HENK Visits with Hanna Verboom
In the 'HENK Visits' series, we visit people who inspire us, giving you a glimpse into their daily home life. This time, we're visiting filmmaker, social entrepreneur, and mother, Hanna Verboom.
Hanna is known for her work as a filmmaker and her dedication to themes of sustainability, mental health, and diversity. Having grown up in Kenya and Sudan, she was inspired by strong communities and cultural connection, which motivated her to found the film platform Cinetree. We spoke about her drive, the importance of home, and the role of sustainability in her life.
Where do you find your inspiration and drive?
I grew up in East Africa; I lived in Kenya and Sudan until I was twelve. This meant I grew up in two cultures. East African culture is known for its sense of community and connection to nature, which I always found beautiful and missed when I returned to the Netherlands. I believe we can learn a lot from African cultures, especially about connection and living in harmony with the earth. Connecting these cultures and building bridges between people is something I learned from a young age, and later I saw film as a powerful means to achieve this. These experiences ultimately led to the creation of Cinetree.
Amidst all your endeavors, what does 'home' mean to you?
Home is the foundation. Due to my extensive travels in the past, I have always sought my home, because I grew up with two different cultures. Home is having roots, a place where I can unwind, surrounded by people and things dear to me. If that foundation isn't there, everything else suffers. It's not just my foundation, but also that of my two young children. I greatly enjoy living in nature, where I can simply find peace.
You have various HENK products; are you happy with them?
I am very happy with them! Especially with the Checker chairs. I searched for a long time for new ones because I was very attached to my old chairs, which I once found at a theatre sale. They were completely worn out, so I had been looking for a replacement for a while. I wanted something timeless, unique, and comfortable, and I immediately fell in love with these chairs. The Blob coffee table also really appeals to me. The combination in my home of clean lines, unique design, and fabrics from Africa and rugs from Morocco; it's a mix of everything, just like me, haha!
Sustainability is an important theme for you; what does it entail for you?
Sustainability is about something bigger than ourselves. I see sustainability almost more broadly than 'sustainability' – I think it's much more about understanding that you are part of something larger than yourself. The choices you make, whether concerning the community or future generations, impact the future. You are a cog in this process, and it makes you think about your consumption and lifestyle. This is not only about the climate but also about mental health. If you don't feel well, you consume differently and are less engaged with the world around you. There's a strong connection between how we consume, live, and maintain our relationships. Our society is focused on speed and convenience, but sustainable solutions take time. It's a cultural issue; climate problems are also cultural problems. It influences how we view the future. If we believe that things can be repaired and that it's worth investing in sustainability, then we change our way of thinking. This is an important aspect for us at Cinetree, where we tell stories that can stimulate this cultural shift.
In collaboration with Cinetree, we are offering two months of free films. Sign up for Cinetree now via this link.