Besides enjoying walks through the Oosterpark as a local resident, Arie Martijn is committed to neighborhood initiatives through Fonds voor Oost, writes he for Oost Online and together with his brother he organizes the Oost Quiz.
Oosterpark feels like a green garden full of stories to me. Because I live just around the corner, I enjoy the trees, the birds, and the changing seasons. In spring, I love walking past the blooming branches, listening to the wren or keeping an eye out for a heron that sometimes mingles among the ducks. The treecreeper also makes an appearance now and then, along with many other birds. For a sunny afternoon, the terrace of Hotel Arena or Pillows is one of my favorite spots—both perfect places to settle down for a while.
My name is Arie Martijn Schenk, and I have lived on the eastern side of the city for sixteen years. Through my involvement in the neighborhood, I am a member of the neighborhood committee of Fonds voor Oost. Fonds voor Oost, part of Mensen maken AmsterdamFonds voor Oost supports residents and organizations that want to make their neighborhood more beautiful, greener, safer, or more welcoming. Every month, we review wonderful initiatives, and each time this enriches my own enjoyment of living here. One initiative that is especially dear to me is the Buurtcamping in the Oosterpark. With support from the fund, it grew into a meeting place where residents get to know each other in a different way.
In addition to my volunteer work for the fund, I write for Oost Online, a local platform that highlights stories from East. This enriches my knowledge and strengthens my connection to the area. In January, together with my brother, I organized the first Oost Quiz: an evening with eighty questions about East in the broadest sense. It was completely sold out, no more teams could join. Of course, there were also questions about the Oosterpark.
At the Buurtcamping, we once again hosted a quiz last summer, this time right in the middle of the park. Local residents participated enthusiastically, and entrepreneurs around the park provided prizes. For me, it was an evening where everything came together: residents, volunteers, and entrepreneurs finding each other.
The Oosterpark enriches my daily life, just as the neighborhood does. I feel at home there, surrounded by greenery, history, and people who together form a vibrant community.
