It is an autumnal Saturday afternoon in Katwoude. In the temporary shelter next to the Van der Valk Hotel, which is also popularly called Hotel Volendam, four women sit at a table. Three of them fled from their home country, the fourth comes from Volendam, two kilometers away.
“How old are you?”, The Volendam asks at her table companion. “43”, depicts the Syrian with her hands. “What? Do you mean that? What kind of cream do you use?”, The Volendam is surprised. The company bursts out laughing.
See with your own eyes
The conversation between the four women – who at first sight seem to have little in common – is one of the many during the open day, organized by, among others, COA and Vluchtelingenwerk. An hour after the start of the event, about thirty people are at long tables, enjoying homemade snacks and drinks. On the outside area, where flags from all countries are fluttering, some curious visitors also walk around.
They mainly come from surrounding towns and villages, such as Purmerend, Volendam and Monnickendam, and quickly get involved with the residents. People talk, laughs and even volleyball. There are also tours, so that visitors can see where the asylum seekers sleep and spend their free time.
“I wanted to see with my own eyes how things are going,” says Sonja van Wetten from Purmerend, who combines the open day with a basketball game of her grandson in the neighborhood. “And show that there are also nice people in the world.”
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