40 years of happy neighbors in Enkhuizen: “The Riding Judge does not have to come here”

Floris Smit takes another look at the papers. “Here it is,” he says. “Signed on April 15, 1983. The rent was 411 guilders 50.” As a young couple, Petra and Floris ended up on the Populierenlaan. “We then came to live next to old people, that’s how it felt to us at the time.”

Those ‘old people’ were Piet and Tiny and Wietske and Cor. They were the first residents of the houses, which had been there for about ten years. Piet – 90 years old and happily sipping a beer – remembers it well. “Before that we lived in the Tom Kranenburgstraat and people then said: ‘Are you going to the gold coast?'”

For better or worse

For 40 years, joys and sorrows are shared back and forth. They see each other’s children and grandchildren grow up, are close when neighbor Cor suddenly dies 35 years ago and last November they say goodbye to neighbor Tiny, with whom Petra had such a good relationship. “If I have one head went to get, Piet always went upstairs. We could chat.”

The more than good bond is cherished. “I would never want any other neighbours,” says Piet. “They are always there for me.” For example, Floris drove him to the ophthalmologist several times and Floris allows both Wietske and Piet to eat with him when he bakes fish or donuts. “Oh, little things,” says Floris. “It’s not like we’re knocking on each other’s doors. But we do look out for each other, in a positive sense.”

Petra: “We have never been bothered by each other. Or been bothered.” Then, laughing: “Piet is deaf, that makes a difference.” She cherishes the good relationship with the nearest neighbours. “The Riding Judge doesn’t have to come here,” she laughs. “We say to them very often: ‘we are so happy with you!’ If they are ever gone, you just have to see what you get next.”