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Since 2017, two of us have been out every weekend with a self-built delivery cart full of leaflets in Haarlem North. For many years we worked in the area from the Schotersingel to the Zaanenlaan and from the Delftlaan to the Spaarndamseweg. These days our route is slightly smaller (no longer between the Delftlaan and the Marnixstraat), but we still cover a large part of Haarlem North and occasionally go beyond that – depending on whether we are covering for other deliverers or doing an extra round for a local business or organisation (such as a political party, charity or association).
At the moment we mainly deliver the leaflet bundles from Spotta that are requested via the digital letterbox sticker on inmijnbus.nl, including the personalised Folderkiezer bundles per address. In addition, we also deliver in the same area and beyond for local businesses, political parties and charities that want door-to-door distribution outside Spotta. In the past, alongside or instead of Spotta, we have also delivered for organisations such as Buijze Pers, Rodi Media and Reclamediensten De Schakel (taken over by All-Inn Verspreidingen).
We do this deliberately on foot, with our own cart. Not only because it is the fastest way, but because it makes us visible and approachable. We pass pavements, front doors and kitchen tables. We see the neighbourhood change, get to know faces and take the time for a short conversation when someone needs it. All income from this delivery work, as well as the tips and donations we receive along the way, goes to Stichting IRADIS / ASK-Solutions and thus to projects such as The Owl’s Nest.
In the beginning we walked with a simple cart. Over the years we have improved it step by step. We built stronger side panels, replaced the wheels with solid rubber ones and made 3D-printed brackets to secure everything properly. For the wheel bearings we designed 3D-printed dust and splash guards, so the cart does not seize up because of dirt and rain.
The delivery cart has therefore become a small technical project in its own right. We adapt it whenever we notice that something is not practical in everyday use. Just as in the workshop, we use a combination of practical thinking, repair, 3D printing and trial and error to create something that lasts and does exactly what it needs to do.
Because we have been walking the same neighbourhoods for so many years, we now know a large number of people by face and name. Some people we see every week in the street or at the door. Every now and then we do a small errand or favour in passing: taking a rubbish bag to the container, posting a letter, passing on a message or helping with something small in the house.
We have seen people in the neighbourhood fall ill and recover, but we have also had to say goodbye to people who passed away at an old age or due to illness. All those encounters mean that, for us, the neighbourhood is not just a list of addresses but a network of real people and stories. The leaflet round has become a way for us to stay closely connected to what is happening in the neighbourhood.
Walking the same streets every week means you start to notice how things change. We automatically keep an eye out: litter piling up, places where vandalism is increasing, signs of nuisance or violence in the street. Where we can, we tidy up small things ourselves. If something is bigger or really does not seem right, we report it through the usual channels.
We are not enforcement officers and not care professionals, but we are a constant presence in the neighbourhood. By being visible and approachable on our round, we lower the threshold for people to say something if they are worried or struggling with something. Sometimes that leads to a short conversation, sometimes to a referral or an idea for a larger project.
Over the years we have also got to know a lot of four-legged residents. In many streets there are cats that now recognise us. Some of them come straight to the cart for a quick pet and a brief moment of attention. Some of the cats belong to residents, others are strays.
Where possible we try to do something for those animals as well. We have been able to help a few cats find a new home or get back to their owner. From time to time we have also spotted an injured animal and passed that on to people or organisations who can take action. These are small gestures, but they are part of a neighbourhood where people notice one another instead of just passing each other by.
In 2025 an article about our delivery route and our contact with the neighbourhood was published on the platform De Rode Daken. It describes what it is like to walk the same streets year after year, what encounters that leads to and how the combination of leaflet delivery and community contact works in practice. You can find the article here: Laura en Bianca – Derodedaken.nl.
The delivery work is one of the ways in which we help to keep the foundation financially afloat. The payment for the rounds, and the tips and Christmas gifts we receive, do not go into a private pot but into the work of the foundation. In that way we support, among other things, the workshop, projects such as the coffee corner and the activities we organise for and with local residents.
Around the holidays we ring many doorbells to hand over a Christmas card and exchange a few personal words. We have so many addresses that it is unfortunately impossible to find everybody at home, but we are always grateful for the welcome, the thanks and the Christmas cards we receive in return. It is exactly those small exchanges that show what we find important: a neighbourhood where people know each other, see each other and help each other a little.
The leaflet delivery is not a separate side job, but part of how we look at the neighbourhood and the foundation. If you are curious how this fits into the bigger picture of The Owl’s Nest and Stichting IRADIS / ASK-Solutions, have a look at About the workshop and Sharing knowledge.
If you would like to support our work as a foundation – for example because you know us from the delivery round – you can find more information on the Support us page. For questions or ideas you can always send a message via Make an appointment. We are happy to think along, whether it is about leaflets, the workshop or the neighbourhood.