In the Netherlands, just outside Amsterdam, lies a village unlike any other. It’s not a movie set, though some compare it to The Truman Show. It’s real. It’s called The Hogeweyk, and every resident here has one thing in common: they suffer from severe dementia. But instead of being confined to sterile nursing homes, they live in a place designed to preserve dignity, autonomy, and joy.
This revolutionary concept was born from a moment of grief. In 1992, Yvonne van Amerongen, a nursing home manager, received a call from her mother—her father had died of a heart attack. Amid the shock, one thought haunted her: “I’m thankful he never had to live in a nursing home.” That unsettling realization sparked a movement. If even caregivers didn’t want their loved ones in these institutions, something had to change.
Yvonne and her colleagues envisioned a place where people with dementia could live with purpose. In 2009, their dream became reality. The Hogeweyk opened its doors as the world’s first “dementia village.” It’s not a facility—it’s a community. With 27 homes housing 188 residents, each house reflects a lifestyle theme: urban, traditional, cosmopolitan. Six to seven residents live together, supported by a team of over 200 professionals—nurses, doctors, psychologists, and social coaches—who provide round-the-clock care.
But what truly sets Hogeweyk apart is its design. The village has streets, courtyards, a square, a theater, a café, a beauty salon, and even a supermarket. Residents shop with caregivers, and while the products have no prices, the experience is real. The cashier is trained to interact with people who may forget where they are or why they came.
This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about psychology. Dementia strips away memory, but not the need for routine, social interaction, and self-worth. Hogeweyk restores those elements. Residents aren’t patients—they’re people living their lives.
Globally, over 55 million people suffer from dementia. One in two will be affected—either directly or through caregiving. The disease brings confusion, anxiety, and emotional detachment. But Hogeweyk proves that even in the face of cognitive decline, life can still be rich, meaningful, and connected.
Yvonne’s radical idea didn’t just challenge the norms—it redefined them. The Hogeweyk isn’t a place to wait for the end. It’s a place to live until the end, with grace.
