Interview with Book Full of Memories: How Two Sisters Preserve Memories Forever

A book full of personal stories, funny anecdotes, and precious photos, compiled by all your friends and family. A tangible treasure trove of memories to hold on to, browse through, and cherish. What once began as a creative gift for Grandma has grown into Boek Vol Herinneringen (Book Full of Memories ), a special platform where love, comfort, and connection come together in book form. We spoke with the founders, Jessica and Suzanne, about their mission to create something beautiful, especially in life's most difficult moments. Because sometimes small stories say so much more than big words.

How did the idea for Book Full of Memories come about?

The idea for a Book of Memories actually arose quite naturally from our other websites: My Friends Book and My Recipe Book. These platforms allow people to easily create a personalized book together, filled out online and then printed. These often involve happy occasions like weddings, baby showers, or anniversaries.

Yet we also noticed a need for something else: a loving way to preserve memories during difficult times, such asillness , loss , or dementia . Boek vol Herinneringen (Book Full of Memories) was created to offer comfort in precisely those situations. A place where friends, family, or colleagues can share words and memories in a warm and respectful way. We want it to feel beautiful and sincere, without it becoming too heavy.

Book Full of Memories grew out of a personal family project. To what extent does that original feeling still play a role in what you do?

You mean we're sisters? That's right! Years ago, we created a book for Grandma, featuring all our grandchildren. Everyone responded so enthusiastically, which led us to develop these kinds of fill-in books and offer them online. Family spirit still plays a significant role. In everything we do, we consider not only the business side of things, but especially the people for whom we create the books. We think along with our clients and ensure we take as much work off their hands as possible.

You do everything in-house, from design to packaging. What are the advantages of that?

Because every book passes through our hands, from design to packaging, we maintain a strong connection with our product. This allows us to maintain high quality. Our small but dedicated team works on each book with care and attention to detail, without, of course, overlooking the personal content. Moreover, we can quickly respond to special requests or rush orders. Incidentally, we don't literally work "in-house," as we originally began, but in a creative studio in The Hague.

What moment do you remember most vividly from the very first time you delivered a memory book?

I especially remember the first customer's reaction afterward. She was so happy and told me how valuable the book had been for a seriously ill loved one. It had brought so much positivity during a difficult time and showed how beautiful a personal memory book can be. That was confirmation for us: this is exactly why we do this.

What makes working on a memory book for a loved one so special?

First of all, creating a memory book is very easy. You create a questionnaire and invite friends and family to answer it and upload photos. The questionnaire helps people express things they might not have dared or been able to say before. The questions naturally bring to light forgotten anecdotes and small, seemingly insignificant details. It's precisely those personal moments, along with beautiful photos, that make the book so valuable to look back on later.

Are there any moments that really stuck with you?

We were prepared for many sad stories, but the reactions have been so positive! For example, one mother told us she'd created a memory book for her son, about her deceased husband. The book not only offered him great comfort but also helped him get to know his father in a whole new way, through all the stories and anecdotes from his father's family and friends.

What advice would you give to people who are unsure whether their memories are 'book-worthy'?

Every memory, big or small, is worthy of a book! Because all the stories of family and friends are collected, the book becomes a kind of original biography, seen through the eyes of loved ones.

Where do you hope to be with Boek Vol Herinneringen in five years? Are there any dreams or plans already brewing?

We especially hope that in five years, many people will have been delighted with a Book Full of Memories. With each book, a little extra love and comfort is sent into the world. I think that's truly beautiful!

Is there anything else we really need to know?

Perhaps just a few more minor details about our books that might be useful to know. I'll summarize them briefly and concisely after my extensive explanation!

• The price of the book is based on the number of participants who complete a page. The more participants, the lower the cost per participant.
• You can choose from different designs , so you don't have to worry about designing.
• The book has a stylish linen cover on which you can have your own title engraved.
• You can supplement the book with photo pages and annual overviews.
• Free stylish storage folder
• You can easily invite friends, family, and colleagues by email or by sharing a group link via WhatsApp, for example.

We hope that Book Full of Memories will help people preserve their memories in a beautiful and personal way, find comfort, and continue to share love. It's special for us to see how small stories and personal words can make such a big difference. Every book we create is a small piece of connection. Exactly what it all began with.