Ommer Togetherness: a Christmas Eve no one has to spend alone

After last year's great success at RozemArrie, this special initiative gets a follow-up this year at Camping Bergzicht. One of last year's participants is Elizabeth (95) and we visited her together with Domène from Ommer Samenzijn to talk about this special evening. Her story touches right to the heart.

"It felt like a warm family evening" - Elizabeth (95)

Elizabeth moved back to Ommen from the west of the country last November, at the age of 94. For more than sixty years she had lived elsewhere and now she had to start over here. Alone, in an environment that was now a bit new to her again.

Through her son she was signed up for Ommer Samenzijn. To her great surprise, as a result, she was suddenly invited to a Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. "I was just new here, everything was strange. And then suddenly you find yourself in such warm surroundings. The feeling of loneliness completely fell away that night, and that's quite encouraging, to be honest." What stayed with her most? The convivial atmosphere and warmth. "I didn't feel like I was sitting at the table with strangers at all. It really felt like a warm family evening."

And that cozy decor, she speaks fondly of that, too:

"The decor was incredibly cozy. Nicely set tables, lights everywhere, decorated Christmas trees and there were cards hanging from the ceiling, made by children from elementary school Het Palet from Ommen." For Elizabeth, it was much more than just a night out. It even left her with a special friendship: one of her dinner companions spontaneously came to her doorstep for a cup of coffee the very next day. And they continued to do so!

To people who doubt whether they should sign up themselves, or someone else, she is crystal clear:

"You definitely won't regret it. You are well taken care of, you are looked after, the food was delicious and it was extremely enjoyable."

How a cup of coffee led to Ommer Samenzijn↵.

The idea for Ommer Samenzijn did not arise during a large meeting, but simply at a coffee table, over a spontaneous cup of coffee.

Domène, one of the organizers, worked in the hospitality industry, and one day she ran into one of her regulars in the center of Ommen. This lady asked her to have a cup of coffee and so they got talking about Christmas. During that conversation the lady told her that she had no plans for Christmas and would not be celebrating. And that's exactly where Domène's light went on. That's not possible. Not here. Not in Ommen.

She posted an appeal on Facebook in an Ommen group. The responses poured in. In no time a small team was ready. Local restaurant owners and other Ommen entrepreneurs spontaneously offered help: from food and drink to location, decoration and transportation.

So on Christmas Eve a wonderful dinner was put down for people who would otherwise be alone. What began with one conversation and one question - "Who do you actually celebrate Christmas with?" - grew into something that will now warm hearts for the second year.

Christmas Eve 2025: everything is arranged

This year, too, Ommer Samenzijn will take place on Christmas Eve. The location this time is Camping Bergzicht in Ommen: a warm, cozy place where everyone is welcome.

What participants can expect:

• You will be picked up at home and brought safely home again afterwards.
• You don't have to bring anything yourself and dinner is completely free.
• Food, drinks, dessert, music; everything will be provided.

Thanks to the enormous involvement of Ommer entrepreneurs, the organization is now complete. From catering to supermarkets: once again help has been offered from all sides.

You can still sign up until December 15.

Do you know someone who would otherwise be alone at Christmas? A neighbor, uncle, acquaintance, fellow villager, someone you think: I would like to grant you an evening full of warmth? Or are you alone at Christmas and would you like to spend that evening in good company? You can register until December 15 via the registration form.

Ommer Samenzijn shows what makes Ommen so special:

Looking out for each other, obviously working together and not letting anyone down on the night of the year when togetherness is so important. A Christmas Eve like a warm, woolly blanket, just as Elizabeth calls it. And Ommen can be a bit proud of that.