Trains, buses, regional taxis and my trusty legs took me the length and breadth of the country - from Groningen to Enschede and Breda - visiting LZK Schools for chronically ill children (Scholen voor Langdurig Zieke Kinderen) as part of the Eating Well Together (Samen Goed Eten) initiative. Many warned me: “it might come as a shock, seeing those chronically ill children”.

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At the school gates I check to see whether I have come to the right place…the address is correct, but the children on the playground don’t look ill at all. One brave little fellow comes running up to open the gate, and then shyly scampers back to his friends. Spring has broken through and in the sunshine I see swarms of children hanging on a climbing frame, having fun going up and down the slide, playing marbles and marvelling at the big attraction of the day: ladybirds in the shrubs. It’s a lively and convivial scene! The school directors tell me that they often suffer from the hospital image, even though they are first and foremost a school for primary education. Too many parents initially think “my child is not that ill”, but when they come to an information day they are surprised to see that we really are a normal school after all. Because of this misconception, many children stay in regular schools for too long and never find their way to an LKZ School.

I am allowed a brief look in the classroom. “Why are you taking photographs?” the children ask before eagerly posing for my camera.

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And then it’s time for lunch. Would I like to join them? Of course, I would! Nobody is allowed to speak at the table until they’ve eaten all their veg and mash. I hear that the food at school is usually good, though one of the previous cooks used to make their favourite meatballs more often… The bell brings an end to the peace and everyone, including myself, dashes to the washbasin to brush our teeth.

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What makes an LZK School so special? During my tour of the schools I began to recognize some common features – such as a dormitory where you can rest and recover your energy during one of the many relaxation breaks in the school timetable. And there’s a constant stream of children to and from the nurse, who checks their blood sugar levels, dispenses medicines and so forth. There is also a physiotherapist and speech therapist at school to help children who have fallen behind because of their illness. It’s really efficient, because after a day at school and a long trip home in the taxi mini-bus, you don’t have any energy left and the therapies are less effective. But what struck me most of all at the various schools is the buzz of activity going on in the – frequently – green surroundings of the school building. Playing outdoors and getting exercise, just like good food, is vital for the health of chronically ill children. And however ill you are, it doesn’t seem to matter when you’re among friends and it certainly doesn’t stop you larking about.
All these facilities at LZK Schools are aimed at enabling children to learn – because remember: it’s all about education. Still full of my day at school and with lots of pictures of cheerful active children on my camera, I sink back in my seat in the train. The LZK Schools have really impressed me. If you too want a glimpse behind the scenes, take a look in the kitchen! (‘kijkje in de keuken’)