NL 
EN A look back at 10 years Repaircafé Blixembosch
The first Repair Café in the Netherlands was set up in Amsterdam by Martine Postma 15 years ago. In the first instance to prevent waste, to help people with a small wallet and to repair things with great emotional value. In Blixembosch we started 12 volunteers 5 years later, 12 October 2014, now we are with 17 volunteers. Of these, 8 repairders are there from the start.
We were first in the seating area at the Instaling Hall. For about 6 years we have been in the Repair room, to the left of the entrance. In Coronatijd, Gerard, the manager, painted the logo of the RC on the walls.
The tool cupboard made by one of the volunteers has always satisfied well, but starts to become too small due to the variety of things offered. What comes in a lot are vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, many Senseos for a while, but today often Nespressos or large coffee makers. Also sounder nature, hair dryers, printers, everything that someone can take to the Repaircafé. Occasionally even a tumble dryer … Clothing repairs or small adjustments to clothing are also possible.
The interest is great. Especially the evenings are busy, it is a bit quieter in the afternoon. When it is busy, the visitors must be patient. Since 3-4 years we have been distributing coffee vouchers to make that time more pleasant.
It remains very fun and satisfying that visitors go home happily with their repaired items. About 2/3 of the items will be usable again. Devices that we have not been able to recover, the owners know that it can no longer be repaired, or that the required parts are no longer available.
Last October 17 we celebrated our 2nd anniversary in Kleine Kring with the alderman Rik Thijs and some fellow repairders from Eindhoven. For guests and customers there were also small cakes with our logo.
