Hyundai and the Van Gogh Museum bring seniors and art together during Connection Day

This special day is designed for seniors who face challenges in experiencing art independently, connecting them with the work and life of Vincent van Gogh. Through this collaboration, Hyundai and the Van Gogh Museum aim to improve accessibility at the museum.

Connection Day is more than just a museum visit: it offers a meaningful moment of contact for seniors who are often sidelined due to physical or social limitations. Feelings of loneliness are particularly common during the summer months, when friends and family are often on holiday, and many community groups and clubs close their doors.

The participants received a warm welcome to the museum. Three groups of residents from care organisations Cordaan and Dynamo Amsterdam were collected and brought home in Hyundai’s fully electric cars. During a guided tour of the permanent collection, participants discovered masterpieces including The Potato Eaters and Sunflowers, before taking part in an interactive talk on the life of Vincent van Gogh.

Art served as the shared language throughout the day, sparking conversations, wonder and a sense of connection. Many participants later said that they had felt seen and were moved by the experience. Some also reflected on the artworks themselves, like Gonnie Otten, speaking about Almond Blossom:

‘I’d happily hang this one up at home! What a lovely painting.’

Connection Day is organised as part of the long-term partnership between Hyundai and the Van Gogh Museum. Hyundai has been a partner of the museum since 2016, helping introduce a broader audience to the beauty of art and design. Connection Day is a tangible example of how mobility and art can come together in a shared mission: to connect people with art, and with one another. Art enriches, mobility connects.

Every year, the Van Gogh Museum organises special days for seniors who are unable to visit the museum independently. Accompanied by a carer, participants can explore the museum’s permanent collection and (re)discover the life and work of Vincent van Gogh at their leisure.

In 2025, the special days for seniors will take place on 15 September, 20 October, 17 November and 15 December. For more information, please visit: Museum visit for seniors (in Dutch).