Sassenheim will always feel like home to me. I lived here for five years, and even though I’ve since moved, I still come back every two weeks. There’s something about Sassenheim that draws me in: village like rhythm and its charm. For me, Sassenheim is the heart of the Bollenstreek.
Also while writing this blog, it reflects on me that I most definitely need structure and I am very drawn to old habits and places I feel save and good about myself. I love living in Sassenheim as it was close to the beach but it was also in walking distance of shopping street. Everything I love in a nutshell.
Last week, I took one of my favorite walks through Park Rusthoff. It’s a small park I know well, yet it always has something new to offer. This time, it was a large, rust-colored frame that caught my attention. Set on a stone base and perfectly aligned with the pond and trees behind it, the frame turned the landscape into a living artwork. The view through it—a wooden birdhouse floating on the water, blossoms in full bloom, and weeping willows swaying—was simply beautiful.
It instantly reminded me of the Dubai Frame, though on a much smaller scale. But the concept felt similar: inviting you to look at the world through a new lens. In that moment, I found myself not just walking through the park, but framing a memory. I stopped, stood still, and appreciated the beauty of the here and now. I miss living in Sassenheim even more in that moment, and that’s okay.
