Better a good neighbour...

Neighbours can detract from your enjoyment of living, but far more often we see that neighbours actually greatly enhance your enjoyment of living. Neighbours who make you happy. We went with beautiful bouquets to tenants who wanted to thank their neighbours and saw with our own eyes how close many neighbourhoods are. "But Rietje and Sandor really stand out. They are not only always there for me, but for a lot of people around here. Nothing is too much for them, so if I give anyone a big bunch of flowers, it's them. I'm just a bit nervous whether they really want all this attention, because they think it's all very normal."

As we walk towards the neighbours, Carla Callaars continues: "Now with the renovation, they are also there for me again. And that's nice, because my husband passed away. Almost before I can ask, Sandor has already screwed the slats off the window frames for me."

We ring the doorbell and fortunately all our nerves turn out to be for nothing: the helpful neighbours are surprised and super happy with the flowers. They didn't need to be, of course, but they are very much appreciated.

Flowers at the right address

Sylvia Nooijen has never visited Martien Otterdijk's house. "But I see and talk to him often enough. He is so often busy around our complex in Azalealaan. He maintains various gardens and planters and waters them. But he also sweeps
the corridors and keeps the pavement clean at the entrance to the flats. Really a super sweet man who is always there for everyone and has a listening ear."

We ring Martien's doorbell with a big bunch of flowers and he is pleasantly surprised. As we drink coffee with him, more stories come up: "I have hung up instructions with the green waste, because if there is plastic in it they won't take it and I also clean the green bin once a week. After all, you get maggots that way. Early on Sundays, I do a quick walk around the complex and collect the cans and bottles lying around. Small effort." These flowers were clearly delivered to the right address.

A nice neighbour helps too

Yvonne Bundel and Mieke van Laarhoven have a lot in common. Hence, Yvonne is at Mieke's doorstep with a big bunch of flowers. Yvonne: "We are in WhatsApp contact every morning to make sure everything is okay. We don't really walk in each other's door, but we are very helpful to each other. Practical too. If I have the wheelie bin outside and I'm home a bit later, Mieke puts it inside." Mieke van Laarhoven agrees wholeheartedly: "We have always had some contact since she moved here in 2015, but in the last three years the bond has become much closer. I then became a widow and Yvonne immediately sought contact and had the right words."

Yvonne Bundel nods. "I know a little bit what she feels because I am half a widow myself. My husband is in a care facility and, after an accident and two brain strokes, can no longer talk or eat. It's tough. But what you face in your life you can bear, because when you look back He has borne it for you. Because of my faith, I get through it." And a nice neighbour also helps, as we see here.

Would you also like to surprise your neighbours with a flower?

Do you also have neighbours who make neighbourhood life a lot nicer for you? Then sign them up at
communicatie@woonpartners.nl. Maybe we will drop by with a nice bunch of flowers so you can make your neighbours happy with them.

We are happy to have neighbours who get along so well. Good neighbours is the beginning of good neighbourhoods. We all want that!