Open Monumentendag, day two · 13 September 2026
For the second day of VriendenLoterij Open Monumentendag, my mum and I visited the Police Academy in Apeldoorn. After exploring the lodges the day before, this was another opportunity to step inside a local building I wanted to know more about.
Originally a seminary, where students prepared for the priesthood, the building has been used for police education since 1975. Its history remains visible within its present purpose. Building history.
We visited the atrium and the chapel, with its impressive brick vaults and colourful stained-glass windows. Beneath those high arches, modern seating and lighting give the space a very different everyday life. It is a beautiful example of how an old building can continue to serve new generations.
The visit also led to an unexpectedly engaging conversation with Mr. Janssens, a friendly employee who had previously taught MBO students at the academy. We spoke about cybersecurity, the opportunities and threats surrounding AI, and a three-month course the academy offers for specialised training.
These subjects connect closely to my own work and interests. Technical knowledge becomes far more useful when it can be translated into language that helps others make decisions.
The same applies to AI. Explaining what a system can do, where it can go wrong, and when human judgement matters should be part of making technology accessible. People should be able to join that conversation without needing an IT background.
For me, this is especially important when we discuss younger generations. Teaching responsible use deserves a central place alongside sensible boundaries. Simply forbidding AI or excluding young people from social media does little by itself to teach them how to assess information, protect their privacy, or recognise manipulation. I would like to see more attention given to helping them develop those skills.
The conversation also reminded me why work that contributes to society has always appealed to me. The connection between cybersecurity, education and public safety is something I find particularly meaningful. Seeing that environment from the inside made me curious about the different ways my experience could contribute to that wider mission over time.
What began as a visit to a beautiful historic building became a conversation about how we prepare people for the future. A lovely way to spend the afternoon with my mum—and this time, I remembered to take photographs.
