Jolanda Roggeveen and Peter Kwast describe their year as ‘intense’: a mudflow destroys their Greek bed & breakfast in September and they lose everything. Despite this impactful experience, the couple says they also gained some beautiful things from it.
The Oud-Wormers will participate in the ‘I Departure’ program in 2021 and will open their pride and joy in the fishing village of Kilada: Villa Hylas. The couple has gold in their hands, the reviews are sky-high and they say it is always packed to the brim.
Things went wrong on Tuesday, September 5. In no time there is so much rain, causing the water level to rise quickly. Jolanda, Peter and the guests hear a crash: the four-meter-high gate to the yard explodes from its frames. A mud flow follows and from then on they see all their belongings floating past. Refrigerators, tables, chairs and crockery. What is left behind is covered in a five centimeter layer of mud.
Jolanda and Peter’s family are starting a fundraising campaign from the Netherlands, because the guests’ bookings have to be canceled. As a result, there is no more income. The attention for the fundraising campaign is catching on; 10,705 euros will be donated.
“That was really fantastic. Without that we would never have made it, especially now that we know that we will only get 1/3rd of our insurance claim back,” says Jolanda. “We are immensely grateful that so many people have donated.”
Staff
Help came not only from the Netherlands, but also from the Greek neighborhood. In addition to suffering, the mudflow has also created a new group of friends. After the flow, Swedish, French, English and Dutch expats report who have now been renamed the ‘coolpeoplegroup’. “For weeks they stood on our property for hours every day, shoveling mess.”
The bed & breakfast has now been restored and is ‘more beautiful than ever’. Jolanda and Peter have gone into ‘relaxation mode’ in recent weeks and have enjoyed a lot of sleep. “I’ve learned that you have to let some things wash over you a little more, and that you have to be a little more comfortable with life.”
The end of the year is celebrated in a café, with everyone from the coolpeoplegroup. “That will be great fun. We hope for a great year next year, in which we will simply grow again,” says Jolanda.