Evening of Goodwill 2.0: Share Your Initiatives!

On Friday, December 12, 2025, the Municipality of Arnhem will organize the Evening of Goodwill for the second consecutive year. At Musis, an evening full of open encounters between people from various backgrounds in Arnhem and beyond is planned, featuring performances by Janna, Vincenzo Turiano, and city poet Jesse Laport. The focus is on the stories, ideas, and initiatives of participants.

The Evening of Goodwill was an initiative by Mayor Marcouch at the end of 2024, in response to the unrest that arose in the country after the ‘Maccabi riots’ in Amsterdam. The main goal then was to find goodwill together again. By having open conversations – also outside one’s own bubble – but above all by seeing the other as a person.

Second edition

On December 12, Arnhem builds further on the energy that already rose from the audience itself last year.

Mayor Marcouch says: “The need for a new meeting from Goodwill is crystal clear to me. We live in a time when great challenges and threats are piling up. Especially now we must stand shoulder to shoulder. This evening is intended to celebrate our coexistence. To show that unity is possible, even in a society full of differences. Because exaggerating those differences in the form of toxic polarization undermines exactly what makes us strong: our connectedness, our resilience, and our shared values. With Goodwill, we want to show how we can continue to find each other, even when the world around us is restless.”

Participant initiatives

It is also initiatives from participants that must shape the evening. Because everyone, Arnhemmer or not, is warmly invited to submit initiatives on how we can strengthen our connectedness and how we can better (co)live together. How we do not run away from our differences, but embrace them. How we channel polarization into a healthy debate, instead of letting it escalate into toxic language.

Marcouch: “Goodwill may be needed more than ever this year. The tragedies and conflicts in the world affect many, and feelings of sadness, anger, and powerlessness seep into our neighborhoods and living rooms. But precisely those emotions can be the starting point for solidarity if we turn them into initiative and inspiration. That is the power of Goodwill: together seeking ways to let dignity, respect, and humanity win. I hope that on December 12 we may again see how rich our society becomes when people seek each other out, and I am curious whether we can again challenge people this year to inspire each other.”

Think tank

Everyone can contribute to the Evening of Goodwill by submitting their initiative in the form of text, video, spoken word, poetry, or other creative expression. Nothing is really too crazy.

The submissions form the basis for a ‘think tank’ on December 9, in which all initiatives are brought together to see how they can strengthen each other. These will be presented during the Evening of Goodwill at Musis. You can submit until December 3 via the form.

Evening of Goodwill

On Friday, December 12, everyone is welcome to come and get inspired full of Goodwill. The evening is free to attend. Tickets can be ordered via goedemoed.aanmelden.arnhem.nl.