In Liendert, it’s not just about what people do for the neighborhood, but also about how they are seen, heard, and valued. What began as a study of appreciation and reciprocity evolved into a collective search for trust, cooperation, and the strength that already exists in the neighborhood.
Liendert is a diverse neighborhood in Amersfoort where residents, volunteers, key figures, and professionals contribute to their community in various ways. Behind the image that Liendert is sometimes portrayed as a disadvantaged neighborhood lies a community characterized by a high level of engagement, talent, resilience, and mutual connection.
The participatory action research (PAR) began with a question regarding the appreciation of people’s efforts in the neighborhood. How do residents and volunteers perceive the appreciation for their contributions? What does appreciation mean to them? And how can their efforts, knowledge, and qualities be better recognized and utilized?
During the research, it became clear that appreciation is closely linked to other themes, such as opportunities for advancement, mutual trust, and collaboration among residents, organizations, and the municipality.
As a result, the issue broadened: how can we better recognize, appreciate, and connect the existing strengths of Liendert?
How can we better recognize the contributions of residents, volunteers, and key figures while also strengthening collaboration and community ties in the neighborhood?
As part of the research, 24 interviews were conducted with various stakeholders, including residents, volunteers, people with lived experience, key figures, business owners, and professionals.
By bringing these different perspectives together, a broader picture emerged of what is happening in Liendert. Not only did the challenges come to light, but so did the strengths and opportunities that already exist.
The insights were then shared with the stakeholders during a joint PAR meeting on December 11, 2025. At this meeting, participants discussed three topics: the Liendert neighborhood, moving forward in Liendert, and collaborating in Liendert.
Participants were able to indicate for themselves which topics they considered important and where they saw opportunities to contribute.
The guiding principle was not merely to conduct research about the neighborhood, but rather to do so together with the people who live and work there.
During the PAR meeting, participants also explored the question of what they could contribute—both individually and collectively—to the continued development of Liendert.
This led to several ideas, including:
It also became clear how important it is to take existing activities and stakeholders into account when launching new initiatives. New developments should reinforce the strengths that are already in place, rather than inadvertently supplanting them.
These ideas serve as starting points for continuing to work with the neighborhood to foster appreciation, collaboration, and connection.
An important part of the study was to highlight Liendert’s so-called “assets”: the neighborhood’s existing qualities, opportunities, and connections.
Among other things, this brought to light residents’ engagement, the diversity of cultures and languages, mutual trust, and the role of key individuals.
Key individuals and experts by experience play an important role because they know the neighborhood, are trusted, and can build connections between residents and organizations.
Existing initiatives and facilities, such as the Buurtbaan and various community gathering places, also offer opportunities for development, support, and connection.
The study showed that there is already a great deal of strength in Liendert. The challenge lies not only in developing new initiatives, but also in recognizing, strengthening, and better connecting what already exists.
The discussions revealed different perspectives on appreciation. For some, appreciation means fair compensation, while for others it’s about being recognized, being given responsibility, feeling trusted, or having the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.
It also became clear that people have different needs and starting points when it comes to personal development, volunteer work, and paid work.
What is an appropriate step forward for one person may not be for another. This calls for a tailored approach, room for growth, and attention to people’s qualities and circumstances.
One of the most valuable insights from the PAR process was that the research process itself could already set things in motion.
At the start of the research, we noticed that there was some unease surrounding collaboration in the neighborhood, especially among professionals. There were differing expectations, working methods, and perspectives. Sometimes people talked more about each other than with each other.
By gathering different experiences and stories and discussing them together, space was created to listen to one another and better understand each other’s perspectives.
Moreover, new connections were formed during the meetings. Participants indicated that they found it valuable to come together and gained a better understanding of who is all working on behalf of the neighborhood. Some participants even wrote down the names of people they had truly gotten to know for the first time during the meeting.
Throughout the study, we as the research team observed that the perceived unease diminished and that more positive examples of collaboration became apparent.
An important insight was that simply being heard, sharing experiences, and meeting one another can be highly valuable in and of themselves. While there was initially a need for concrete action, it gradually became clear that the conversation itself was also meaningful.
The study thus not only provided insights into appreciation and connection, but also created opportunities during the process to actually experience that appreciation and connection.
To us, this illustrates the power of participatory action research: change doesn’t always have to start with a new plan or a new activity. Sometimes it begins, in fact, by bringing people together, making room for different perspectives, and truly listening to one another.
The PAR program in Liendert demonstrates how valuable it is to bring together different perspectives and to give space to the knowledge and experiences of the people themselves.
Liendert’s strength lies not only in its facilities and projects, but above all in its residents, key figures, volunteers, professionals, and the relationships they build with one another.
By making that strength visible, listening to one another, and exploring together what is needed, we create space for further development.
Because Liendert’s strength doesn’t have to come from outside. It’s already present within the neighborhood itself.
