THE VAN VELZEN FAMILY

The Van Velzen's moved to Aruba from Holland in 1957. Dik was a pilot in the refinery harbor. He arrived first, lived in the bachelors quarters for a while. When he was appointed a house (nr 39) Willy and the four children (Dick, Wikje, Patty and Inge) moved from Holland to the island. A year later daughter Iris was born. The children went to the Graf von Zinzendorf school in San Nicolas. After elementary school Dick and Inge went to Colegio Arubano in Oranjestad.  Wikje and Patty attended John Wesley college in San Nicolas.  In 1965 Dick and Wikje returned to Holland to finish their education, followed by Patricia a year later. The rest of the family moved to Oranjestad. In 1972 all four moved to Holland for good. Patty died in 1999 of breast cancer in Canada. The four remaining brother and sisters returned to the island for a holiday in 2007. It was good to be back, like coming home, the wind, the light, and bungalow 366 was still there! Infested with maribomba's but still...
Inge van Velzen  August 30, 2009