Special Meeting Day 2026

On 23 March, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam will host a special gathering. During the Special Meeting Day with KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, people who have experienced tuberculosis (TB) or TB infection, or who have been closely involved with someone affected by TB will come together. It will be a day for recognition, exchange, and connection in a place where stories have been shared for centuries.

The day begins with a welcome and information market. Here, you can speak with staff from KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, healthcare professionals, peers, and other participants. This will be followed by short inspirational talks and a range of activities:

Join TB PhotoVoices, Rijks edition and capture your story through photography. Take part in the creative workshop led by artist Paulina Siniatkina, where conversation and creativity come together. Or write a personal letter during Letters to TB.

Prefer to explore the museum? Walk past the masterpieces or follow a special TB-related discovery trail through the Rijksmuseum.

The location is no coincidence. In the 17th century, TB then known as “consumption”, was one of the most common diseases. The painter Paulus Potter, famous for The Bull, likely died of TB. Art from that period reflects how closely illness and vulnerability were woven into daily life.

We will close the day with an exclusive private tour from 17:00 to 18:00 in an almost empty Rijksmuseum, a special moment to reflect together.

With this day, we aim to begin building a community of people affected by TB, a network where peer support has a place and lived experiences inform research proposals, guideline updates, and the further development of our approach and strategy.

TB is treatable in the Netherlands, but its impact can be profound physically, emotionally, and socially. That is why it is essential to structurally include the experiences of people affected by TB in our direction and decision-making.

The Special Meeting Day is organized by 23 collaborating health charities (Samenwerkende Gezondheidsfondsen) and made possible by the VriendenLoterij.

See you on 23 March!