelle aan den IJssel. “When we couldn’t get together because of the pandemic, I really missed it, too. The knitting club is important not only to the members, but to me as well.”
"I've always loved working with my hands. I used to love doing experiments in my classes. Because of my illness, my ability to knit has decreased, but I really enjoy teaching others, and coming up with new things to make at the knitting club—little angels at Christmas, ducklings in the spring. By the way, not everyone comes to the club just to knit. Even people who’ve never held a Knitting Needle before are welcome. Everyone comes mainly for the fun of it—and so do I.”
We feel connected to one another
For a few years now, a regular group of women has been coming to the Orphanage Museum in Culemborg to knit, crochet, and spin. “Even though it’s actually a drop-in group,” says coordinator Ria Spronk proudly. “The knitting club started with three members and has since grown to 18 regular participants. And new women are still joining!”
Ria is the driving force behind the knitting club. “Does anyone have a darning needle?” she calls out. “Yes, me!” comes the reply from across the table. Ria: “See, that’s how it works. Everyone gets help when they need it. But more importantly, the knitting club is a lot of fun!” She keeps in touch through a group chat. People can sign up or cancel through the app, but the latter actually rarely happens. “Only in extreme weather does anyone ever cancel.”
Many people who come to check it out end up joining every week. Sitting next to Ria is Corrie van der Heiden (85); this is her fourth time here. “I’d started knitting a sweater at home, but after having to rip it out for the umpteenth time, I’d had enough. Now I get help here—I’m crocheting a little hat to go on the Innocent smoothies.” Although Corrie is a healthy, sprightly lady, she was looking to meet new people. “I live in an apartment complex with a lot of single people. But at this age, everyone has their own issues. Their joints ache; they can’t walk or ride a bike… I’m still healthy—I dance and play tennis. But I missed the fun of getting together with other women. Just chatting away about this and that. I can do that here!” Corrie has already met a lot of new people through the knitting club. She plans to come every week. “I’m still looking for someone to go out with regularly—I’m sure I’ll find someone here.”
Spinning ChampionDaat van Koevorden (87) sits at her spinning wheel, chatting away. The fact that she became the Dutch spinning champion in 1976 comes as a new revelation to many of those present. She spins yarn from the softest types of wool; Angela uses it to knit her socks. “We met through the knitting club and hit it off right away. It turns out we both love hiking, so now we also meet up every week outside of the club.”
She carefully guides the wool through the spinning wheel. This ancient craft has now also sparked interest beyond the knitting club. “I’m regularly asked to come spin at open houses in Culemborg—Museum Day, Open Monument Day, and this week I’ll be at a seniors’ fair. I first discovered spinning at a market featuring all kinds of traditional crafts, and now I’m doing my part to raise awareness.”
Anyone who thinks that all they do at a knitting club run by the Ouderenfonds is knit is mistaken. The ladies regularly lend books to one another or watch the same movies, and discuss them at the club. Some of them regularly attend “Bonte Dinsdag” at the theater. “But we’ve also done a flower-arranging workshop once in a while,” says Ria. “And I’m taking a Latin class with Winnifred. The knitting club came up regularly in those classes. Our teacher, Anna, now comes too: she hadn’t crocheted in 40 years and was eager to pick it up again, with a little help.”
Because of COVID-19, the gatherings were canceled for a while. “Whenever possible, we met in the Weeshuistuin, keeping 1.5 meters apart,” says Ria. “Still, it was a quiet time,” says Daat. “I came here every week and missed it terribly when we couldn’t get together.” Willy Verbaast (82), one of the first three participants, also missed the camaraderie. “The kids sometimes come to visit in the morning, but the rest of the day I’m alone. Since my husband passed away, I’ve felt an even greater need for social contact. Without this knitting club, I’d be sitting at home alone all week. It’s so wonderful that it’s here!”
Meanwhile, a card is making the rounds to congratulate one of the ladies on her new knee. “If someone is sick and we can help, we do,” says Daat. “One of us crochets, another knits, I spin… But we’ve all been through a lot—had husbands, raised children. We feel connected to one another. I’m sure that if anything happens, I’ll get support from the club.”
