Jan Minkels from Den Dungen feels like a famous Dutchman after last night. Since he was elected Brabander of the Year, his phone has been ringing off the hook and he can no longer walk across the street without being spoken to. “It’s very special. Apparently people appreciate what I do,” says Jan matter-of-factly.
When he walks into church for mass with his wife Ada on Boxing Day, he realizes all the more what the broadcast has brought about. “We walked in and there were already a lot of people in the church laughing at us. While we were choosing a spot, they gave us thumbs up and we received one congratulations after another,” says Jan. “And at the end of the mass, a few hundred people sang in unison for us, long may she live.”
Jan has been able to call himself Brabander of the Year since Monday evening. He is committed to helping people who are lonely and invites people to his home for dinner twice a month. And that gesture received so much praise that a record number of people voted for him. At the Winter Efteling, Jan received a bronze statue from King’s Commissioner Ina Adema.
“I’m still the same Jan, but apparently a lot of people know me now.”
Jan watched the broadcast, which was previously recorded, on Monday evening with his wife, daughter and an older woman who they had invited because she would be alone this Christmas. A camera crew from SBS6 was also present.
After the winner was announced, his phone was ringing off the hook. “I have had countless reactions. By telephone, via WhatsApp, via Facebook. Everything pops out,” Jan laughs.
“I even hear from people who took lessons from me thirty years ago that they voted for me. That’s a lot of fun,” he says. “And a woman who came here for coffee said she was visiting a famous Dutch person. I’m still the same Jan, but apparently a lot of people know me now.”
“There is even someone from Harderwijk who wants to come and eat with us now.”
And it shows, because a lot of people have now let us know that they want to come and eat at Jan’s. “There is even someone from Harderwijk who approached us via Facebook.” It will be busy at Jan’s dining table in the near future, but he thinks it will be fine. “Some people will have to wait a little longer before they can come,” Jan concludes.
On Boxing Day he does not cook for unknown people, but his own children come over to celebrate Christmas.
The whole church sang for Jan this morning:
Watch below the moment Jan was elected Brabander of the Year:
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Here you see how Jan is in the kitchen cooking for lonely people