In the heart of a highly secured psychiatric clinic in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, there’s a soccer field. This is where the Jonkerboys play, the only soccer club in the Dutch national league for patients under compulsory psychiatric treatment. Their matches against amateur clubs outside the clinic are more than just games; they’re moments of freedom, where the confining walls fade away. On the field, they are soccer players first, transcending their roles as patients.

In the clinic, each player grapples with personal challenges, and the stringent demands of their treatment often affect their performance on the field. Some are barred from playing due to misconduct, while for others, the club is a beacon of hope and perseverance.

The Jonkerboys soccer club represents more than a team; it’s a symbol of connection between the isolated life within the clinic and the external world. These matches offer rare opportunities for genuine societal engagement. Yet, the reality of their circumstances is always present, underscored by the ever-watchful eyes of the clinic’s strict security.