When the Ukrainian refugees came en masse to the west, the Netherlands once again showed its hospitable side. That has also been different. The Amsterdam writer Chris Keulemans investigated the phenomenon ‘hospitality’. He wrote a book about it called Hospitality.
Writer Chris Keulemans knows hospitality from practice. He was often a guest abroad and receives guests in his own home. “At a large table with many guests, a lot of food and drink and then talk, talk, talk. I like that.”
The writer has lived in the Vogelbuurt in Amsterdam-North for 8 years. Chris has the Ukrainian Natalya, her son Denis and a friend visiting. Natalja fled from Ukraine and now lives with dozens of other refugees in a hotel near Meeuwenlaan.
“If you have to flee from a war, then the Amsterdam Vogelbuurt is not a bad place to end up,” says Chris. “When the refugees arrived, the entire neighborhood ran out with clothes, things and toys. They do laundry, help and think along.”
A fresh look
Chris takes a walk with his guests through the Vogelbuurt. He tells about the history of the neighborhood, where many workers lived who worked in shipbuilding. He shows a tree that was once planted by Queen Wilhelmina.
In his book Hospitality, Chris also writes that when you walk around your own city with guests, those guests give you a fresh look at your familiar environment. “Everything is self-evident for us,” says Chris. “Of course we complain quite a lot in Amsterdam. That’s why it’s good to look at the city from the outsider’s perspective.”
This becomes apparent when Natalja gives her opinion about her new, temporary living environment. “I really like the atmosphere and the mentality of the people,” she says in English. Hadil has also fled Ukraine. He confirms Natalya’s opinion.
“The first thing I noticed is how peaceful and quiet it is here,” Hadil said, also in English. “I see how lovingly people treat each other here.” Chris has to smile a bit. “If they are here a little longer, they will also see that not everything is so rosy. Anyway, this is nice to hear.”
Hospitality is unconditional
In his book Chris does not only write about Dutch hospitality. He also talks about the hospitable reception he often received when he stayed as a journalist in the Balkans or the Middle East. This is how he got to the heart of what hospitality is.
“I think true hospitality is unconditional. You offer food, drink and a place to sleep if necessary. It is not a medium of exchange. Hospitality is not investing and then getting it back, because then you think in terms of the market and that is not how it works “Maybe you give ten times and get something back twice, that’s okay. Yes, hospitality is unconditional.”
Natalja brought a present to thank Chris for his warm welcome and tour of the neighborhood. She gives the jerry can in which she had put the petrol to complete the journey of three thousand kilometers from Ukraine to the Netherlands.
Chris is happy about it. “I secretly think the thing got in the way a bit in her room,” Chris laughs. “But I’m very happy with it. It still has an impressive story to it.”