Hoboken neighbors cook and dine together in the Blikfabriek: “Better a good neighbor than a distant friend” (Hoboken)

Every Wednesday in May you can cook and dine with local residents from and in the Blikfabriek. With this initiative they want to unite the neighborhood. “And what is more uniting than food?” motivates co-organizer Miette Gedopt.

Starting on May 1, the Blikfabriek organizes Tafelen Together every Wednesday for a month. With this initiative they want to bring local residents closer together and involve them in the operation of the Blikfabriek. “And what is more uniting than food?” says Miette Gedopt (21). As a student of Socio-cultural work, she does an internship in Krugerstraat in Hoboken and developed the neighbors table as a final project.

The cooking team of the day always works in the outdoor kitchen with food surpluses. They get this from various partners, but mainly from the Zilt and Zoet organic farm. “For example, today we were able to pick up stewed radishes and hot sauce, but next time it might be something different. That’s also the nice thing about it. You work with what you get and you always get new combinations. Especially because the participants apply their own habits. I admit that it was chaos in the kitchen for three hours, but I am sure that we will put something beautiful on the table,” Miette continues.

Anyone who comes to cook with us can sit at the table for free. If you don’t have time for that, you pay a free contribution to eat with us. The children have also been taken into account, all kinds of activities are provided between 3 and 6 p.m.

Good neighbor

One of the local residents who comes to cook with us is Hanne Nieberding (34). She is looking forward to getting to know new people who live in the area during the neighborhood table. And perhaps build a better bond with local residents. “My grandparents used to have a very close bond with their neighbors, but over time I think that has faded away a bit. For example, I accept packages for my neighbors, but that’s about it. In some ways I think it’s a shame that the bond remains so superficial.”

Hanne already got to know a local resident better. Together with Ushi Debonnet (43), she took care of the potato salad. And she is also a fan of the project. “Better a good neighbor than a distant friend, I think there is some truth in that. I like to be in contact with my neighbors, but in Hoboken that is sometimes difficult. That is precisely why I think this initiative is great,” says Ushi.