During the day people trickled in, often in groups of two or three. They came from all over the country, from Arnhem to Zoetermeer and Twente. They said they knew Paulusma from television and came by to say goodbye to him personally. The family allowed them to do this in various ways: touch the coffin, take pictures or leave a message in several guest books. The family had asked to bring colored flowers, many people did.
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Around 1 pm the horn of the ferry to Terschelling, which departs from Harlingen, could be heard as a tribute. People also stood on deck and there was applause. Jan Slagter, director of Omroep MAX, was also present. He spoke on Twitter of a ‘worthy farewell to Piet Paulusma in Harlingen. Just the way he wanted it.”
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Paulusma was seen on Dutch television for 25 years. After 23 years at SBS, where he broke through with his weather reports around the 1997 Elfstedentocht, he started working for Omroep MAX in January 2020. He worked for Omrop Fryslân and other media for about forty years. He was also a weatherman at major Frisian events such as the Elfstedentocht. Paulusma was voted the most popular weather forecaster in the Netherlands three times. In January he was appointed knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Paulusma’s funeral will be private on Saturday.