Museum of Me
The mental health of young people in the Netherlands is under pressure. Research shows, among other things, that 1 in 7 young people experience depressive symptoms, 1 in 3 experience performance pressure, and that the stigma surrounding mental health issues is still significant among young people. Seventy‑five percent of psychological problems arise before the age of 25.
Museum van de Geest and MIND Us want to change that. That’s why they are joining forces and initiating the Museum of Me project. Starting with a pilot at Museum van de Geest in Haarlem, Museum of Me aims to develop into a national program that helps young people across the Netherlands strengthen their mental resilience through art and creativity. To achieve this, a workshop program is first being developed in co‑creation with young people in Haarlem. In these workshops, young people learn to express themselves and create their own stories. After an interactive tour of the museum, they participate in creative workshops where they make their own zine, a handmade magazine that serves as a kind of “first aid for yourself” booklet.
The workshop concept will be fully conceived, designed, tested, and refined with a group of young people to ensure the best possible format is chosen—one with topics that resonate most strongly and activities that best align with their world and experiences. Together with MIND Us and with support from Flow Magazine, the team will then develop a scalable model with an online tutorial and printable toolkit box, enabling young people everywhere, in their homes, at school, in community workshops, or in the library, to create their own Museum of Me.
Museum van de Geest is also developing a mural project, in which young people collaborate closely with professional artists to create vibrant murals at meaningful locations in the city of Haarlem. Young people are given a visible voice and are heard by being actively involved in the creative process from start to finish. This pilot forms the foundation for a follow‑up program with MIND Us, featuring murals across the entire country, projects in which young people take center stage, can express their stories and perspectives, and where art serves as a tool for strengthening connection and mental resilience within the community.
About the organizations:
Museum van de Geest uses art and creativity to make mental health a topic of conversation, both in the museum and in the classroom. Since 2010, the museum has reached approximately 10,000 young people per year with a diverse program offering, and in 2022 it was named European Museum of the Year for its innovative and human-centered approach. Since then, the museum has been committed to embedding the experience of art for health promotion more deeply into society.
MIND Us was founded in 2022 by honorary chair Queen Máxima. MIND Us brings together partners, stimulates (innovative) initiatives, and ensures that the mental health challenges young people face receive the attention they deserve. Together with young people, policymakers, municipalities, entrepreneurs, and researchers, MIND Us creates a platform where young people feel seen and heard and where their ideas lead to greater resilience and good mental health.