Councilmember Zoetemelk Kicks Off Vitality Month

Alderman René Zoetemelk kicked off Vitality Month today at Het Wedde swimming pool. After the swimming lesson, the alderman enjoyed a healthy and delicious smoothie along with a number of young swimmers. The alderman then read aloud from *Mees’s Belly*, a book that explores themes such as youth, weight, courage, play, and, above all, living a joyful life.

November is traditionally the month of the “Nederland Leest” campaign. This year’s theme is “Growing Old, Staying Young”—in other words, vitality. This has prompted the Voorschoten Library and Municipality, in collaboration with Voorschoten Voor Elkaar, to organize Vitality Month. Alderman René Zoetemelk (Sports, Welfare, and Healthcare):“To be and stay healthy and fit well into old age, exercise and healthy eating and drinking are very important. It starts with the youth! That’s why I enjoy drinking a smoothie with the young swimmers. They set a good example for the rest of Voorschoten.”

Healthy Living in Voorschoten

Figures from the GGD (2020) show that 58.3% of residents in our village aged 19 and older participate in sports at least once a week. This puts Voorschoten residents well above the national average of 50.7%. Next month, the collaborating organizations in Voorschoten will encourage as many residents as possible to get active and work on their mental well-being through various activities and projects in accordance with the guidelines of the Sports and Prevention Agreement.

Free Activities for Residents

There are many initiatives in Voorschoten aimed at improving personal health and vitality. Many of these initiatives are given special attention during Vitality Month. After all, it’s not just sports clubs that can contribute to vitality; dance, culture, a cup of coffee at the community center, and interesting lectures at the library can also contribute to vitality. Vitality Month is designed to give every resident the opportunity to explore and learn about these activities.

The website www.meedoeninvoorschoten.nl lists all the activities that residents of Voorschoten can participatein for free. Be sure to check this calendar throughout the month, as more activities are being added all the time.