Bench Nearby

Project in the Nieuwmarkt district

In 2016 and 2017, as a geriatric physiotherapist, I conducted research on the fall risk for elderly people in public spaces in the Nieuwmarkt district of Amsterdam. My research revealed important insights. 

One was that, despite their physical limitations and the risks in public spaces, older people want to keep living in this neighbourhood. People contending with many health problems said there were not enough places to stop and rest, on their way to the Albert Heijn supermarket in Jodenbreestraat for example.

Ever since then, it has been my dream to create rest areas for older people along the walking routes to the shops on Jodenbreestraat. That dream has been partly realised, as benches have been installed on the routes from Valkenburgerstraat and Rapenburgerstraat. Unfortunately, this is not yet the case on the route from Nieuwmarkt to Jodenbreestraat. The campaign to achieve this is still ongoing.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my friends, acquaintances and local residents once again for all their donations to this project.