Fifteen Hilversummers, including three whole families, died at the escape disaster. It left a deep wound in the city. “Everyone knew someone, whether it was your teammate on football or a family member,” says former mayor Pieter Broertjes.
That caused an unmistakable loss throughout Hilversum society, he says. “That is why it is important to continue to commemorate. And I will continue to do that, together with pastor Jules Dresmé.”
Sorrow still noticeable
Over the past ten years, the municipality has organized an official commemoration of the MH17 disaster every year. This came to an end last year: from now on the commemoration, according to national guidelines, takes place only once every five years. Yet many relatives are happy that brothers and Dresmé wanted to pick it up this year, because the grief can still be felt today.
“It touches me every time. I was here today with nodding knees. Not only because of my own emotion, but also because of the emotion that is still so present with the audience,” says relative Robbert van Heijningen.
He lost his brother Erik, his sister -in -law Tina and his cousin Zeger. “It has been really a while ago. Fortunately, I don’t think about it continuously, but it is still very painful. It is nice to keep commemorating this as long as it is still possible.”