Residents of Hoorseveld in Zaanstad said their neighborhood had deteriorated and that people had become less connected. Ervin Elo, who has lived there for 36 years, organized a neighborhood party at community center De Meerpaal to bring residents together and revive a sense of solidarity.

The event included music, singing and a survey asking residents what they believed was going wrong in the neighborhood. Elo plans to present the responses to aldermen of the municipality of Zaanstad. The recreation room was well attended, with an audience that was mostly older, and the gathering was described as lively and enthusiastic.