Wassenaar, June 11, 2025 – While National Outdoor Play Day throughout the Netherlands is traditionally dedicated to children, Wassenaar today consciously chooses a different target group: the elderly. With this first, the municipality wants to draw attention to the fact that almost 60% of Dutch elderly people do not meet the exercise guidelines and encourage them to go outside together, exercise and meet each other.
Outdoor play day for the elderly: a national exception
While municipalities and agencies throughout the country today organize activities for children, Fit in Wassenaar is the only one in the country to offer a special program for the elderly. Only 40.3% of Dutch elderly people meet the exercise guidelines and only 35.4% participate in sports activities weekly.
Kirsten Keij, project leader of Fit in Wassenaar:
“Sports and exercise participation among the elderly requires focused attention, because the elderly do not exercise enough. While research shows that outdoor sports not only improves the mood, but also reduces the fear of falling, strengthens health and is crucial for muscle maintenance in later life. With activities such as chair yoga and Parkinson’s boxing, we not only want to stimulate physical health, but also provide fun, meeting and self-confidence.
Sufficient exercise is essential: elderly people who remain active and maintain social contacts have a lower risk of dementia, among other things.
Fit in Wassenaar: think differently, do together
. Fit in Wassenaar implements the Sports Agreement and the Healthy and Active Living Agreement (GALA) on behalf of the municipality of Wassenaar and is committed to a healthy, active and social lifestyle for all residents. “I think it is a great opportunity to try something different. It is good for my health and I immediately meet new people.”
-Herman (79)
About Fit in Wassenaar
Fit in Wassenaar is committed to a healthy lifestyle among all Wassenaar residents on behalf of the municipality of Wassenaar. For young people there are programs such as Pausesport, Sportsafari, the ‘Train the student’ program and Buurtsport. For the elderly, Fit in Wassenaar offers, among other things, the QR fit activity, the Senior Sports Tasting and recognized fall prevention interventions. In addition, we focus on education, for example with the animation about dementia and lifestyle. In this way, Fit in Wassenaar is working on a vital and involved Wassenaar for young and old.
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