The Bedside Singers Amsterdam, a choir that sings for people in the last phase of their lives, is celebrating its tenth anniversary.
Singing teacher and voice therapist Petrie Akkerman founded the choir in Oost, and it was the first of its kind in the Netherlands.
She says the idea came when both her parents developed dementia and singing became the last way she could reach them.
Around fifty choirs nationwide
After the choir won the Over Hoop Prize in 2019, so many people wanted to start their own choir that Akkerman set up a national foundation.
Its website now maps around fifty choirs across the country.
The Amsterdam choir has ten members, four of them still in training, and rehearses every Wednesday evening near the Brazilië shopping centre.
Its core of about ten songs, including lullabies, suits almost anyone, and around forty more range from the Beatles to Toon Hermans.
Anniversary concert at OLVG
On Sunday 18 October at 15:00, the choir gives a concert of songs and stories in the OLVG chapel.
Tickets cost €8.50 via bedsidesingers.nl/amsterdam.
Fancy singing yourself? Check out our guide to choirs you can join in Amsterdam.