Students mourn the sudden death of Bas (17): “Still don’t realize it”

The terrible news hit the students and teachers of the Martinus College in Grootebroek hard. “The emotions are quite high,” says Hanneke Doodeman, who is the team leader of the senior general secondary education. We walk with her to the memorial sites, which were created especially for Bas (17).

“Bas was such a boy that everyone knew. A pacesetter, someone who spoke to you and could often be seen with a smile on his face. Bas was sometimes a bit naughty, but in a playful way. I always liked him. a charming rascal”, Doodeman laughs.

Flowers

Yesterday afternoon, friends and family commemorated Bas at the site of the accident. They put flowers there and there are also candles burning and a photo frame of Bas is centered in the middle. Today no one laid flowers for the deceased Grootebroeker, but you mainly see ignorant motorists looking curiously at the row of flowers that have been laid out for Bas.

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The school with more than 1,600 students has recently set up a death protocol and applies it after the death of Bas. “We first coordinate with the parents and ask: what do you want?” explains director Kees van Bergeijk. “The parents were happy that we created a memorial monument for their son in the school.” Bas also knew the director of the school. “He was a really nice boy and I know everyone will miss him very much. No, this boy will never disappear from my mind.”

The school has two rooms where students can reflect on the sudden death of their fellow student. “We have a closed room, but there is also a photo in the auditorium,” says Doodeman. “Students like to commemorate Bas together, so we chose that option.”

The students of the Martinus College have until the autumn holidays to say goodbye in the memorial rooms of the school.