A chance conversation on an outdoor terrace in central Amsterdam has grown into a regular friendship between 83-year-old Cees Smook and 27-year-old Wini Wildervanck.
Six months ago, the two were strangers. Wildervanck spotted Smook sitting alone outside De Koffieschenkerij near the Oude Kerk, struggling to light his pipe on a cold winter day, and offered to help.
A shared passion for sailing
Smook told her he was a former sailor who always managed to light his pipe, prompting Wildervanck to mention that she also sails. Both turned out to have experience sailing with people with disabilities, and a conversation began immediately.
Smook is a daily regular at the coffee house, where long-time visitors have their own cups and nameplates on the wall.
During the talk, he explained that he lives in a nearby care home following a brain haemorrhage five years ago, which left him with a physical disability and requiring daily assistance.
He mentioned that he disliked the food at the care home but avoided visiting restaurants alone. After talking to her housemate later that afternoon, Wildervanck went to Smook’s residence to invite him out for dinner.
Regular outings across the region
The pair started with a dinner at a local Thai restaurant and have since arranged frequent trips together. Smook uses a three-wheeled bicycle while Wildervanck walks alongside him.
Their activities have included visits to the Hortus Botanicus glasshouses and a day trip to Enkhuizen, where Smook previously spent significant time. Before his illness, he ran a publishing and typesetting company, a busy life that ended when his health deteriorated.
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