• #municipalcouncil
  • January 30, 2026

People like to be meaningful to each other, and the number of active volunteers and informal caregivers in Apeldoorn is incredibly large. This expert meeting focuses on citizens helping citizens, in other words: the power of ordinary life.

The current care system is under great pressure, also in Apeldoorn. In our municipality, 1 in 7 youths now receives youth care, whereas in the past it was 1 in 27 children. At the same time, youth have not become healthier or happier. This development aligns with national trends and is no longer sustainable. Therefore, in 2025, the Apeldoorn municipal council established a youth care working group. This working group has provided a starting point for a new vision on youth (care) in Apeldoorn with its report Towards new youth policy. The group outlines 7 building blocks for new youth policy in its report.

Together we are stronger
The expert meeting The Power of Ordinary Life on February 5th focuses on one of the building blocks from the report, namely “We take our social foundation seriously.” This building block is based on the fact that people like to be meaningful to each other and that the number of active volunteers and informal caregivers in Apeldoorn is incredibly large. It concerns a shift from professional help to the principle of citizens helping citizens: the power of ordinary life. Ordinary life takes place where people live, go to school, work, and meet each other. How can we look out for each other more instead of involving care professionals? How do we learn to accept again that raising and growing up means stumbling forward and that this is just part of it? This is essentially what this expert meeting is about. 

Guest speakers
The evening begins with a story from Jerzy Soetekouw, director of Humanitas. He also calls himself a community missionary and will share his vision on the power of ordinary life. Then, several representatives from Apeldoorn organizations (De Kap, CJG Apeldoorn, Stimenz, MEE Samen, and Don Bosco) will discuss the initiative they have taken to further strengthen the power of ordinary life in Apeldoorn. This will be illustrated with inspiring examples from the city itself.


The expert meeting will take place on Thursday, February 5th, in the council chamber of the Town Hall. Doors open at 7:00 PM, and the meeting starts at 7:30 PM. Everyone is warmly welcome!