Nicolaas Veul's new series may give a face to the most vulnerable Dutch people

In his latest documentary series for VPRO, Nicolaas Veul spends time interning at a residential care center for people with severe intellectual disabilities. Located in a forest on the Veluwe, the facility houses individuals who require intensive care due to aggressive outbursts and emotional development stages that contrast sharply with their physical strength. Veul experiences firsthand the high-pressure environment where caregivers must balance gentle interaction with the use of physical restraints to ensure safety. Although the documentary series is known for its hundred-day format, Veul concludes his time at the center after 86 days due to the extreme intensity of the experience.

The project highlights the daily struggles of vulnerable individuals who are often hidden from public view. For Veul, who recently became a father, the experience draws poignant parallels between the developmental stages of his own child and the residents. By showing the emotional toll on both staff and families, the documentary provides a rare look into a world behind locked doors and soft walls, ultimately aiming to give a human face to some of the most vulnerable people in the Netherlands.