Not everywhere are parcel deliverers loved, but in the Carolus & Hervensche Park district in Den Bosch they are ‘in love’ with their delivery person Genio De Laak (59). And that became clear on Wednesday afternoon. Parcel deliverer Genio is going to stop and that is why he was surprised by the entire neighborhood with a package full of gifts. But it didn’t matter or Genio hadn’t been there at all, because a few weeks ago he was overrun twice.
“Genio is one of thousands,” initiator Ank Van Enckevort begins. “He knows everyone by name, he is right when he knows that the children are sleeping and he even comes back when he knows that you are home later. Always positive and enthusiastic. He has conquered so many hearts, what he does is really unique.”
But then came the announcement that Genio is leaving. “No, that is not possible, you don’t mean that,” was the reaction in the neighborhood. It immediately became clear that the parcel deliverer could not just leave. In the Carolus & Hervensche Park district there are almost two hundred houses and one hundred and fifty households have contributed to a gift.
It is Wednesday afternoon, half past five, when Genio is sent by his boss with an excuse to the neighborhood. The yellow delivery bus runs in a trap of local residents. “You come out of Mr. Genio,” Ank shouts while applause sounds. Genio does not have to deliver a package, but he now gets a package himself.
“I think that is bullshit,” says the delivery person very sober. ‘For Dheld’, is on a map. Whiskey, two tickets for Feyenoord with a tour, a gift voucher and a shirt from his beloved football club are in the package. Then Genio breaks, the tears run down his cheeks.
Run over twice
De Wijk had to miss the parcel deliverer for eight weeks earlier this year after a fierce accident. “I cycled over the roundabout at Empel to work when I was hit by a woman. She drove over me twice, she hadn’t seen me,” says Genio.
He was resuscitated on the spot and then brought to the hospital in Tilburg with a trauma helicopter. As a miracle, Genio kept it ‘only’ some bruises. “I still suffer from it spiritually, especially in the evening and at night. But physically it goes well.”
Even before the accident, the idea of Genio was to look for another job within DHL, as a truck driver. And that moment has now been shocked by the neighborhood. “It feels shit, I find it annoying for the people here, but also for me,” says Genio. “But I turn almost sixty and I now get the chance to ride the truck for a few more years.”
He knows everyone
“I have a very good relationship with this neighborhood. I have been driving here since the construction of the first house. I have seen the street open and close fourteen times, I have seen how the neighborhood was built and so I got to know the residents one by one.”
And that he knows everyone proves Genio. “That is Lonneke, there is Marloes, who is from 6a, his name is Niels, there is Christel and who is there from number 65, Lammers.” Always smiling, happy and taking into account circumstances is the secret of a good parcel deliverer to tell Genio. “No packages over the fence, at the front door and in the Kliko, only if they want it themselves.”
The children of the neighborhood all want a signature of Genio. After having shaken and hugs, it is time to go: “People, all thanks Houdoeeeeeee.”
