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QfWf-Circle

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QfWf-Soul Circle Art Dialogues developing the theme of the yearly QfWf-Programme

The QfWf-Circle developing the 2024 theme on Global Citizenship

For the QfWf-Friends and the QfWf-Soul Circle the Dialogical meetings around the yearly theme are open: Quest for Wisdom Soul Circle.

These meetings are open for the Circle of QfWf-Friends. The frequency as well as the theme of the meetings are always coordinated with the Soul Circle. On the Annual Meeting Day, the entire QfWf community is welcome to participate in the executed program.

By engaging in these QfWf-Circles the growing QfWf-community will be staying alive, as well as that through the gatherings an intercultural programme can be developed around a relevant social theme. In this way, during the 2023-2024 season the “Wereldburgerschap van de Straat” has been co-created with the help of a funding from the Fonds CultuurParticipatie, departing from the commemorative year on the Slavery Past, as seen from the perspective of the intercultural art of living on how to transform oppressive structures into a culture-connecting dynamics in-between people.

2025 Annual Meeting Day with inter-cultural tapas!

During the season 2025-2026 this theme has been developed further by means of Amor Fati Co-creation in different QfWf-Circles. Around the life themes of the Amor Fati book, the ‘Playing Wisdom for the Cosmopolis‘ in the rounds of the board game are explicated into an intercultural programme by expressing these themes in different arts media by the members of the QfWf-Circles. In this way the 2026-theme ‘Inter-Cultural Rituals for developing World Citizenship‘ has led to a beautiful and touching Lente Ritueel. Also, an Amor Fati Counselling Course is under construction for learning how to guide this art of living-game for empowerment and raising consciousness in the networks of the QfWf-Circle members. Likewise, a tradition of Seasonal Meetings has emerged, in which these life themes are connected on the rhythm of the four seasons into a
‘Elementary Art of Living, enrolled on the Spring Meeting 2026 with an Inter-Cultural Ritua‘.

Organization Seasonal Meetings withe the QfWf-Circle

  • Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter ― traditionally the seasonal changes are celebrated with rituals! As Quest for Wisdom we like to rejuvinate this tradition in an intercultural way as Circle of World Citizens.
  • A ritual welcoming the Spring Season

    Info: We organize the seasonal meetings in respect of a social and intercultural relevant theme, such as: Spring Energy for a World on Fire!

    Guidance: Heidi Muijen – in collaboration with the Soul Circle.

  • Dates: see the Agenda.
  • Practical: meetings on Saturday Afternoon
  • Open for ‘Friends’ of the QfWf.
  • Costs: By giving a donation as ‘Friends’ of the Quest for wisdom foundation.
    We hope for € 45,= per year – though we welcome everyone’s donation according to their means on IBAN number NL14TRIO0777827654 of the Quest for Wisdom foundation in Weesp.

Naturally, the Quest for Wisdom foundation greatly appreciates each donation, making the QfWf activities possible!

More information, Requests and Registration as QfWf-friend: info@questforwisdom.org

Reflections and Impressions

on the 2025-2026 Season with Amor Fati Play:

  • Introduction of the Amor Fati game and book

    “Play emerges in-between people ― thus the Amor Fati board-game is one of the World Dialogical Games of the Quest for wisdom foundation

  • Following book and board game Amor Fati with the seven Rounds and Life themes: Authenticity, Ground Attitudes in Life, Intercultural Development, Ups and Downs, Hardships and Encounters on the journey in Life, Finding your Destiny. From the Introduction in the book:
    “With Amor Fati, I want to revive old symbolism and stories full of wisdom from the four corners of the world and give them new life as an intercultural and elemental art of living. For this purpose, the mask serves as a classical and intercultural symbol. After all, all cultures have forms of theater and rituals with masks – and at the same time, the design of a mask directly expresses cultural identity, even without knowledge of its exact origin and meaning. In that sense, the elemental aspect of the art of living is about the wisdom that spiritual traditions indicate as a path to inner liberation, by stripping masks from the true self – giving birth to the ‘elemental art of living’ of being free and happy in your element, on the one hand. On the other hand, this art requires an ethically-political path of awareness and the intercultural development of a ‘Cosmopolitan Mask’ as a world citizen for a moral world order. Both paths lead back to the original meaning of the mask as the ‘per-sona,’ the actor in the theater, through which the voices of ancestors, gods, and spirits sound. And both paths belong to Amor Fati for the art of living in the cosmopolis!”

Amor Fati Samenspel rond Wereldburgerschap-Elementair geluk
Amor Fati Samenspel Levensgrondhoudingen
Amor Fati Samenspel Kaders en Levensgeluk
Amor Fati Samenspel Inter-Culturele Vorming met Filosofisch Gereedschap
Amor Fati Samenspel Voor- en Tegenspoed
Amor Fati Samenspel Beproevingen op de Levensreis
Amor Fati Samenspel: Ontmoetingen op de Levensreis – en de Vreemde Ander
Amor Fati Samenspel Aankomst op Plaatsen van Bestemming

Season 2023-2024: the Wereldburgerschap-project met tentoonstelling en presentatie Amor Mundi OBA-Weesp-Afrondend evenement met Regenbooggroep
Before the Quest Circle gathered in the Leidschendammer Lounge and from 2016-2023 as the QfWf-Weesper Filosofie Kring

Update 2026-04

QfWf-Circle Read More »

Saturday 26th of September 2026

Annual Meeting Day 2026 QfWf

“Ten years Quest for Wisdom”!

Preparing for the next Decade…

The QfWf-Intercultural Community as Rainbow Tribe – drawing Yassine el Azabi

Doors open from 12.00 till 17.00 with intercultural bites and drinks

Start Programme 13.00

Opening words by Heidi Muijen with her Quest for Wisdom Dream:

In the spirit of the hopeful words on World Citizenship by QfWf-Honorary Member Dirk de Wachter!

Recollecting the first decade Quest for Wisdom

The Wheel of the intercultural Art of Living with Pictogrammes by Louis of Marissing

From the game Quest for Wisdom to World Citizens co-creating on Seasonal Meetings and on the QfWf-Platform The Golden Ratio…. 

With music by Fred de Haas, Henry Muldrow & his LeveZang choir, Mitra Muijen, Spoken Word by Angela Gilds and Quest for Wisdom Circle drawings by Greg Suffanti and Robin Stemerding.

We’ll spinn a red thread with Arts Dialogues through the Wisdomweb, the storytelling programme Animal Wisdom to the World Citizenship Programme ― thereby letting the Wheel of the Inter-Cultural Art of Living turn to…

Intercultureal ingredients for:

The next Quest for Wisdom Decade…

as intercultural community, contributing to the The Art of Living Together, as visualized by Alexander Fontanilla Ballesteros in his QfWf-2026 New Years Poem.

    • Siembrapalabra – Alexander Fontanilla

      Date: 26 September 2026

    • Time: Saturday afternoon from 12.00 doors open
      Programme from 13.00 till 16.00
      Meet and great till 17.00
      • Location: will be given after subscription!
      • Entrance: Free entrance for QfWf-Friends
      • Costs: You become a ‘QfWf-friend’ through a donation and get a welcoming gift of the book Amor Fati! If possible € 45,= a year on IBAN NL14TRIO0777827654 of the Quest for Wisdom foundation in Weesp.
        The QfWf is happy with every donation given from a good heart!
      • Info: We are in need of Seed-Words “Siembrapalabra” for Grumpy Times
      • Requests: info@questforwisdom.org

Annual Meeting Day 2026 QfWf Read More »

Become a QfWf-friend

Donate? Yes, please: thanks! 

In 2026 we have cancelled the expensive Mollie-service. As a consequence the Donation button does not work anymore. So please, donate via a bank transfer: 

bankrekening IBAN: NL14TRIO0777827654

The reason for cancellation is that the monthly costs of this service are too high for our limited budget.

Donate? Yes, please!

Help realize the goals of the Quest for wisdom foundation (QfWf)!

You become a QfWf-friend by donating yearly

We hope for a donation of € 45,= per year – though we are happy with the amount you are able to give!

In addition in helping to realize the intercultural QfWf-programmes, contributing to our aim of Global Citizenship, by donating € 45,= per year as a QfWf friend you get:

  • the (e)book about the annual QfWf-programme, such as Amor Fati in 2025 and Amor Mundi in 2024;
  • free entrance on the annual QfWf-meeting day
  • discount for workshops (25%)
  • invitations for the QfWf-Dialogical Circle

Discount (up to 50%) for educational materials of the Golden Ratio, such as

You become a QfWf friend by transferring the amount to NL14TRIO0777827654 in the name of the QfWf in Weesp or via the donation module below.

Donate? Love!

We cancelled the Ddoneren_met_mollie – as the monthly expenses for Mollie service exceed the gifts we get.
So please donate by bank transfer: Thanks!

Become a QfWf-friend Read More »

Soul Circle

Golden Ratio — Game for Wisdom — Animal Wisdom — Projects — Soul Circle

The QfWf-Worlddream

“It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us — onze diepste angst is dat we buitenmatig krachtig zijn. Het is ons licht niet onze duisternis die ons het meest bang maakt…”  — Marianne Williamson in: A Return to Love.

“Let freedom reign. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement!” — Nelson Mandela, 1994.

Leidschendammer Lounge Meeting

Each year the Quest for Wisdom organizes Seasonal Meetings in Circles to cocreate inter-cultural perspectives on themes of social relevance. The materials will be presented bij the Soul Circle on the Annual Meeting Day and events, like the intercultural 2024 programme. The poems, essays, music and other artistic materials are published on the Golden Ratio website as explorations and expressions of the QfWf-World Dream. In 2024 the theme “Global Citizenship” was documented in Amor Mundi and in 2025 Amor Fati, as stepping stones to make the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living work for an inclusive cosmopolitan culture, in which all people may feel at home and in harmony with all living beings:

“Global Citizenship is open communication between people, without being judgemental.
Respectful to each other, acknowledging that however different we are, we can stay connected, and are able to share!”

Angela Gilds reflection on the intercultural meetings for the project on Global Citizenship.

Global Citizenship meeting

A world dream emerges when we start dreaming together. By sowing seeds of love in our own circles — instead of going along with reflexes of indifference, aggression and fear — so that a smile elicits laughter, spontaneity is embraced with opening your heart. How valuable are the differences between people to create a meaningful world and to make (working) life more colourful and fascinating — with people developing an eye for (inner) beauty. How beneficial when people are opening up so that the lover between people creates an inclusive society.

World Citizenship – Nour Kayali

A world we dream of is created by dreaming. By not forgetting our ‘childishly naive’ way to be open and confident. And let us not forget that the most beautiful things are born from our hopes and dreams. The most beautiful dreams and positive emotions empower ourselves both as individuals and communities, by an ethos that reaches to the stars and can change the world – these dreams begin with powerful dreamers like Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King. Like John Lennon singing “I’m a dreamer and I’m not the only one…”. Let’s start dreaming together about a world where each can find shelter and people around to feel at home, by starting with small actions in our own circles, so that our world-dream-power comes alive. With small steps that are big and loving deeds that are contagious. Weaving threads of soft skills that connects us as global citizens and living beings on Mother Earth, flowing with the stream of life….

Update 2026-08

Soul Circle Read More »

The Golden Ratio

Golden Ratio — Game for Wisdom — Animal Wisdom — Projects — Soul Circle

Platform for the QfWf yearly theme — Global Citizenship

QfWf-event on Global Citizenship

The QfWf has launched the digital platform De Gulden Snede in 2024 in order to present the development of the project “Global Citizenship of the streat”. The Quest for Wisdom’s yearly search for themes through different creative media and channels will be elaborating in a World Citizenship programme. In it, the QfWf wants to express cosmopolitan voices in the harsh debate around the multicultural society, answering the hardening migration policies with positive experiences of intercultural encounters. In words, images and by music, the central idea and value of inclusion is expressed and embodied in a ceramic sculpture: the Rainbow Bird of Paradise with the Cosmic Egg, as part of a exhibition. See the Quest for Wisdom-Brochure.

Quo vadis: Becoming who you are

Hey you, being on two feet, wandering around the world …
Dazedly dividing Mother Earth into mine and thine:
Is this commandment of possession mayby theft and the greatest venom
by which you have to prove with a document to be a human ‘citizen’
in order not to be treated as undocumented stranger and pariah?

Beyond the boundaries of the nation-state lies the cosmopolis:
there, all beings-with-a-heart-that-can-bleed are welcomed
and are asked for their names and stories, sitting around the fire
with connecting scents, transcultural spices and honey wine
in colourful company, where you as stranger and ‘other’ are welcomed.

World citizen where are you? As a fugitive from inner affairs
in danger of losing the most precious thing, that is covered by status and power
You split the world into friends and enemies, us and them, and your heart becomes hard –
yet you feel a nomadic yearning for paradise with melancholy and sorrow.

Angela Gilds’ Spoken Word in the Amsterdam Library Reigersbos

For the 2025-theme, “Practices of Global Citizenship“, artists, philosophers and professionals highlighted their practices and visions as global citizens through artistic expressions, stories, podcasts and videos. The launching of the Amor Fati programme at the Amsterdam Public Library Reigersbos with the Amor Mundi exhibition including the Welcoming Migrant Series, as well as the book presentation, resulted in Arts Dialogues around Amor Fati themes by means of music, spoken word and dancing to welcome people as World Citizens, as we all are human from heart to heart:

The indigenous Surinamese cultural group Wehpokamanong

“World citizenship is open communication between people without judgment. Dignity toward each other, knowing that no matter how different we are, we are in connection with each other and can share this feeling together. Getting to know each other, transferring knowledge and experience, recognizing and acknowledging each other’s qualities. Beautiful journey to undertake together.

Last year was a wonderful year with several workshops aimed at connecting with each other through the art of living. Yodeling, modeling, painting, word art, dance, singing. A rich experience that we will continue and pass on this year. Let your light shine. You are unique!”

The Golden Ratio 2026-theme around World Citizenship explores “Inter-Cultural Rituals” with visual and musical expressions, philosophical and professional perspectives. Please, see the contributions from the QfWf circles on our digital platform Multimedia – De Gulden Snede.

Update 2026-08

The Golden Ratio Read More »

Mission, Projects and Activities

  • The QfWf-Mission: the Intercultural Art of Living in a Global World!

    The Quest for Wisdom foundation was founded in 2016 by Heidi Muijen. With an intercultural community (the Soul Circle — Quest for Wisdom Circle), the QfWf organizes activities to promote a culture of openness and plurality: necessary ingredients for inclusion as world citizens. Each year, the Soul Circle develops a programme during Seasonal Meetings to be presented at the Annual Meeting Day. Through these activities, the Quest for Wisdom Circle spreads cosmopolitan values into our branching networks as Soul Circle — using playful artistic materials and our World Citizenship programme. In doing so, the QfWf aims to strenghten the connections between people and their cultural heritage. Thereby, contributing to an open and plural culture of world citizenship (inter-esse for cultural diversity) by tapping into one’s own and shared historical (inter)cultural roots and wisdom traditions — highlighting the underlying transcultural values of humanity, compassion and hospitality.

    Cultural ANBI status

    The QfWf is acknowledged as organization with an culturele ANBI status (NL).

    The programs in the Quest for Wisdom-Brochure have been honored twice by cultural funding:

    Storytelling programma Animal Wisdom in 2020-2021

    With a subsidy from Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds i.s.m. Fonds zuidoost, awarded in 2020, the QfWf has developed a storytelling-Project- around animal wisdom in storytelling traditions from all four corners of the world. The purpose of this programme is to bring ancient wisdom into new forms for contemporary ears, resulting in stories on Animal Wisdom, the Animal Wisdom Collection and an Intercultural lesson for elementary education.

  • The “Global Citizenship of the streets” project in 2023-2024

    Start of the project with world cafe dialogues – photo Marc Broens

    With a subsidy from the Cultural Participation Fund, the QfWf has realized the “World Citizenship of the Street”-project in 2023-2024 in the form of a triptych in 3 phases. Reflecting on the history of slavery (phase 1); then, collecting intercultural ingredients of collective and individueal dreams of global citizenship in images, music, dance, stories and other expressions of (inter)cultural heritage (phase 2); culminating in a social experiment with collaborating partner organizations (phase 3) for global citizenship. The result is an intercultural programme with wisdom and beauty from the four corners of the world.

    The QfWf method is using Art as magic and collecting inter-cultural ingredients as fuel, to be presented in meetings as well as in books: (Post)Koloniale Waarden, Amor Fati and Amor Mundi. As spinn-off, the digital platform The Golden Ratio was launched to present the World Citizenship programme; developed in collaboration with social partners: Culturele Droomwevers and Curinesa Foundation, independent artists, Robin Stemerding, Nour Kayali en Louis van Marissing, and the Wehpokamanong Cultural Group, who preserves the cultural heritage of indigenous Caraibs from Suriname in the Netherlands and passes it on to young generations. This project started in the fall 2023 with a meeting in Bussum, culminating in several meetings during the year 2024 and ended with the presentation of the books and an migrants exhibition.

    These books and the exhibition were presented in the Public Library of Amsterdam (OBA) in Weesp on the 28th of September 2024, and on the 19th of October 2024 together with the residents of the Regenbooggroep, the organisation that gives shelter to migrants, refugies, homeless and people in need: exchanging cultural ingredients with music, dance and sharing food from each others cultural kitches. A ceramic statue, made by Camile Smeets was presented: this Rainbow Paradise Bird with Cosmic Egg incorporates the world dreams of the intercultural project group. On the 25th of Januari 2025 in the OBA Reigersbos, the exhibition Amor Mundi was reopened, together with the presentation of the book Amor Fati, sharing an intercultural programme with music and spoken word by Angela Gilds review on the project meetings.

    The need for an intercultural art of living

    Being able to deal in a human way with differences is a delicate matter in our current times. The QfWf calls for an intercultural art of living, visualised with the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living.

    The QfWf sees World Citizenship as the human answer facing the collective fear for migrants as ‘the strange others’. Tilting tendencies of hatred and agression towards a path of openness and inclusion.

  • The intercultural art of living is the ability to move nomadic between cultures and to be able to see the beauty of cultural differences. To enhance the art of living as world citizens the QfWf-Soul Circle organises every year around a social relevant theme an intercultural programme and presents this on its digital platform de gulden snede as well as by living encounters such as the yearly QfWf-Meeting Day.
  • Just like the beauty of the Golden Ratio in natural forms such as the rhythmical growth of leaves and snail shells, as well as in cultural expressions such as the principles how cathedrals are built and the musical harmony in chords.This QfWf-vision and mission to contribute to a cosmopolic world order and culture of inclusion is the core of the QfWf.

  • Quest for Wisdom, meandering along

How to deal with differences?

Dealing with differences has been raised as a social issue by Paul Scheffer, in his controversial article “Het multicultural drama” (2000). Then, calling the fact of living in a multicultural society a ‘drama’ raised debate, now it seems ‘the new normal’. Before that, the international debate had been heated up by Samuel P. Huntington’s terrifying perspective on the Clash of Civilizations (1996). Since then, the political debate on multicultural issues gets harder and harder, increasingly rude on the social media ….

The QfWf wants to play a role in tilting the debate

Diagram met de 17 duurzame ontwikkelingsdoelen door de V.N. op 25 September 2015 aangenomen als deel van de 2030 Agenda
Diagram met de 17 duurzame ontwikkelingsdoelen

The QfWf wants to turn the polarized debate about migration, refugees and religious fights from a problem for ‘political experts’, to a wake up-call for all of us. As world citizens, we hear in the cry for help an ethical appeal to us, to everyone, from the current administration to our neighbours in the street.

How do we deal with, and how do we want to deal with ‘the strange other’?
That strange other can be the foreigner, the outcast, the migrant, the refugee and if we are honest, the ‘other’ we are ourselves …

In order to tilt the debate, the QfWf urges for awareness of who ‘we’ are underneath identifications with our culture, nationality, ethnicity, religion and gender: we are citizens of the cosmopolis, nomads with inter-cultural identities:

Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Taranto, Italië — foto Joke Koppius

The inter-cultural art of living means not to exclude the other as the ‘unwelcome stranger’, but to see behind our maskes ― the roles we play in society ― seeing our shared human nature, and recognizing ‘the strange other’ in ourselves! Thereby, we create space in-between us (which is in Hannah Arendts view confitional for preserving our humanity), inducing inter- and transcultural connections! This soft power, the fragility of goodness as Martha Nussbaum sees it, is our weapon of world citizenship to overcome the divide and rule power-politics, that we witness in the increasing aggression and hatred, greed and indifference, that we tolerate to rule in our world. 

Recognizing the beauty of cultural differences as well as shared human values, is stronger than the fear of ‘otherness’. The road towards this challenging goal is the world of the arts and (inter-)cultural expressions: by co-creating meaningful connections between people and their cultural heritage!

Creating inter- and transcultural connections

QfWf-event in the Library of Amterdam – photo Michel Odjo

The QfWf aims to develop artistic, philosophical, social and practical inter-cultural connections through the arts and wisdom from East and West, North and South. Thereby inspiring people for an intercultural art of living as world citizens: by interacting in respect and interest for each other’s differences. To preserve values of plurality for world citizenship, requires openness within ourselves as well as in-between people by keeping in touch with our human core values, like hospitality, empathy and happiness, which truly connect us as sisters and brothers ― keeping a common playing field open for all!

Update 2026-08

Mission, Projects and Activities Read More »

QfWf: Cultural ANBI status

doneer aan de QFWF

The Quest for wisdom foundation (QfWf) has a cultural ANBI status.
What that means according to the ficus is explained here:  Public Benefit Organizations / Culturele ANBI

Donate? Yes, please: thanks!

In 2026 we have cancelled the expensive Mollie-service. As a consequence the Donation button does not work anymore. So please, donate via a bank transfer:

bankrekening IBAN: NL14TRIO0777827654

The reason for cancellation is that the monthly costs of this service are too high for our limited budget.

Donate? Yes, please!

Cultural ANBI-Status Obligations

Below is the (annual) publication obligation on our website

State of affairs: end of 2025

Publication Obligation Regarding the Cultural ANBI status

1-3: Business data QfWf:

4: The QfWf Goals:

Intercultural Art of Living for Inclusion and Transcultural Connections

The objectives of the QfWf are based upon the statutes of the Quest for Wisdom foundation. As founded in 2016 statuten volgens de oprichtingsakte Stichting Quest for Wisdom foundation. 

5: The QfWf Policy plan: the intercultural art of living

The QfWf policy is planned in detailed multi-year plans, as documented in point 9: Beleidsplan-QfWf-2024-2026

Objectives and Policy Plans stem from the QfWf Mission and Vision:

The Quest for wisdom was founded on the 20th of September 2016 by Dr. Heidi S.C.A. Muijen with the mission of fostering a culture of openness towards inclusion and cultural diversity. This objective of the foundation according to the statuten calls for an intercultural art of living as response(ablility), given the fear of ‘the strange other’ in order to develop inter-cultural connections as ‘multicultural society’ by means of:

  • historical awareness of the (inter)cultural roots of wisdom traditions;
  • interest in other cultures and wisdom traditions and
  • engaging in inter-esse by living encouters and cross-pollination between cultures

To this end, the QfWf-programmes are cocreated by paying attention to the cultural-historical contexts of the collected stories, rituals and symbolism from wisdom traditions from North and South, East and West on the one hand; on the other hand, by highlighting transcultural values, like hospitality, empathy and humanity through music, visual arts and other intercultural expressions, that help to transform the globalizing society.

Being able to deal well with differences is a pressing as well as delicate issue of late modern times; a social question that sparks intolerant opinions and heated political and religious debates. To stay away from polarizing discussions, the QfWf focusses on inter-cultural connections, following a path of ‘glocalization’ ― a combined perspective of ‘the local’ with ‘the global’. In this way, the QfWf aims to contribute to a cosmopolitan mindset in growing Circles of Concern (Martha Nussbaum). This integrative approach was discussed by the late emeritus professor Couwenberg on the Wisdomweb.

Dealing with differences: World Citizenship!

The QfWf activities continue to take place together with a growing circle of stakeholders, who share the mission of the foundation – as visualized and expressed in the ‘Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living’.

Therefore, the QfWf focusses on creating awareness of who ‘we’ are as citizens of the cosmopolis: nomads with intercultural identities, transcending differences in culture, race, religion, ethnicity, gender,…

Diagram met de 17 duurzame ontwikkelingsdoelen door de V.N. op 25 September 2015 aangenomen als deel van de 2030 Agenda
Diagram with the 17 sustainable development goals

The QfWf-goal of world citizenship follows a path of developing inter-cultural artistic programmes both by tapping into the cultural and historical contexts of stories, art, music, rituals, and symbolism from various wisdom traditions, as well as creating in-between spaces through living encounters with music, visual arts, and dialogue, expressing values that connect cultures — like mercy, empathy, and humanity — to foster an ethos of world citizenship in the dynamic field of a globalizing society.

By stimulating the recognition of the beauty of our differences and shared commonality, instead of a fear of ‘otherness’, through artistic and (inter-)cultural expressions, the QfWf seeks to create space both in-between people for a human world (Hannah Arendt) and establish meaningful connections between cultures!

Hospitality, respect and inclusion and other shared values of humanity are what truly connect people as sisters and brothers ― opening a common playing field for all, established by the core value of reciprocity! Please, contact us on out vision and mission: bestuur@questforwisdom.org

6, 7: The Board of the QfWf

8: Remuneration policy for the QfWf Board

The members of the board do not receive any remuneration for their work. They are, however, entitled to reimbursement of costs incurred in the performance of their duties, such as, for example, a travel allowance.

Board members cannot dispose of the assets of the institution separately. There is a separate bank account in the name of the QfWf. In addition, an annual financial overview is drawn up by the treasurer of the QfWf. This overview is discussed and adopted during an annual board meeting (at which at least 3 members of the board are present).

9: Report of the Activities Performed

The Quest for Wisdom carries out its activities through the voluntary efforts of a Circle of dedicated artists, writers, and other volunteers. The occasionally awarded grants have given the QfWf-projects a boost.

The grant applied for in 2025 by an alliance of 8 organisations to the municipality of Amsterdam was unfortunately not awarded. However, this application did provide a spin-off for a new collaboration and for exposure, such as participating at the event in Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam on 19 March 2026 during the week celebrating 60 years of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, established by the UN after the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960.

In 2021 as well as in 2024 the QfWf received funding, due to the cultural and social relevance of her activities. The first grant in 2021 was given for developing an intercultural storytelling programme during the Corona lockdown which was presented on a specially designed website Animal Wisdom including an educative offer with a series of ebooks.

The second grant in 2024 on Global Citizenship resulted in organizing several events around a visual exhibition with an intercultural program and the launching of a digital platform for the Golden Ratio Quest around a yearly theme of the intercultural art of living.

Hereby, the QfWf has integrated the three Quest for Wisdom to serve the shared goal of world citizenship: through the Wisdom Web; Quest 2 ― Golden Ratio of Educative Materials; and Quest 3 ― Meet, by means of Annual Meeting Days, Workshops, Masterclasses, Newsletter ‘Spinning web’ and the Video channel.

From 2024 onwards the three Quests are integrated focussing on the enhancement of world citizenship by developing every year an intercultural artistic and educative programme which is presented on the Yearly Meeting Day as well as on the digital platform The Golden Ratio.

Awarding Cultural ANBI-status
Toekenning Culturele ANBI-status

Since its foundation in 2016 the QfWf celebrated on 6 July 2018 that it has been recognized by the Tax Authorities as a Algemeen Nut Beogende Cultural Instelling (cultural ANBI-status) with its objective and activities in retrospect since 1 January 2018.

See below the reports of QfWf-policy for activities in chronological order:

Annual Reports of the QfWf

Update 2026-08

QfWf: Cultural ANBI status Read More »

Wisdom Collection (e-)books

Golden Ratio Collections — Animal Wisdom Collection — Wisdom Collection

Amor Mundi presented in the OBA Weesp

The QfWf Wisdom Collection is written by QfWf-authors, to disclose the richness of cultures worldwide with stories, music, visual arts, philosophical and spiritual traditions. Thereby, the wisdom from North, South, East and West is shown in multifaceted and artistic forms. The Wisdom Collection contains both general and intercultural essays as in-depth explorations to highlight specific artistic wisdom from cultural traditions.

These (e)books are published in the Dutch and/or English language; and sometimes multilingual. The proceeds of these (e)books will entirely benefit this programme and upcoming QfWf projects. We hope for a wide and interested audience for this entire varied series.

The first three books in the QfWf Wisdom Collection has been published in a physical form, due to a grant awarded in 2023 by the Cultural Participation Fund for the ‘QfWf Global Citizenship from the Street program’.

The fourth and next publications in the series are all ebooks (pdf).

  • The series opens with Amor Fati: Spelende wijsheid voor de kosmopolis in which Heidi Muijen explores the question of global citizenship through the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living. The book thus highlights both the vision of the Quest for Wisdom foundation and the background for the board game of the same name developed by her, which addresses mythical-philosophical symbolism from the four corners of the world. A
    Greg Suffanti telling about his aquarelles for Amor Fati

    series of watercolours, Chinese brush paintings, drawings and collages by Greg Suffanti, Agnes Roothaan, Louis van Marissing, Annelie van Steenbergen, Caroline Young, Nour Kayali, Klaske Rehorst, Josee Tesser, Elin Maljaars, Maya Plas & Mitra Muijen depict intercultural themes as a common thread throughout the book. (NL, EN, 2024, ISBN 978 90 441 3970 9)

  • The second book (Post)Koloniale wa(a)r(d)en by Fred de Haas contains layered reflections on (post)colonial history: the author mirrors the Caribbean and Latin-American identity in poetry and literature, also with poems written by his own hand. The portraits of poets and historical figures in black-and-white drawings by Josee Tesser has given a lighthearted touch to this heavy history of oppression. In addition, the approximately 100 clickable links to musical interpretations bring the intercultural identities of Caribbean and Latin-American peoples into experience. (NL, ESP, Papiaments, Creools, 2025, ISBN 978-94-927-273, hard cover en ISBN 978-94-927-297, e-book)
  • The third book Amor Mundi: Wereldburgerschap van de straat — with editors Heidi Muijen, Klaske Rehorst en Robin Stemerding and many authors from the QfWf-Circle — documents the project ‘World Citizenship of the Street’ with art, poetry, images, raps, intercultural and philosophical reflections of the Quest for Wisdom Soul Circle how the world dream of the cosmopolis is developed into artistic forms for current contexts. (NL, EN, 2024. ISBN 978-94-92-127-198)
  • Hans van Rappard expertly explains the fascinating Chinese and European wisdom traditions in an intercultural-philosophical manner in e-book 4, Walking Two Roads, Accord and Separation in Chinese and Western Thought (EN. 2023. ISBN 978-94-92-127-204)
  • In e-book 5 Russische Zigeunerromances, Fred de Haas opens up a hitherto little-exposed genre of Gypsy Romances with its rich intercultural and historical sources. The (90!) clickable links to beautiful old and newer renditions, including the musical renditions of Fred de Haas (guitar and vocals) and Ralph Kreuter (balalaika), are surprising. (NL, RU, 2023. ISBN 978-94-92-127-211)
  • In e-book 6 Middeleeuwse chirurgie in woord en beeld, Marcel Reyners has made a unique combination of the drawings of Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468) with the text of ‘The Method of Medicine’ of Albucasis (936–1013). He illuminates medieval surgery, drawing on his years of life, travel and work experience. (NL. 2023, ISBN 978-94-92-127-228)
  • E-book 7, Ik ben iemand die intens leefde… — Bloemlezing: gedichten en illustraties by Marianne H.B. van Halewijn contains a large collection of poems and mandalas, bequeathed by the author to the Quest for Wisdom foundation. This colourful anthology expresses an intensely felt cosmic connection. (NL, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 174)
  • E-book 8, Knipoogjes: Korte en luchtige tijdreisjes in gezelschap van Henry Bergson, consists of columns in which serious issues are light-heartedly addressed by Rosalie de Wildt. The illustrations, watercolours by Greg Suffanti, add a humorous, colourful and intercultural layer to Rosalie’s philosophical reflections. (NL, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 181)
  • E-book 9, Het duurde maar even … – Gedichten die mij raakten consists of translations by Fred de Haas of about 60 poems in Creole, German, French, Galician, Papiamento, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian…. (NL, multilingual, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 242)
  • E-book 10, Eye of the Tiger – Colorful Heritage of the Far East contains a unique collection of Chinese brush drawings by Caroline R. Young, interspersed with historical and mythical stories from the Far East. (EN, 2025, ISBN 978 94 92 127 259)
  • Volume 11, Plempius Vopiscus Fortunatus: Amsterdammer, Professor in Leuven (1633-1671), by Marcel Reyners, sketches the life of this Amsterdammer and Leuven professor and his position in the philosophical-medical debate between ancient Galenic medicine and the emerging Cartesian mechanical approach to the body. In addition to a discussion of the significance of Plempius’ work for the development of medicine, this edition contains an extensive bibliography and remarkable illustrations of medical instruments and writings that bring this time of transition to life.
    (NL, 2026, ISBN 978 94 92 127 303)
  • In Volume 12, Traveling with an Expat: 20 Years on the Road on 3 Continents, Marie-Claire Marx describes her life as an expat, together with her husband and physician Marcel Reyners, in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Starting in 1998, they traveled to Cambodia, Albania, and Kenya and immersed themselves in the cultural and historical backgrounds of the people of these countries, including the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. This intercultural context, together with the author’s own photographic material, provides a unique perspective on the necessity of drawing historical lessons for global citizenship.
    (NL, 2026, ISBN 978 94 92 127 310)

QfWf-Wisdom Collection — (E-)Books

Purchase of educational materials

The financial benefits from these (e)books and other educational materials – which are all realised by volunteers – will entirely benefit this programme and upcoming QfWf-projects.

Update 2026-08

Wisdom Collection (e-)books Read More »