Forever Young

Lars (Nathalie’s son) turns around – Biesbosch, Dordrecht

The Stillness of National Park De Biesbosch

A once in a lifetime family reunion among my sisters and cousins organised by my sister Nathalie in Dordrecht. Over the years we only meet at weddings and funerals but this time we really wanted to meet for a day. How would that be? Everyone is retired now and ages vary between 78 and 69, with one son joining, aged 51, old enough.

Nathalie and Victorine in the tour boat De Dordtevaar – Dordrecht

Steel factory along the canal in Dordrecht

Stans, Jan-Hendrik with Trudi in De Dordtevaar

It is telling that we, retired from society but having grown up in the revolutionary years of the Sixties clearly have kept that free spirit during all of our lifetime. Brimming with vitality, having diverse and shared interests and genuine skills of creativity. A different version of what our parents were because of Time’s intense changes and progress.

Stans, Jan-Hendrik, Eduard, and young Aaron – Dordrecht – Photo Petra

Trudi and August – Dordrecht – Photo Petra

Not window mannequins – Inside Nathalie’s Wereld Winkel – Dordrecht

The reunion went so well that it inspired the planning of one next year. For me it also was an opportunity to meet with others and travel to the south with my sister Petra to join her husband Hans in Maastricht. The next day a bike ride along the river Maas into Belgium and back through a landscape of fruit orchards, reminding me of my childhood.

A bike ride along the river Maas to Lanaye in Belgium

Petra and I at the Albert Canal in Lanaye, Belgium – Photo Hans

From Lanaye back to Eijsden in the Netherlands by ferry

In Maastricht, the Foto Museum displayed “Famous” by Terry O’Neill, professional photography of famous actors and rock stars, like Audrey Hepburn, Peter O’Toole, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Sean Connery and Liza Minnelli, among many others. Maastricht is such a rich cultural center that it is like walking through living history. The journey ends here.