Holland 2001

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We hadn't, in fact, planned to spend a holiday in Holland this year. The idea to to visit the land of windmills, canals and dikes was formed in mid-summer after I'd been sorting through a suitcase of old papers from my late parents. Coming across three letters and several family photos sent to my mother by a Dutch lady whose name was Rina, I recalled hearing, as a six year old, about a family in Holland with whom my father had been billeted during the war.

The letters and photos had been sent between December 1945 and June 1946; by which time my father had been posted to India. After reading these letters, which were very thoughtful, kind and caring, I felt I wanted to personally thank Rina for her kindness to both my parents more than 55 years ago. Impossible? Well, maybe - but worth a try. One of the letters gave the family address at that time, and on the back of a photo featuring the whole family Rina had written their names and ages. Rina was then 22; the second eldest of four children - still living at home with both parents - and teaching a class of 47(!) seven-year-olds.

Our seven nights stay in Holland began with the car ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, from where we drove straight to Heeze - the small town situated south-east of Eindhoven - where Rina had lived.

We hadn't made any hotel reservations so we just booked in at the first hotel we came to on the main street. Then we walked to the main square where there was an indexed street map of the town. Unfortunately the map made no mention of "Stationstraat". Continuing our evening walk, a few minutes later I spotted a sign saying "Oude Stationstraat". That explained it - the street was now called 'Old' Stationstreet. Now I wanted to find number 21. It didn't exist. Only number 25, situated beside the level crossing, looked similar to the house on one of the photos. A pity, but not surprising - after all, the town must have undergone many changes over the last 55 years. Back at the hotel we looked through their telephone book but there was nothing for 'Heuijerjans'.

Next morning, the hotel receptionist rang some similar sounding names but without success. My original intention had been to inquire at the local town hall which is what we did next. I produced Rina's letters and told the receptionist why I was looking for her. She got me to write my name on a piece of paper and then went to an office. After 10 minutes she returned - saying could I wait another five minutes as a colleague was checking out a possibility. Within five minutes she came back saying would we go through to the office as she had Rina, who is now a nun, on the telephone! Rina had realised immediately who I was and had, against all the rules, persuaded the town hall staff to allow us into their 'inner sanctum' to speak with her. Well, we were both extremely excited just to be talking to each other on the phone.

She was sorry that she was unable to invite us to visit her that same day but invited us for lunch the next day. Less than 24 hours after arriving in the country we'd made contact! I think the office staff were both quite excited at this 'find' too and, after giving us details of the route to the convent, one checked up on past house addresses in Heeze and found that number 25 was formerly 21, so I had actually found the original house.

Rina now lives with two other nun-sisters in a town called Weert situated about 16 miles from Heeze so, armed with the route, we set off on a 'dry run'. Good thing we did because the directions were a bit misleading; telling us to come off the A2 road at a junction which didn't exist.. After some searching we we found the street and the convent. Now we felt confident of finding it next day.

(From Weert we drove south to Maastricht. Parking by the riverside of the Maas, we walked to the town centre which has - like many Dutch towns, both large and small - an impressively large main square dominated by an enormous town hall. Not far from the centre is a pedestrian/cycle bridge - a section of which can be raised to allow higher vessels through, while still allowing bikes and people to cross it. We watched as it was raised by about five feet to let a very large barge through. Outside the town there's lots of factories and industry. Well worth a visit to the centre though, and the river is impressively wide).

Arriving punctually at 12 noon the next day, we were met on the drive by all three sisters and I presented Rina with a small flower arrangement. The convent is actually a quite normal detached house - the only difference being that the garage has been converted to a chapel.

We soon discovered that we were also invited to afternoon tea at the home of Rina's brother Matthew - he's 78 and also remembers my father. There were several stories about my dad. Apparently, he was billeted at their home while based in Heeze, there were no actual dates but it was over several weeks or months. He only slept at the house - his meals were, presumably, provided at the mess. He was sent away quite often on 'duties' but always returned to the house afterwards - and he always brought back a little present for them. (And he was the only British soldier to stay with them). Rina recalls that he was there around her 21st birthday and told her that in England she would get the key to the door but, as he couldn't give her that, he gave her a box of chocolates instead. These, she recalled, were the first chocolates she had ever been given and somehow she was persuaded to give them to her brothers and sister. (She had two brothers and one sister - her youngest brother and her sister are no longer alive). When my father finally left the Heeze family home for the last time Rina says there were tears in all their eyes - dad's too..

Rina's father was the local stationmaster - their home being situated right next to the railway line and level crossing (and there's an old windmill still looking down onto the house from the opposite side of the line, too).

With Rina directing me, we set off in my car for the visit to the house of her brother Matthieu where we also met his wife Leny and their daughter Lia. Matthieu has lots of stories to tell from the war time. Leni didn't speak much English but understood quite a lot. Lia spoke English very well and had made up a gift parcel for us of typical Dutch non-perishable snacks, a very thoughtful and kind gesture; she also got out her camera to 'capture' the 'invaders'.

Returning to the convent there was yet another tea table laid out in readiness (we hardly had time for talking with all the food they kept plying us with - maybe we looked like starving refugees - though somehow I doubt it). At 19.30 we took our leave but not before Rina presented us each with a small, beautifully wrapped present. When arriving we had shyly shaken hands, when leaving it was a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

That really was a most memorable day.

Our holiday also revealed what a lovely country Holland is. Altogether we spent 3 nights in Heeze - an attractive town of about 4.500 people; it even boasts it's own moated castle - standing in acres of countryside and situated about half a mile off the main street. The town straddles a long main street which runs through middle of it. On the outskirts are vast nature-protected areas - wonderful walking country, I imagine.

After Heeze we then spent two nights each in Middelburg and Delft - touring the surrounding countryside and towns of both.

Middelburg is a bustling tourist centre which lies in the heart of the west coast dikes area and, as with all the cities and towns we visited, it has, yet again, an impressive town hall and church in the main square. Canals too, are a quintessential feature of the Dutch landscape - designed to add a new dimension - especially to the driving experience of foreign motorists. The network of canals seems to turn the roads into a complex maze designed to let no-one out. Or so it seemed. But they add greatly to the character and ambiance of towns and countryside alike. And mention has to be made of the bells. All over Holland they ring out almost continually from town halls and churches - with excellent sound. And all these attributes were displayed in Middelburg.

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