Born on the same day and the same age: Inge and Sandra have been friends for over 40 years

In Zoetermeer special friendships are formed for life. This also happened more than forty years ago between Sandra Smit (53) and Inge Zwetsloot (53). “We are like sisters, but both with different mothers.”

Sandra found not only a close friendship with Inge, but also a safe home. “I stayed with Inge every weekend,” says Sandra. “When her sister moved out, I got her room.”

Get a joint tattoo

They both love flea markets, going to Intratuin together and animals and nature. But other than that, loose-headed Sandra and the quiet Inge are opposites. “That’s why we complement each other so well,” says Sandra. “I had my first tattoo when I was eighteen, and Inge only opted for it when she was forty. We do have a joint tattoo that symbolizes our friendship. It’s an infinity sign with a puppet stick in between. We got to know each other during our previous puppet lessons.”

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Sandra is five hours older

The two met in 1980 at show group De Koperen Girls in Leiden. “We were in the back because we were the longest,” explains Inge. “We found out that we were born in Leiden on the same day in the same year. Sandra is about five hours older than me.” After a while, Sandra visited Inge more and more often. “I didn’t have a great time at home and I felt comfortable with Inge. When my mother was hospitalized for eight weeks, I lived with her all the time and her parents raised me.”

From Leiden to Meerzicht

Because of her husband’s job, Inge van Leiden moved to the apartment building on the Laveibos in Zoetermeer. Sandra chose a completely different destination with her then partner and moved to Zeeland. “At that time I became pregnant with my multiple handicapped son,” says Inge. “How I missed Sandra in those days. I really needed her but the distance was too great. She eventually came to me to comfort me, but I wanted her to stay close.” Eventually, the relationship between Sandra and her partner ended, after which she also moved to Zoetermeer. After a few moves in between, Sandra now lives in a single-family home in Meerzicht and Inge in Buytenwegh. “Nice to be only a few miles apart.”

Our friendship is just there

Sandra and Inge celebrated their fifty-third birthday and their friendship with a pleasant high tea at Intratuin. “We can always count on each other,” says Inge. “Sandra understands me and does not judge, even though we are both very different and make different choices. She is my confidant and no one interferes.” Sandra continues: “I have several girlfriends, but I feel at home with Inge. We both have a son with ADHD, and therefore with the necessary concerns, which we can share with each other and that’s nice. Our friendship isn’t really special, it’s just there!”

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