May 6, 2024 at 11:53 am
People
ZEIST Tonnie van de Brug is one hundred! Born in Zwolle as Antonia van Essen, she moved to Zeist as a girl because her father was transferred by his employer, the NS. After primary school she went to the hairdressing school in Utrecht.
“I worked at the Middag hair salon on Slotlaan. I stopped after I got married. My husband worked at the Sinusfabriek and he didn’t think it was necessary for me to work too.” She married Jan van de Brug, a true Zeist resident. Together they had three children. Jaap, who now lives in Germany and got married there. Henri who lives in Brabant and visits weekly with his wife and Trui. “Just look on your computer, it’s very familiar,” says the proud mother. “My daughter is a film writer.”
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The three children, the centenarian and the mayor.
She looks back with great pleasure on the time when her three were small. “No wandering children, no mischief. A large newspaper on the table and peanuts on it. I still enjoy it.” She was also sporty. “I was a member of Arma. I had a little accordion. We enjoyed going to music together. Me in a beautiful, long dress and he in his neat suit.
My husband and I have cycled a lot together. We have been on holiday a lot. After his death, I traveled alone to distant countries. Mexico, South Africa, Thailand; I’ve been there all. I would like to fly again, but my memory has gone weak, so I can’t do that anymore. The last year has been difficult, it’s not easy for me. I fell a few times, broke my wrist and after rehabilitation I am now here.”
Madam lived until January of this year independently in Zeist and came to Heerewegen via Bovenwegen. “A move like that is never fun, I also get homesick sometimes. I really want to participate, but that is no longer possible.” Is life still worth living? She laughs. “Don’t make a sad story. I look forward to the mayor’s visit. Life in the brewery. And thanks to the children and grandchildren, life is worth living despite everything.”
Posing with the mayor.
