Robert and Heather Vreugdenhil were surprised with the Johan de Witt Medal

Dordrecht owes its comprehensive network of defibrillators to Robert and Heather Vreugdenhil, and to no one else. This was more than enough reason for the municipality to honor them with the Johan de Witt Medal, the highest municipal distinction in Dordrecht, for their seventeen years of dedication. Those first minutes after a cardiac arrest are crucial in maximizing the chances of survival. Hence, the decision of the Dordrecht resident to establish the Reanimatie Dordrecht Foundation with the aim of creating a comprehensive network of defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the city. Whenever a situation requiring resuscitation arises, a message is sent to individuals who have signed up, enabling them to quickly arrive on the scene and provide initial aid. Read more...

Eric and Justin Vreugdenhil were in charge of coordinating the assistance during the train disaster in Voorschoten

A report about an orange glow. A loud crash. The initial calls to the 112 emergency dispatch center were vague. Nonetheless, Emergency Coordinator Eric Vreugdenhil (49) had to make crucial decisions immediately after the train disaster in Voorschoten. He reflects on the biggest task of his career. The magnitude of the incident became apparent within minutes. “Calls kept coming in from around the train, and the first reports of casualties started coming in too.” It took a while to realize that both the freight train and the passenger train were involved in the accident. Often, nocturnal incidents fade quickly into the background of Vreugdenhil’s mind. “This was different: even nearly a week later, I’m still deeply affected by it. Did I learn anything from that night? Especially the acceptance that it’s impossible to grasp everything. And that, even with incomplete information, you can still make thoughtful decisions.”choices that potentially saved lives.” Read more...

Marjan and Marieke Vreugdenhil met each other in Uganda

Hello Vreugdenhil family members, we'd like to introduce ourselves... We are Marjan van Reeuwijk-Vreugdenhil and Marieke Knol-Vreugdenhil, and we met each other during a trip to Uganda. How extraordinary it is to discover that we both share the same last name! This journey was organized in October 2022 by Gabrielle van de Kamp, the founder of the Otuke Foundation. We'd like to share our experiences of an unforgettable and impactful journey with all of you. Read more...

Daan Vreugdenhil makes people happy with a tattoo

At the age of 17, I entered the tattoo world. I was an apprentice for four years, and it took 2.5 years before I was allowed to hold the machine for the first time. The old school way! That’s what I love about this profession. The art itself, but also the fact that I get to practice this profession every day. I’m still in love with it as much as when I started. Making people happy with a tattoo, how beautiful is that? I know how much power you can get from a tattoo. I was 16 when I got my first tattoo as a reminder of my best friend who passed away. That’s when I realized what it does to you when you get a tattoo. The whole moment of getting it done, the thought behind it, and why you do it. It’s really a process, a magical moment where I like to make a connection with you. There’s always a special bond that forms between the customer and the tattoo artist. Read more...

Everyone in the Vreugdenhil family is involved in the Winter Wonderlandscape

Our question is: how do people create Christmas joy? We asked creative people to tell us their solutions. Hermen Vreugdenhil, for example, builds a miniature Christmas train-track each year. In their livingroom, a tiny cable-lift crosses a small pond with ice-skaters. The beautiful wintery landscape is something that Hermen builds back up each year, together with his four sons. “After St. Nicholas has left, the large baseplate is placed in the livingroom, followed by the train tracks first, and then the rest of the large city build around it.” Read more...

Hermen Vreugdenhil given a Royal decoration

Hermen Vreugdenhil, see picture) has been awarded with a Royal decoration given to him by the King’s Commissioner Ina Adema. He was awarded during the Provincial Council meeting. Hermen Vreugdenhil was made a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The man from Nieuwendijk was a member of the Provincial Council from 2007 to 2011 and between 2015 and 2022. During the years 2014-2019 he was part of the local council of the former municipality of Werkendam. Read more...

GP Wim Vreugdenhil: ‘General practitioners are an important pillar in the healthcare system’

After having worked as a temporary GP for several years, 35-year-old doctor Wim Vreugdenhil took over a GP’s office April 2020. He talks about his vision regarding general practitioners and the work-life balance. “General practitioners are an important pillar in the healthcare system; and young GP’s have to take the responsibility.” Read more...