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

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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

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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...

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

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Salvage company Mammoet wasted no time in starting the process of recovering the derailed train wagons in Voorschoten. A heavy crane from the Hijs- en Transportfirma Mammoet began lifting the two train components during the course of the afternoon on the second day of Easter, in pouring rain. “These parts were later loaded onto a Modular Transporter. That vehicle with many wheels carried them away later, after which they were transferred onto flatbed trailers,” explained Justin Vreugdenhil from Mammoet. The Mammoet team also worked through the Easter holidays. “In general, we’re used to it, but this accident is quite exceptional,” says Justin. The third part of the train was lifted first, so that a new bogie could be placed underneath. The wheels for it were delivered on the second day of Easter. Subsequently, this part, along with the fourth train part, was lifted over the twisted rails onto the undamaged rails. From there, the train carriages were further transported towards The Hague. Read more...

Marjan and Marieke Vreugdenhil met each other in Uganda

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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...

Genealogy research abroad – Pieter P Vreugdenhil – Introduction of the Hill family

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I am Pieter P Vreugdenhil (K XI bf) and I live in Lower Sackville, Canada. I am married, father of four boys, and grandfather of five young ladies. I was born in 1945 in Maassluis as one of nine children, son of Cornelis Jan Vreugdenhil (K X z) and Johanna van der Eijk. The family emigrated to Canada in 1952 and settled in Chatham, Ontario. Read more...

Bart Vreugdenhil breaks world hour record in speed skating

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The chance that Vreugdenhil, a 27-year-old consultant for multinationals in strategic negotiation projects, would break the world record was very high. Because the last time the record was improved on natural ice was in 1928. At that time, the Frenchman Leon Quaglia achieved a distance of 32.970 km in Chamonix. And in 1949, the Dutchman Marius Strijbis also made an attempt in Hamar, Norway. On February 7, 1949, he reached a distance of 32.660 meters on natural ice. That was then the best performance of a Dutchman on natural ice ever. Read more...

Bram and Els Vreugdenhil provide aid shipments to the Ukrainian sister city of Beregsász

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Together with his wife Els and two other volunteers, Bram Vreugdenhil from the AK Foundation (Christmas Greetings Action) left in the early morning, while it was still dark, to the Ukrainian city of Beregsász, a twin city of Maassluis, with (medical) aid supplies and 25,000 euros to buy stoves and other items. Read more...