Less than a year ago, Stichting Treehouse Coaching began with a simple ambition: to make coaching accessible to people who would not normally have the opportunity to benefit from it. Today, we are proud of the foundations we have built. We have established a committed and diverse board, welcomed an exceptional network of volunteer coaches, launched our website, and introduced our vision to a growing community of supporters. Our launch event, attended by 95 participants, confirmed that many people share our belief that coaching can be a powerful catalyst for inclusion, resilience, and personal growth. We see a strong uptick in the number of coaching applications. We could not have imagined where we are now when we started less than a year ago!
Today, Treehouse Coaching is a growing Amsterdam-based community of 46 people, including 35 professional coaches representing 20 nationalities and collectively speaking 24 languages. Our coaches bring expertise from a remarkable range of disciplines, sectors, and life experiences—from leadership and career development to wellbeing, sustainability, inclusion, entrepreneurship, the arts, LGBTQI+ issues, and social impact, to name a few. This diversity is one of our greatest strengths and a reflection of our city. This allows us to support people from many different backgrounds with empathy, cultural awareness, and a truly global perspective.
One of the most meaningful developments in this early phase has been our first official collaboration with Buddy Film Foundation. Through this partnership, Buddy Film Foundation is making coaching available for refugees and newcomers working in the national and international film industry—supporting people navigating creative careers, transition, identity, and new beginnings.
What makes this collaboration especially significant is the strong alignment in our shared mission. Both organisations believe in expanding access to spaces that are too often out of reach for many communities: spaces for reflection, growth, creativity, confidence, connection, and long-term development. Buddy Film Foundation’s commitment to inclusion and talent development in the film industry connects closely with our work at Stichting Treehouse Coaching to broaden access to coaching and support people through sustainable personal and professional transitions.
As our coaching community grows, so too does the team behind the scenes. We are delighted to welcome two new volunteers to our Daily Hero team. Dayana Al Alam, an architect, urban planner, and sustainable development specialist, joins us as our investigative journalist and community correspondent. Through her new newsletter column, A View from the Treehouse, she will uncover inspiring initiatives and stories that strengthen communities, sustainability, and inclusion and its nexus with the populations we serve.
We are equally pleased to welcome Ana Rita as one of our Daily Heroes. With a background in psychology and human resources, Ana Rita brings a thoughtful combination of organisational expertise and a deep interest in creating environments where people and communities can thrive. Her commitment to compassion, connection, and collaboration will help strengthen the foundation behind the scenes as Treehouse Coaching continues to grow.
We are equally delighted to welcome Annemarie van Iren to our Advisory Circle. With more than 35 years of experience in executive coaching, leadership development, and organisational consultancy, Annemarie has guided board members, senior leaders, and professionals through periods of change, growth, and transition. Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, helping leaders build more inclusive organisations while supporting individuals in discovering and developing their strengths. Trained as an andragologist—the study of adult learning—she brings a thoughtful, human-centred perspective that will be invaluable as Treehouse Coaching continues to grow its impact.
Together, we hope to continue building meaningful forms of support for communities with limited access to these opportunities—creating pathways that are more human, inclusive, and grounded in trust and potential. A special thank you goes to Dennis Overeem and the entire Buddy Film Foundation team for the trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to supporting both artists and people with refugee backgrounds. We are excited for what lies ahead together.
Looking ahead to the next three months, our focus remains firmly rooted in Amsterdam and its surrounding communities. It is a city of extraordinary diversity and creativity, but also one where many neighbourhoods experience increasing pressure from rising costs, social fragmentation, and rapid change. We believe coaching can play a meaningful role within this context—not as a luxury, but as an accessible resource that supports people in navigating transitions, strengthening resilience, and reconnecting with what matters most.
Over the coming months, we will continue expanding our network of coaches and partners, deepen collaborations with foundations, community organisations, and businesses that share our vision, and further develop accessible coaching opportunities for individuals who can benefit most. We will also continue sharing stories through this newsletter—highlighting people, initiatives, and ideas that strengthen connection, inclusion, and wellbeing throughout Amsterdam and beyond.
Although we are still at the beginning of this journey, we are encouraged by the generosity and belief we have encountered so far. Every conversation, collaboration, and contribution brings us closer to our vision of a more connected and compassionate Amsterdam—one where access to reflection, growth, and coaching is not determined by background or income, but by the belief in every person’s potential.
You can help make this vision a reality. None of this would be possible without the support of people who believe in our mission. As a young foundation, we rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to help make coaching accessible to those who might otherwise never have the opportunity. If our vision resonates with you, we invite you to support Treehouse Coaching with a donation. Every contribution—large or small—helps us offer coaching, grow our network of volunteer coaches, and create more opportunities for people across Amsterdam to reflect, grow, and thrive.
Instructions on how to make a donation can be found on our Become A Friend page on our website, or by reaching out to us by email.
For those who prefer to make a direct contribution, you can also use the bank transfer details below.
Account Holder: Stichting Treehouse Coaching
IBAN: NL29SWNB1973502821
BIC: SWNBNL22
Address:
Stichting Treehouse Coaching
Binnenweg 22
1191 AA Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Netherlands
THANK YOU to all coaches, volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters. Every contribution helps make coaching more accessible to those who might otherwise never have it.
Last, we are keen to welcome more coaches from artistic and cultural fields, and to expand our team with Arabic, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Tigrinya-speaking coaches, as these areas of connection and expression continue to grow within our work.