Children’s choir stays overnight at the airport

On a Sunday afternoon two Ugandese young men knocked on the door of the Meditation Centre. Thirteen childreen between ten and thirteen years old and their leaders asked for a place in the airport where they could spread their blankets on the floor and sleep. The children’s choir just finished it’s three months tour and were on their way back home to Entebbe. It had not been possible to arrange a short connection for them, normally they avoid staying overnight at an airport. The pastor on call contacted the operational manager of the airport in order to find a solution.

The childrens’ choir belonged to the Watoto villages, an NGO in Uganda and South Sudan. This NGO cares for orphaned and vulnerable children by bringing them up with motherly care in homes, schools and clinics. Some choir leaders were rescued in their own childhood by Watoto and they are the leaders of today and tomorrow.

Foldable beds were placed in a safe, private area in the lounge. The Mercure Hotel offered shower facilities. The children of the Watoto choir were very polite and peaceful guests, it was a pleasure to host them.

The children sang a blessing to the chaplain, who could not have wished for something more touching!

Donations by passengers who wish to support the Airport Chaplaincy

The Chaplaincy was invited some time ago to lecture to a group of KLM shiftleaders of the Business Lounge. The work the Chaplaincy does is always touching and interesting to share. For example, the help is given to those who have experienced a robbery at their destination and travel back without anything. Sometimes travellers do not bring any suitcases, but they just have a plastic bag with hardly anything. The chaplains help out with a pair of slippers, a warm jumper or necessary medication.

The information session with the shiftleaders took place in spring 2023, but since then, the shiftleader team has felt the need to support the Chaplaincy in its work. A donation box was set up at the check-in desk in Lounge 52 and it gently invites travellers in a modest way to donate a token of sympathy and help. Recently, the president of the Chaplaincy board, and colleagues Mark Hafkenscheid and Marieke Meiring have recieved an envelope again.

It is truly precious to us, since we are able to help a little more people who are facing stress and anxiety when they cannot provide for their basic needs during their journey.

The Chaplaincy is very grateful to these devoted shiftleaders of KLM and the passengers in the KLM Business Lounge.

The Dutch organization VALK is specialized in therapy for people who have a fear of flying

The Dutch organization VALK staat voor Vlieg Angstbestrijding Leidse universiteit KLM. De Stichting bestaat sinds 1 februari 1990. Eén van de wetenschappelijke uitgangspunten is dat vliegangst altijd een uiting is van een andere angst. Daarmee vervalt het argument dat vliegangst een luxeprobleem is. Er is altijd een andere angst mee verbonden, bijvoorbeeld controledrang, trauma, een gegeneraliseerde angststoornis (piekeren), claustrofobie en meer. Angst is dus nooit een luxeprobleem, aldus VALK. 

Recently, the airport chaplains and volunteers have listened to a lecture given by Drs. Kelly Pex, director and health psychologist with VALK. Practical suggestions were given how they can help a passenger who has a fear of flying, the specific do’s and don’ts that they should be aware of. 

Foundation VALK is an acronym for Fear of Flying Abatement Leiden University KLM. The institution has grown over the years and their meditation exercises in dealing with fear of whatever kind are available on Spotify (Dutch spoken).

Drs. Kelly Pex, director manager and psychologist at VALK

Airport Chaplaincy Schiphol on it’s way to fifty-years anniversary in 2025

The Meditation Centre at Schiphol Airport has moved several times to different locations. Chaplains also, they came and they left over time. However chaplaincy care has never stopped since its flagrant beginning in April 1975. Father Jan Duin was the first priest who set foot on the airport floors and took care of passengers and families in crisis. In the same year the first prayer centre of Schiphol was opened for travellers and staff. 

In 2025, the Airport Chaplaincy will celebrate its fifty years’ anniversary. And this is a reason for festive activities to mark the special date. The biggest event will take place on June 10th next year. Many representatives and partners who support and work together with the chaplaincy will join us. There will be speeches and live music. Board members, chaplains and colleagues of the Airport Communications Department work closely together. We’ll keep you posted!

Schiphol's first Meditation Centre (1975) was located on the mezzanine above the waiting area between piers C and D.
Airport chaplains Jan Blankert and Wim van Broekhoven, Trouw newspaper, July 1990.

Value your volunteers!

The Meditation Centre at Schiphol cannot function without its volunteers. Every year in May the board and the chaplains offer them a day away from the hastiness of the airport to relax and enjoy themselves. On May 15th, a sunny Amsterdam welcomed 30 participants – among them partners and other invitees. Coffee and pastries were served in the Museum ‘Ons' lieve Heer op Solder’, a former hidden Catholic Church. A precious example of the two centuries of continuation of the celebration of the Eucharist in Amsterdam during the Protestant domination of the capital. Lunch was served by the students of the ROC in their café ‘Rocks’, an impressive and high-quality meal, that touched tongues and hearts. A canal tour and closing drinks made the day memorable for all.

The Meditation Centre in Schiphol is the respectful and attractive place because of the presence and generous care of our volunteers. We cannot value them enough.

General Secretary of Protestant Church of The Netherlands visits the Airport Chaplaincy

Sunday May 5th, General Secretary of the PCN (Dutch: PKN) visited the Airport Chaplaincy. He was joined by Mrs. Hilde van Koppen, secretary of the Board of the General Synod and they both brought their spouses. They attended the Sunday Service in the Meditation Centre. Many passengers and visitors participated in the liturgy and after the service a vibrant exchange started between everyone, travelers, guests, chaplains, volunteers and board members. Among them a young female passenger hugged the pastor. She said she was speechless and also didn’t master English that much, being of South-American background. Full of tears, she picked one of the carnation flowers she carried on her back and gave it to the chaplain. This is one of the many tokens of appreciation the chaplaincy receives on a daily basis. Some attenders had shared a prayer request in the service and were prayed for by the pastor. They spoke to René, Hilde and board members this was meaningful to them. The atmosphere was full of gratitude, interconnectedness and attentive listening.

The chaplains invited the General Secretary and his wife Marike, the Board Secretary and her husband Frans for lunch. The visit of René and Hilde of the Airport Chaplaincy at Schiphol was tremendously inspiring and enriching. The team of chaplains, volunteers and the board felt truly supported in their work at the airport by the time spent together.

From left to right: chaplain Mark Hafkenscheid, Frans van Koppen, Hilde van Koppen, chaplain Marieke Meiring, vrijwilliger Janny Brevoord, Marike de Reuver, René de Reuver.

Introduction chaplain Fons Litjens

In January, February and March 2024 I will stand in for Father Gerard Timmermans, who’s on work leave. The board of the Roman Catholic Airport Chaplaincy Foundation Schiphol has appointed me in order to continue the pastoral care for passengers. I will be available on Thursdays and Fridays weekly.

I retired from my work as a parish deacon in 2021 after serving in many different cities in the Netherlands. I was ordained in 2007 by the diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam. I am grateful for the years I was able to minister to those who crossed my path.

After my retirement I looked for new areas and new challenges, offering my skills as a volunteer and that’s how I came to know about the Airport Chaplaincy work at Schiphol. The voluntary work done at the Meditation Centre suits me very well. I like to host others in a quiet place of meditation and prayer. Meanwhile I have started my PhD which focuses on the connection between psalms and art.

I was born in Maastricht (Limburg, south-Netherlands), am married to Fieke Klaver and we currently live in Haarlem. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a gateway to the world and the next couple of months I hope to be a support for people in whatever kind of need. Together with two experienced colleagues, Mark Hafkenscheid and Marieke Meiring, it will succeed. ‘Es God bleef’, is a dear Limburgian saying for: ‘If it’s pleasing to God’.

Christmas Eve near the Meditation Centre, behind security

For the ones who are travelling through Schiphol Airport on Christmas Eve, do not miss the opportunity to get a touch of Christmas in a short celebration in Lounge 2. This service can only be attended by checked-in passengers, passengers in transit or staff who are on duty on Christmas Eve. A selection of Christmas carols will be sung, we will read the Nativity story and a short Christmas message will be given by one of the chaplains. Musicians of the KLM-orchestra will participate in this event. Due to the overwhelming attendance of last year, the celebration will be held on the internet court in front of the Meditation centre. Afterwards a hot drink and Christmas stollen will be served to you. The event starts at 6.30 pm on the second floor in Lounge 2. The chaplaincy and its volunteers offer you a warm welcome! 

On Christmas Day, the 25th of December, 2023, the Airport Chaplaincy offers a Christmas service. You are welcome to join us in the Meditation Centre at 11.00 am, even if your time is short and you would need to leave early.

The Airport Chaplaincy wishes you happy holidays! 
Pastors Marieke Meiring (left) and Joop Albers (right).

IACAC Conference in St. Louis, Missouri

‘You’re helping people to get home,’ the bus driver summarizes on his way to the conference venue. This is the work done by airport chaplains day after day. Being able to find the colleague of another airport helps, so bereaved passengers will again be assisted upon their arrival. During the last week of October, airport chaplains from many different airports came together for their yearly conference in St. Louis. A rabbi of police spoke about emergency response by a chaplaincy team. And, in these times, an interfaith dinner is maybe even more important than ever, for people of different world views to meet and connect. The invitation for the dinner was kindly extended to the IACAC chaplains by the interfaith partnership of St. Louis University. Lots of bonds were created or renewed. Next year the team of Frankfurt chaplaincy will host the conference.

A visit to the Airport Chaplaincy at Schiphol

On Saturday September 30th, a delegation of the Protestant church of Halfweg-Zwanenburg visited the Airport Chaplaincy at Schiphol. Three volunteers and one of the chaplains welcomed fifteen church committee members for an information session and a visit to the Meditation Centre behind security. The visitors were very interested and asked many questions like: how can people find you if they need help? Can you solve every problem? What are the chores of the volunteers? Many touching and surprising stories the chaplains face, were told. Including how they managed to get people home. Does your congregation wish to visit the Airport Chaplaincy? Send a message contact form with your request.