Nynke de Jong and Esther Groenenberg - Life: A Manual

But added up, they have nearly 80 years of life wisdom AND have listened carefully to their mothers all these years. In short: these women know something. And if they don't know, they just ask someone who does.

Life: a manual is a performance full of stories and conversations, with lots of music of course. About making choices, leaving or staying, taking risks and being yourself. But also with tips about plants, gyms, cooking, parking, jumpsuits, parenting and everything else that comes along in our lives. And to reveal the first one in advance: everything can be solved with duct tape.
Nynke and Esther try to figure out life and what is really important. How do we want to look back on our lives later? Their best life lessons and Esther's most beautiful songs point the way.

Nynke de Jong (1985) is a writer, podcast maker and regular guest on radio and TV. You may know her from De Slimste Mens or as a table guest on De Wereld Draait Door and Khalid & Sophie. Or from her columns in the AD or her podcasts Alle Geschiedenis Ooit and Ik Ken Iemand Die. Nynke published four books: two about sports and two about parenting. She lives in Zwolle and is the mother of three children.

Esther Groenenberg (1984) is a singer, pianist and songwriter. Her career began stormily with the YouTube hit Oh girl - a cheerful indictment of the beauty ideal. She has since released four albums and toured with her own theater shows, including the one about her musical heroine Carole King. In 2022, she released her album Rennen Voor De Boot. This includes Dutch pop songs she wrote on her own, as well as with Bertolf and Daniël Lohues. Esther is also a keyboardist/singer with women's band The Bluebettes. She lives in Zwolle with her husband, child and dog.

Text and vocals: Nynke de Jong
Text, vocals, piano & the songs: Esther Groenenberg