📍 Location: Oud-Beijerland → Ommen → Groningen, The Netherlands

🗓️ Date: September 22, 2025

🎧 Episode Notes

What was supposed to be the day of departure from the Netherlands turned into an unexpected detour through Dutch bureaucracy. In this episode, I recount my attempt to get export license plates in Oud-Beijerland, only to discover that the car’s registration card had gone missing. What followed was a lesson in patience, paperwork, and the unpredictable rhythm of travel. From ordering a new card in Groningen to realizing the old one had been found too late — it was a day full of twists, mild frustration, and eventual acceptance.

Sometimes, travel plans unravel just to give you time to catch up on life.

🕰️ Key Moments

• 0:00 — Leaving Naaldwijk: The plan to leave the Netherlands and head south through Belgium, France, and beyond.
• 2:10 — Oud-Beijerland setback: Discovering the missing registration card at GlobalCar.nl.
• 5:00 — The scramble: Realizing the card had fallen on the ground but not finding it in time.
• 7:30 — Backup plan: Ordering a new registration card through Gertjan in Groningen.
• 9:45 — Ironic twist: Receiving a call that the lost card was found—too late to cancel the new one.
• 11:30 — Change of course: Staying at Wolfskuil near Ommen and catching up on administrative tasks.
• 13:00 — Reflection: Making peace with the delay and appreciating the unplanned pause.

📍 Location: Dordrecht & Naaldwijk, The Netherlands

Episode Notes

September 21st — what a day. I woke up at the Van der Valk Hotel in Dordrecht after a good night’s rest, greeted by a breakfast buffet that reminded me of my time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Though Riyadh might still take the win for variety, this one was nothing short of delightful. It was great to gather once more with the group from yesterday’s reunion — sixteen of us in total — sharing coffee, stories, and warm goodbyes before parting ways.

Everyone wished me well for the journey ahead, and I can’t tell you how much it means to have people following along — maybe not on the same road, but in spirit.

From Dordrecht, I made my way back to Naaldwijk, to stay with my sister Dickie and her husband Hans. It was a day filled with more farewells — including a very special visit with Tim and Heather, dear friends who bridge both of my worlds: The Netherlands and Seattle.

I first met them through my real estate work in Seattle, helping them find and later sell their home. The last time we saw each other was pure coincidence — back in May, when I happened to be traveling through Malaysia and Singapore. I saw Heather’s photos pop up on Facebook from Singapore, sent a quick message, and by the next night, we were having dinner together.

That dinner turned out to be one for the books — a Thai restaurant hidden behind a bookcase door, with fantastic food and an even better surprise reunion. Tim’s father, Gerard, joined us and shared fascinating stories from his time living in Nigeria — including one rather memorable piece of advice: always check under your car before driving off. Apparently, it’s a precaution that could save you some serious trouble.

This day was another reminder of how the world connects in unexpected ways — through friendships, memories, and stories that cross continents. I finished the evening visiting my younger sister Ada and her husband Fritz, sharing more laughter, more stories, and one last “see you later” before tomorrow — departure day.

Thanks for coming along. The next chapter begins soon.

🔑 Key Moments

• [00:00] Waking up at Van der Valk Hotel — a breakfast worth remembering
• [03:45] Final goodbyes with army reunion friends
• [06:10] Returning to Naaldwijk for family farewells
• [09:30] Reconnecting with Tim and Heather — friends from Seattle and The Netherlands
• [13:15] The unexpected Singapore reunion and the hidden Thai restaurant
• [17:00] Stories from Tim’s father Gerard about life in Nigeria
• [20:30] Evening with sister Ada and Fritz — closing the circle before departure day

📍 Location: Boeregoed & Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands

Episode Notes

Today, September 20th, was one of those rare days where past and present come together perfectly. This morning, I visited Boeregoed — a place that holds deep meaning for me. I grew up right across the street, in a house that no longer exists, replaced by new homes. The greenhouses, though — they’re still there. I used to cut lettuce and pick tomatoes in them as a kid. Coming back after all these years, seeing those same greenhouses now producing organic vegetables and supporting a community-focused organization — it was emotional and full of nostalgia.

I invited old neighbors and friends to join me there, marking both a farewell and a reconnection. The turnout was heartwarming — and while over 3,400 people viewed the event online, thankfully, not everyone showed up in person!

Later in the day, I traveled to Zwijndrecht for the Tris Museum, where we held a long-awaited reunion of our 1st and 2nd platoons — Lichting 745 of the Dutch Army. It’s been nearly 50 years since our platoon served in Suriname, leaving just before its independence in November 1975. The gathering was full of familiar faces, shared memories, and, of course, Surinamese food.

We laughed, reminisced, and even formed new WhatsApp groups to stay in touch. The museum itself is a treasure — housing vehicles, memorabilia, and even a koryao, a large canoe brought over from Suriname.

We ended the day together at the Van der Valk Hotel in Dordrecht, where the conversations and laughter carried on into the evening.

If you’d like to explore more about this chapter of history, check out the Tris Museum in Zwijndrecht or visit their website. You’ll even find a Super 8 documentary I made during my army service — it’s 1 hour and 38 minutes long and captures our time in Suriname, including the Independence Day celebrations on November 25, 1975.

It’s been a full, heartfelt day — reconnecting with where I came from and the people who shared that journey.

🔑 Key Moments

• [00:00] Returning to Boeregoed — childhood memories among the greenhouses
• [04:15] Reconnecting with old neighbors and friends after decades
• [08:30] Reflecting on leaving The Netherlands in 1983 for the U.S.
• [10:20] The reunion of Lichting 745 — 50 years since Suriname independence
• [15:10] Surinamese food, laughter, and army stories
• [18:45] Exploring the Tris Museum’s exhibits and the Suriname canoe
• [22:00] Wrapping up the day at Van der Valk Hotel, Dordrecht
• [24:30] Inviting listeners to watch the Suriname documentary on YouTube