Because Busscher considers themselves lucky with the temporary home they now have: directly opposite their burned down building. “Our neighbors have a rental home, which they rented out until December. But shortly after the fire, the tenants at the time appeared to want to leave this month. Well, that was good news for us, because we were allowed in. We are now located opposite our old home. and in our familiar neighborhood. And that just gives a good feeling.”
The building also has a huge warehouse, where Busscher started his music store again on a small scale. “Three orders have already gone out today.”
Busscher now also has access to his old home furnishings store, which was cordoned off shortly after the fire. The fences are still there, but he can enter the grounds. The terrain looks like a war zone. The setting of an apocalyptic film. Chunks of rubble, melted mixers, twisted steel, fire-eaten clothing and, above all, lots of cymbals. Blackened, warped and faded green by the flames.
The inevitable smell of burnt plastic hangs heavily in the air. Don’t tears well up in Busscher’s eyes at that destroyed sight? “It’s all gone. There’s nothing left of it, no. But you get used to it. You walk past it and it doesn’t affect us as much as it used to.”
Because Busscher keeps a positive eye on the future. Reconstruction is and remains the plan. But it does depend on the insurance payment. Busscher cannot indicate how extensive the damage is in financial terms. “But it involves a lot of money. As long as we can first live here again. That is the most important thing for us. We do not look at what is not possible, but at what is possible. The rest will take care of itself.”
The insurance company has now completed all investigations. Now we have to wait and see. If all goes well, Busscher expects to be able to build again in one or a year and a half.
What Busscher has already been able to build on are the people around him. Talking about naivety. “We have received an incredible amount of support and love from the people around us. Beautiful messages, financial support, spaces and warehouses were offered to me.” But for the moment, Busscher is mainly content with the fact that he can get back to work. “I just have to do this job. It’s part of me.”