The residents of Volendam have a lot of experience when it comes to aftercare, both for the victims and for those involved. In 2001, Swedish relatives of a café and disco fire in Gothenburg contacted Volendam. That turned out to be a golden move. “It was very useful to hear how they dealt with this,” says Tuijp. “In February 2001, we went to the Swedish city with a group of people involved to meet these victims. Two months later, about 35 of them visited Volendam.”
This visit by the victims of the Gothenburg fire and the victims of the fire in Volendam did them good. “It made a huge impression on both sides. I heard the Swedish victims also felt enormously supported by us.” In October 2023, Smit and Tuijp are still with the commemoration of the fire in Gothenburg been. The chairman of the foundation then addressed those present.
Although last New Year’s fire is a similar situation to Volendam and Gothenburg, Tuijp expects that contact will be slightly more complex. “Many victims are foreign tourists. Many of them are also young and seriously injured. But if they are open to help, we are there.”