The project began as part of a study course- and has become a lovely way to celebrate christmas with Groningen’s elder residents
Translated by Thomas Ansell
The group of students are studying Commercial Economics, and have put together the Hanze Music Event, which will be held tomorrow on 17 December.
It is likely that 500,000 older people in the Netherlands feel lonely: and research ha shown that a large group of these people are unlikely to go out, whether due to unsteadiness on their feet, or no longer go out with their families.
So, in order to give this group of people a lovely way to welcome in the festive season, the students have put together the Hanze Muziek Event. The Commercial Economics students, perhaps against their inner nature, have decided to run a non-commercial event. Their event is being funded entirely by sponsoring and GoFundMe crowd-finding.
Around 200 elderly people, and their carers, will attend the event. They will be picked up by nostalgic city buses, and the morning concert will be followed by an afternoon of christmas music, eating, drinking, and socialising. The highlight is likely to be a performance by the Groninger musical duo Lucas en Gea. The event has been so well received that tickets are now completely sold out.
The Hanze Music Event will take place tomorrow in the de Appel rooms on the Zernikeplein. To get involved next year, just visit www.hanzemuziekevent.nl\
Image via Pixabay user JillWellington