KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, Maya VR and the Rijksmuseum bring Hall of Fame to nursing homes

Maya VR, the Rijksmuseum and the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds have joined forces to start a new series of VR tours. As many as 4,000 elderly people in care homes across the country will be treated to a virtual “day out” at the Rijksmuseum Gallery of Honour. For the first of the tours Hendrikje Crebolder, director of Development & Media of the Rijksmuseum, donned the VR headset along with the residents of the Amsta Van ‘t Hofflaan care home in Amsterdam for an unforgettable visit to the museum.

“The Rijksmuseum is for everyone, including people for whom a physical visit would be difficult,” says Hendrikje Crebolder, director of Development & Media of the Rijksmuseum, about the new tour. “Everyone deserves to enjoy art, alone or in the company of others. It’s wonderful that along with Maya VR and the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds we are able to provide such an experience.”

Repeated by popular demand
“The recent period has had a considerable impact on the lives of care home residents,” says Jan Schipper, founder of Maya VR. “Visits were restricted and activities were impossible for a long time as well. Even though the world is open again, many elderly people are still anxious and are therefore going out less often. Yet it’s the elderly in particular that need social contact. Last year we treated thousands of elderly people to a virtual visit to the museum. As that was such a success, we are starting a new series of VR tours in pin-sharp 8K resolution with museum educator Bo Bojoh as the guide.”

Accompanied by art history students and KPN volunteers, residents in small groups are given a private tour and get to see and hear what the museum has to offer. Afterwards, the residents and guides can chat together about the artworks they have just seen, including The Night Watch and The Milkmaid. “It isn’t just the experience that is really valuable; the discussion afterwards is too,” says director of the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds Mark Versteegen. “The contact between the generations ensures that elderly people can once again feel connected to society. We know from experience that they talk about it for a long time afterwards.”

Maya VR
Maya VR is a young healthcare business that combats loneliness among the elderly. With the help of VR technology, Maya gives elderly people the opportunity to enjoy a day out, from their own home. Assisted by virtual reality, elderly people can have experiences that otherwise would be impossible. For example, with Maya, elderly people can enjoy a safari, city trips, museum visits, and walks through the most beautiful nature reserves.

KPN and the Rijksmuseum
Since the reopening of the Rijksmuseum in 2013, KPN has – as lead sponsor – not only made a financial contribution but has also supplied all services in the domain of telephony, data and ICT. KPN is one of the developers of the Rijksmuseum App and a digital partner of Operation Night Watch. Online live tours are organized for customers and, every autumn, thousands of customers are invited to the exclusive KPN Family Month. Via the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, KPN invites vulnerable groups to visit the museum and is now – in partnership with Maya VR – making virtual tours possible in care homes.

Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum connects people, art and history. We tell the story of 800 years of Dutch history from the Middle Ages to the present day. In addition, we organize several exhibitions every year with works from our own collection and works on loan from national and/or foreign sources. As the national art and history museum the Rijksmuseum is at the heart of society. We want to be a place where everyone feels at home. A museum that makes a contribution to awareness and mutual connection in society.

KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds
The KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds is an initiative of KPN and celebrates its 15th birthday this year. The fund supports initiatives by various social partners aimed at stimulating social contact among vulnerable groups in society for whom this contact is something that cannot be taken for granted. The fund uses knowledge, ICT, resources and people (KPN volunteers) to change that.