Maarten Dallinga

At a glance

• Dutch journalist and maker of podcasts and audio features.
• Also volunteers at De Luisterlijn, the Dutch helpline where people can talk anonymously about what is on their mind.
• Made the three-part podcast series ‘Luisteren met Dirk De Wachter’ in 2026, in which he talks with the Flemish psychiatrist about what real listening means.
• The series is about compassionate listening: letting the other person finish, not rushing to offer solutions, and being present with attention and wonder.
• The conversations start from the helpline’s practice but are useful for anyone who wants to support someone close.
• Relevant because loneliness and a lack of real connection are recognised risk factors for health in later life; attentive listening is one of the simplest ways to counter them.