Tilburg family turns litter picking into a six-year mission for cleaner canals
For over six years, the Fick-Kapteijns family from Tilburg has been cleaning up litter along the Wilhelminakanaal, tackling everything from mattresses to cables hidden in fox dens. Their efforts highlight the ongoing battle against waste in local nature, inspiring others to join the cause.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Family | Fick-Kapteijns family (Miranda, husband, and two children) |
| Location | Wilhelminakanaal, Tilburg (Brummenpad, Poseidonpad, Moerse Dreef) |
| Duration | Over six years |
| Notable Finds | Car parts, toaster, frying pan, mattress, cut-up cables in a fox den |
| Frequency | Initially weekly during COVID-19; now as often as suits their schedule |
| Initiative | Started with Bende van Reeshof, now part of Tilburg Schoon |
| Municipal Support | Free litter grabbers and yellow trash bags provided by gemeente Tilburg |
The municipality of Tilburg plays a supportive role in local environmental initiatives by providing resources like cleanup kits and promoting community engagement. Tilburg Schoon, the city-wide program, encourages residents to take ownership of their neighborhoods by organizing cleanup efforts.
Happy with Openrijk?
Then support us with a small contribution
external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
From frying pan to mattress: this family cleans up waste along the Wilhelminakanaal
Published on: March 31, 2026, 12:32 PM
We all get annoyed by litter in nature at some point. But actually cleaning it up yourself? The Fick-Kapteijns family from Tilburg does just that. For over six years now, they’ve regularly walked along the Wilhelminakanaal with tongs and a trash bag. ‘I just don’t understand how people can throw their junk on the street like that.’
It was around the start of the coronavirus period when the Fick-Kapteijns family took their first walk along the canal, armed with tongs and trash bags.
‘I saw a post on Facebook about the Bende van Reeshof, an initiative for a cleaner environment,’ says mother Miranda. ‘It seemed like a good idea. As a family, we spend a lot of time outdoors anyway: canoeing in the Biesbosch, geocaching, or going out on our motorbikes. Searching for litter seemed like a great new outdoor activity. So I ordered a cleanup kit for the kids and myself.’
Cables in a fox den
In the meantime, the family has been walking the Brummenpad, the Poseidonpad, along the Moerse Dreef and the Wilhelminakanaal for over six years. In that time, they’ve come across some truly remarkable items.
‘Car parts, a toaster, a frying pan, a mattress, and dozens of metres of cut-up cables hidden in a fox den,’ Miranda lists. ‘For this kind of junk, you really have to go into the bushes. There’s also a lot of litter on the stones along the canal—out of sight from the path. If you’re not actively looking for it, it can just lie there for years.’
When it suits us
‘During the coronavirus period, we were really keen,’ Miranda says when asked how often they go out to collect litter.
‘Every week, sometimes even twice a week. Nowadays, that’s less frequent, of course. My husband is often at work, and our eldest, who’s eighteen, has lost interest. Our youngest, eleven, still enjoys going out to collect litter now and then. We go when it suits us and when we feel like it. Sometimes we spend a whole afternoon at it; other times, we just clean up a little near our home.’
That doesn’t mean the family only collects litter during their walks. ‘As I said, we’re often outdoors. We always carry a little bag with us to pick up any litter we come across. It’s such a small effort, and it makes the environment just that little bit cleaner.’
A sense of satisfaction
But no matter how often the family goes out, the litter always comes back. Miranda can’t wrap her head around it: ‘I just don’t understand how people can throw their junk on the street like that. It’s a mindset, you know. And that doesn’t change overnight.’
Yet the endless stream of litter doesn’t deter Miranda and her family. ‘Even though I’m always annoyed when I see litter lying around, it also motivates us to go out and clean up. And after we’ve done that, we head home with a sense of satisfaction.’
Tilburg Schoon
The Bende van Reeshof has since evolved into the city-wide initiative Tilburg Schoon. The municipality provides free litter grabbers and special yellow trash bags, so Tilburg residents can clean up their own neighbourhoods. Group cleanup kits are also available for loan. Want to know more or order your own cleanup set? Visit the website of the gemeente Tilburg.