Meeting people, listening to them and offering comfort. You can leave that up to Mirjam van Nie, airport pastor at Eindhoven Airport. “I don't intrude because not everyone wants a chat. But people who do are surprisingly open. They genuinely want to tell their story. By listening, I make their ‘luggage’ a little lighter.”

Van Nie, a member of the Protestant Church in Heeze, has been working at the airport one afternoon a week since 2014. She looks after the prayer room on the terminal's first floor and actively seeks out and makes contact with passengers, visitors, drop-offs and pick-ups. It starts with looking around, observing people. “I make an assessment which people are willing to talk and approach them." It doesn't matter whether people believe or their religion.

“People say goodbye to each other at the airport. That has an effect inside. People cross a border and that goodbye and the loss can really hurt.” She tells of a woman she spoke to, who came to collect her daughter and her family. She talked about missing her grandchildren, whom she rarely sees because her daughter and her family live in Spain. “It helps her, when I listen to her story." On another occasion, she struck up a conversation with a woman who said she was going away to cope with a painful divorce. “People's heart open up when you listen and open your heart to them.”  Van Nie also regularly speaks to travellers who are tense. “It's nice to help them feel calm again by listening.” She remembers a particular conversation with a woman. “She was wearing a Burka, which also made it difficult to find a connection with her. But when that happened, we had a pleasant conversation about the meaning of God in her life.” Van Nie hasn't yet had any requests to provide support for Ukrainian refugees. But I will certainly be there to help them if I can.”

The prayer room is multi-faith. You will find free Bibles in many different languages, as well as the Koran, a Jewish prayer book and prayer mats. The room is open during the terminal's operating hours. The prayer room has been adopted by the Protestant Church in Veldhoven. The prayer room and the airport pastor are there for everyone. It is mainly used for praying. But sometimes people just need a calm environment. Van Nie: “Once I was also asked by someone if he could do his breathing exercises there. Of course I said yes. Everyone is welcome as long as they respect other visitors.”