The World's Warmest "Grand Deception" Exposed: Preying on the Elderly, Yet Encouraging Global Adoption
In the film The Truman Show, Truman's custody was purchased by the director of a reality show from the moment he was born.
He built a massive stage on an island, where the sky, sun, and moon were all fabric backdrops. Every house in the town was a prop, and thousands of residents were actors-all to make Truman believe this was the real world.
But you'd never guess that somewhere in this world, there truly exists a real-life version of "The Truman Show." It's the town of Hoogwerf in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Walking into the town, few would suspect anything amiss without knowing the truth, for it appears utterly ordinary.
Like other European towns, it isn't crowded, nor is its layout complex, yet every step holds new surprises.
In the morning, the town is peaceful and serene, with only a few elderly residents exercising on the wide streets.
Only when the sun fully rises does the town come alive. The musical fountain in the square dances to the rhythm, while a group of elders seated on benches chat about everyday matters.
People stroll in small groups, some resting outside the doors of small shops lining the streets, others picnicking on the grass. It's hard not to be swept up in this pleasant atmosphere.
Of course, bustling activity also fills the small shops lining the streets.
Shoppers purchase what they need in an orderly fashion, and shopkeepers even offer home delivery for elderly customers.
Come afternoon, coffee shops and dessert parlors become especially popular.
A cup of rich coffee, a small slice of cake, listening to a moving melody on your phone, quietly watching the flow of people outside the window-suddenly, happiness fills your heart.
An elderly man sits in the garden, basking contentedly in the sun. Occasionally, a playful kitten comes to seek affection. The old man strokes its fluffy little head with indulgent care, yet his hand never stops turning the pages of his book...
Life is peaceful and serene, the present moment secure. Everything seems to embody the very image of the life we long for.
Even many netizens reading this far are tempted to relocate, but Travel Bug advises you not to rush-because you don't qualify to live here.
All the shopkeepers, coworkers, friends, and even this entire town you've seen above are fake!
You may have noticed that the residents here are predominantly elderly. In reality, this is a "fake town" exclusively for patients.
With the town's exposure, the world's greatest deception has finally been unmasked.
It all began with Yvonne Van Amerongen, the very person who initiated this "scam."
Originally, she was just a caregiver at a nursing home, whose daily task was to "keep an eye on" these Alzheimer's patients.
Some would snatch others' belongings, mistakenly believing they were phones to call family; others would go outside to fetch a glass of water, only to return and lose their way back to their rooms; others would finish a meal only to angrily complain they hadn't eaten in days...
How could one possibly "watch over" these patients with amnesia? Since some patients became difficult to control during episodes, staff were forced to resort to restrictive measures for safety reasons.
Seeing these patients treated like misbehaving children, their eyes filled with fear and sorrow, left her feeling deeply troubled.
One day, while at work, she suddenly received a call from home. Her mother, deliberately suppressing her grief, said, "Your father passed away. Heart attack. It happened quickly. He didn't suffer much..."
Amidst her sorrow, she felt a strange sense of relief: "Yes, thank goodness he wasn't sent to a nursing home."
This thought startled her-nursing homes were supposed to be places filled with love, not the grim image that had instinctively come to mind.
From that moment, she conceived a vision: to build a nursing home unlike any hospital, where patients could live with dignity.
Later, through her efforts, her idea gained widespread support. Finally, in 2009, this "unconventional" town came into being.
The town covers an area of 12,000 square meters, which isn't particularly large. However, to make residents feel as close to normal life as possible, the town features no high walls or cold hospital wards.
Instead, it features all the standard amenities of a city: plazas, parks, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, bars, cinemas, barbershops... nothing is missing.
The town has a total of 23 rooms, each with its own distinct style.
Considering that these seniors' memories are frozen in their youth, the decor is modeled after the design styles of the 1950s.
Each room typically houses six or seven elderly residents, along with two caregivers.
The atmosphere feels like a close-knit community of seniors living together, incredibly warm and harmonious.
Of course, unlike the care models at other nursing homes, where staff might discourage patients from doing things to avoid inconveniencing themselves,
here, patients can wash their own clothes and prepare whatever meals they desire. In short, everything is done freely.
The weather's nice today, so I'm heading to the barbershop to get a new hairstyle.
After finishing dinner with nothing to do, I signed up for a baking class.
Even if you hit it off with the old man next door and start a late-in-life romance, there's nothing wrong with that.
Whether it's shopping at the supermarket or dining out, it doesn't cost a penny.
No one tags along when they go out, and there's no worry about getting lost-after all, everyone they meet in the small town is a familiar face.
The reason for this is simple: to let them, in their illness, enjoy a happy and carefree twilight years.
To prevent patients from feeling humiliated upon discovering their illness, the town hired 250 "actors."
They didn't need personal attendants or constant supervision, but their acting skills had to be top-notch.
Their roles varied widely-town chefs, baristas, supermarket staff, neighbors, and more-each fulfilling their part with one guiding principle: successfully deceive these patients.
Sometimes, they even exchanged tips on how to improve their "acting" skills.
Considering the patients' special needs, the town thoughtfully replaced all elevators with buttonless models that open automatically when approached. The elevator only begins its slow ascent after passengers step inside and stand securely.
For safety reasons, the town operates under a closed-off management system. Outsiders cannot enter, and residents cannot leave. Patients are monitored around the clock to observe their conditions.
Only on days with favorable weather is the town opened to the public for limited hours. During these times, students from nearby schools transform into young visitors, chatting with the elderly residents.
Health and wellness enterprises from China are also eager to lend heartfelt support to this "paradise" for seniors, utilizing smarter functional medicine devices to help the elderly manage their health.
Seniors can undergo regular HRA health risk assessments-each taking just minutes-to gain a comprehensive understanding of their current health status.
Through pulsed magnetic microcirculation therapy, non-pharmacological treatment is provided for various chronic diseases related to the circulatory system.
Regularly engage in "human-machine interaction" with the ADDS cognitive impairment screening device to identify Alzheimer's disease risk and disease severity.
Using the ADTS Memory Impairment Training Device, engage in fun, multi-dimensional exercises for attention and memory through mind-controlled gaming to prevent further memory decline.
Elderly individuals with poor sleep quality may improve their sleep patterns through pulsed magnetic sleep therapy devices.
To date, the town has "tricked" everyone for 14 years, yet the elderly residents have never shown resistance. With improved moods, their reliance on medication has also decreased.
To this day, only one resident has passed away in the town.
Before learning about Hogeweyk, I never truly understood what constitutes a benevolent lie. Witnessing hundreds of ailing seniors being "deceived" for fourteen years, I suddenly realized that some lies can be profoundly comforting.
For these frail elders, this place isn't a cold nursing home-it's a warm home.
Here, they can gracefully complete the final chapter of their lives.