Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic more often than before travellers eventually strand at international airports. This happens due to different reasons: sometimes the travel documents are not valid or not sufficient; the world has changed so much that a thorough preparation before travelling is highly recommended. Sometimes passengers turn out to test positive during their journey and it is mandatory to isolate or quarantaine immediately on site. This is hard if you are stranded at an unfamiliar airport. At Schiphol fortunately facilities have been installed. The chaplains stay in contact with the passengers who got stranded unexpectedly and with the ones who are staying in quarantaine. What the team experiences and how they coped with an exceptional situation can be read here (in Dutch).
Airport chaplain interviewed in the Dutch radio program "Dit is de Zondag"
"Why would you need a pastor at an airport?", David Boogerd asked Marieke Meiring, pastor at Schiphol. She was interviewed in "Dit is de Zondag" on NPO Radio 1 on August 15, 2021. In the episode, she talks about her profession as an airport chaplain and shares stories about her work. If you are interested to hear more, you can listen to the sound fragment here (in Dutch).
An impression of our work
Schiphol has made a wonderful short film about the work of the airport chaplains. Shortly before the start of the pandemic, the film recordings with the three chaplains, Marieke Meiring, Gerard Timmermans and Mark Hafkenscheid, were completed. To watch the film and get an impression of our work, click here.
An article by "Woord&Weg" about pastoral care in times of corona
The Dutch magazine “Woord&Weg” published an article in September 2020 about pastoral care in times of corona. “Listening more strongly”. This is how airport chaplain Marieke Meiring describes her work during the pandemic. Her story offers an insight into the effects of the pandemic on people's lives. Click here to open the article (in Dutch).
The Dutch journal "Geestelijke Verzorging" writes about the Airport Chaplaincy
In the spring of 2020, the Dutch journal "Geestelijke Verzorging" published an article about the spiritual care at Schiphol. Airport chaplain Marieke Meiring writes about people who search for peace and stability in the hectic pace of traveling. People who are confronted with the fragility of life along the way. Click here to read the article (in Dutch).
Interview with pastor Mark Hafkenscheid in "OpSchiphol"
An interview with airport chaplain Mark Hafkenscheid has been published in the magazine OpSchiphol, "behind the scenes". Click here to read the article (in Dutch).
The Dutch newspaper "AdRem" about the Airport Chaplaincy
The Dutch newspaper "AdRem" has written an article about the work of the Airport Chaplaincy in July/August of 2018. Click here to read the article (in Dutch).
Interview with Pastor Mark Hafkenscheid in the Dutch newspaper "Trouw"
On April 5, 2018, the Dutch newspaper "Trouw" published an interview with pastor Mark Hafkenscheid on the occasion of the opening of the new Meditation Centre. You can click here to read the full article (in Dutch).
An article about our work in "Noordhollands Dagblad"
In June 2016, an interesting article about the work of the Airport Chaplaincy was published in the "Noordhollands Dagblad". You can read the full article here (in Dutch).