There was quite a bit to do around the arrival of the Ukrainian refugees in Enkhuizen. Local residents feared that they would lose the ice rink for good, but mayor Eduard van Zuijlen promised that the shelter would be temporary. The first 30 refugees have now arrived. That is why councilor Margreet Keesman and other local residents welcome them today with fresh apple pies, cupcakes and coffee.
Divided into five groups, a total of 150 refugees are received on the ice rink. After the reception location in Hoogkarpsel, it is the second reception location within the collaborating municipalities of Stede Broec, Enkhuizen and Drechterland.
Keesman understands the frustration of local residents, but according to her that is not due to the refugees. “A lot of people can’t find or pay for a house in the Netherlands at the moment, but the Ukrainians can’t do anything about that. I think they would rather have stayed in their own country, if that was possible.”
Apple pie
And that is why Keesman decided, together with other local residents, to put the refugees in the spotlight by baking apple pies yesterday afternoon and treating them to them today. “There has been a lot of negative reporting recently,” says Keesman. “And that’s why we would like to voice a dissenting voice.”
It will not be the last time that Keesman and her co-initiators will be in the kitchen. “Yesterday, of course, the first group of Ukrainians arrived,” explains Keesman. “But there are still four new groups to come and we will also be ready for them with apple pies, cupcakes and coffee. I would like to welcome them all to Enkhuizen.”
Recipe
The initiator is not afraid that her apple pie will not appeal to the newcomers. “I learned the recipe from my mother,” she says with a laugh. The fruity tart contains apples, raisins and apricots. According to the councilor, it only takes an hour and a half to prepare the cake. “I think it’s important that these people feel welcome. After all, they are our new neighbours.”