Martien and Christel Brantenaar from Den Helder are temporarily without a home since the fire in their apartment last Sunday. Their young parrot Brammetje died due to the smoke. The couple and their other pets escaped without injury. The two temporarily live with their dog and cat on a sailing boat. “We have a roof over our heads, but it is very small here.”
Martien, or Mart, was working in a tattoo parlor in Beverwijk on the day it happened. His wife was home alone and was just walking the dog. “When she came back, she heard all the explosions,” says Mart. “She thought the sounds were coming from the neighbors, but she didn’t see anything. Then she went upstairs to our apartment, opened the door and got a cloud of hot smoke and fumes in her face.”
Their cat was still inside and was about to panic when Christel opened the door. “She saw Lowietje shoot away and was just able to grab hold of a leg. As a result, she is covered in scratches, but fortunately the animal survived.” Christel was checked by paramedics because of the inhaled smoke, but nothing was left of it.
“I found little Bram against the window with his wings spread. Just hatched and then you have to come to an end like this”
Parrot Little Bram – which they had only had for a short time – flew loose in the room, but did not see them. The couple hoped that the animal could have escaped, but Mart later found it dead in the house. He had choked on the smoke. “I found him against the window with his wings spread. He was only three months old. Just hatched and then you should die like this.”
Nevertheless, they are happy that it turned out so ‘well’. “If it had happened at night, when we were sleeping, we would all be gone.” Underneath Mart’s house is his tattoo shop. The damage to it has been limited, he can just work there.
Place to sleep
However, for the sake of safety, Mart and Christel are not allowed in the house now. In the coming period, both the house and all items will be cleaned and that can take months. Until then, they have to find another place to sleep. For the time being, they sleep in their sailboat, which is moored in the former Rijkswerf Willemsoord. “We have a roof over our heads, but it’s very small here. I’ve looked for a holiday home, but there’s nothing to find at all. And a place to sleep with friends can always be found, but not if you’ve been there for months must stay.”
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