Claudia van der Tas-Koot (59) was born for her profession. Something about being ‘spoon-fed’, so to speak. And with her shop in one of the oldest streets in Zoetermeer, she brings people from far and wide to our city.
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When we arrive at Claudia’s on Eerste Stationsstraat, she is having a nice coffee with the neighbors. And less than ten minutes later an old neighbor comes by. Those first fifteen minutes with Claudia say it all: she is warm, welcoming and fun.
Cycling along the Vlamingstraat
“I lived in Meerzicht until I was thirteen, then we moved to Vlamingstraat,” says Claudia. The house previously belonged to her grandfather and grandmother, with whom she had a special bond. “I often cycled past their house. I always asked: ‘Grandma, what are you going to eat?’ And if I liked it, I was always allowed to join us for dinner and stay over.” She continues: “Then we made the bed together and turned on the stove.” Her uncle and aunt also lived nearby, in the Dorpsstraat right next to the church. “I often looked after their children and was always welcome. It was such a wonderful time, I have very fond memories of it.”
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In line at the Pelgrimshoeve
The family business was behind the house on Vlamingstraat. That’s where Claudia’s love for antiques – and, in her own words, ‘old junk’ – started. “As a little girl I stood in line at the Pelgrimshoeve. They opened at 6 p.m., but I was already at the door at 5 p.m. That’s how I started collecting things.” Nowadays she gets her items from further afield: from Limburg and Belgium to Denmark. “My husband and I make a whole holiday out of it. We book a house and then I google for thrift stores in the area.”
Oh my, my mother used to have that too!
Stuff with a story
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In her second-hand shop, Rustikke, she sells second-hand items with a story. “A lot of people recognize things and say, ‘Oh my gosh, my mother used to have that too!’ I hear a lot of personal stories.” And not only Zoetermeer residents know where to find her store. She says: “People come from Leiden, Rotterdam and Drenthe, among others. And I met people in Denmark, who stood in front of my store as a surprise a while ago. So special!”
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Family comes first
Claudia does not do it all alone and has a lot of support from her children and husband. She has now been happily married to Frank for 33 years, whom she met in – how could it be otherwise – the Vlamingstraat. In addition, her daughter Beau is regularly in the store. “I am very proud of her,” says Claudia. “She can redecorate the entire store by herself in one day, and I think: gosh, how can she do it.” And she continues: Many customers say that it is so attractively decorated. And all the flyers, the sign outside, the advertising in the window… she designs it all!”
Claudia explains: “We have a very special family, including my daughter-in-law. We share so much with each other. They really come first for me.”
Local entrepreneurs
Claudia finds something else very important: supporting each other as local entrepreneurs. “In the past, you had your regular entrepreneurs that you went to. My father, for example, always went to Vollebregt and Jongerius,” she says. “I still go to Jongerius, but also to ‘t Kaashuys and now to Blackbird. I know how hard you have to work to get something done. You just give it to each other.”
How she sees the future of local entrepreneurs? “Unfortunately, I see more and more small entrepreneurs disappearing. And I think that’s a real shame. It’s just so beautiful, those small and special shops. I hope we can continue to exist.”
Brocante shop Rustikke can be found at Eerste Stationsstraat 97 in Zoetermeer.
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