Another Inspiring Story
Kees was born on May 30, 1955, in Maartensdijk, a small town where his life took an extraordinary turn from the very beginning. He was born with spina bifida, a condition that doctors believed would limit his life to just a few days. But Kees, determined and strong, defied expectations. He underwent surgery immediately and had clubfeet that also required treatment. He was the second of five children, and after his birth, the family moved to Rotterdam.
His parents were initially determined to manage everything on their own, but they were open to seeking help if necessary. This marked the beginning of Kees’ lifelong journey toward independence and overcoming the challenges life placed in his path. From an early age, he learned to adapt to his limitations, encouraged by his parents to do as much as possible by himself.
At the age of five, Kees received a Red Cross children’s bicycle with training wheels. When his father later removed the wheels, he taught Kees an important life lesson: “If you fall, you fall just like any other child.” This gave Kees the courage to persevere and learn from his falls—both literally and figuratively.
From the very start, Kees was always treated as “normal” by his siblings. They never made him feel different, despite the braces he had to wear up to his hips. Kees attended a mytyl school (a specialized school for children with physical disabilities). Thanks to modern developments, he found it easier to manage his limitations and was eventually able to ride his bicycle to a regular elementary school. He continued his education at HAVO (a senior general secondary education level), again cycling to school. However, the stairs and hallways of the school building became too challenging, and by the transition from third to fourth grade, it was no longer possible to keep up.
Kees then decided to focus on English business correspondence, earning a typing diploma and gaining strong commercial knowledge. Everything he learned, he did with passion—even his scouting training. At the age of 10, he joined a special scouting group for children with physical disabilities. In 1977, he transitioned to a regular scouting group.
As a teenager, Kees had the opportunity to develop his leadership skills as a scout leader. Though his school commitments left him with little free time, he continued learning alongside his colleagues and the younger scouts. Unfortunately, his disability was not always accepted. When his scouting group planned to attend the World Jamboree in Norway, their participation was denied due to their physical limitations. But they refused to be discouraged. In 1975, the group of friends traveled to Norway independently and attended the Jamboree anyway.
The beauty of Kees’ story is that his fellow scouts always treated him as an equal—a mindset that also taught other members of the regular scouting group valuable lessons. “Try it yourself first,” was the message Kees always shared, and this mindset took him far. He remained actively involved in scouting, from pitching tents and canoeing with his brother to buying a caravan they used together for years. In 2007, Kees purchased his own folding camper after testing whether he could set it up himself. It was a moment of pride, a symbol of his independence. But that wasn’t all—he later bought his own full-size caravan, which he still owns today. Kees had always been passionate about canoeing, a sport he had enjoyed since 1982. However, due to physical limitations, he had to stop in 2020. He had even commissioned a custom-built canoe designed to support his knees. Yet, Kees always found ways to live life on his own terms, even when adaptation was necessary.
His career started at a shipping office during summer vacations. After losing his temporary position there, he moved into ship supply and administrative work. Later, he found his dream job through a job advertisement from Pameijer, an organization supporting people with disabilities. Despite the GGD (public health service) initially refusing to approve him due to his disability, he secured a position through the WSW (a social employment law program). He worked at Pameijer for 18 years before being offered a permanent contract, with all his years of service recognized. In 2021, Kees decided to retire after 46 years at Pameijer, finally gaining the time to fully enjoy his free time.
Now, he spends his days going outside up to four times daily with his little dog, Max. He remains actively involved in scouting and stays engaged with his camping and canoeing clubs. From the quay and his balcony in Rotterdam, he captures stunning photos of arriving (cruise) ships—images that cruise companies now use for promotional purposes.
His life story is an inspiring testament to perseverance, resilience, and the importance of independence despite the challenges life throws at us.
Kees never gave up. He always strived to do things on his own and continues to be an inspiration for others to never stop trying, no matter what.
