“What one person doesn’t know, the other knows, and together we know everything.” Louise and Martine Fokkens have become known as old whores who spent a large part of their lives in the Amsterdam Red Light District. But the twin sisters have also been best friends all their lives and can no longer live without each other.
The sisters cannot imagine life without each other. We think the same and feel the same pain. “When Louise had to give birth to her first child, I didn’t feel well all night,” Martine remembers. They prefer to do everything together and they don’t find that strange at all. “No, you only go crazy if you don’t see each other enough,” says Louise.
Eighty-one years together and inseparable from each other. The days they spent apart can be counted on one hand. When Martine went on holiday to Spain with her husband and children, it was difficult. Martine’s husband Jan breathed a sigh of relief when Louise finally arrived in Spain: “She is so restless and difficult without you.”
They do not think it is special that they both did the same work in the Red Light District. While Louise stood behind the window, Martine did cleaning work. “I was cleaning windows and then they asked: are you coming with me?” Martine also naturally entered the business. Not a conscious choice, but because of poverty money had to be raised.
The sisters have now left Amsterdam behind and are living ‘outside’ in IJmuiden. And so they can regularly be found on the beach for some fresh air. But especially for a visit to their favorite beach bar with a fried lunch and a drink. They never get enough of each other and have been best friends for 81 years. Two everythings together, that’s how it is!
Who is your bestie?
We have hundreds of friends on Facebook, but there is only one Bestie: your very best friend who you can always count on, with whom you can laugh uncontrollably, share joys and sorrows and with whom your secrets are safe.
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