Real Doetinchemmers
Of course we want to show the King and all of the Netherlands our beautiful Doetinchem during King’s Day. That is why we are making portraits of ‘Real Doetinchemians’. They told us what for them is the real Doetinchem.
Until King’s Day on April 26, 2025, more and more Real Doetinchemmers will appear on this page. And eventually they will be bundled in a book. You can also view all the portraits on Facebook and Instagram.
Suzanna
Suzanna: “Doetinchem has beautiful natural parks, worthy of the word ‘Royal’. My finest spot in Doetinchem is in park Overstegen. I live nearby and walk in the beautiful park every day. I like to sit there on the bench by the pond, behind Plein 40-45. In my own garden I hear quite a lot of noise from traffic. But in the park it is wonderfully quiet. I usually go to the park at noon to eat my sandwich and feel the sun on my snout. And also between 5 and 6 p.m. it’s wonderfully quiet. I enjoy watching the ducks, geese and birds. And sometimes I see the kingfisher sitting there in the bushes by the water. It gives me a sense of peace and space in an increasingly busy Doetinchem.
Gerrit
Gerrit: “As long as the Gruitpoort has existed I have worked there as a volunteer at the Film House. The romance of the beginning: the box office, a little chair, a little table in front of it with the money box on it, the big humming film machine, the manual changing of the reels, a film snapping, the nightly breaking down of the hall; it’s all completely professionalized now. Even the prejudices against “those hippies,” who so needed to bring other films to Doetinchem, have disappeared. I have warm feelings about the opening of the Gruitpoort: the 24 hour soap opera (they played all night long!) in which all of Doetinchem was allowed to participate with drum and show fanfare DES at the end was great! Currently the movie house also runs on location: senior cinema and the outdoor movies in the summer. By now I am a senior myself and I still enjoy working at the Filmhuis in the Gruitpoort, and I hope to do so for many years to come.’
Karin
Karin: “The girl with the pigtails in the photo below is me. During the opening of the city hall by Prince Claus in 1969, I was picked out of the audience. Probably because I was wearing striking clothes: a red spencer and a blue and white checkered blouse with a blue skirt. All the clothes were made by my mother. When the photo was taken, I was only 6. The photo was in a municipal guide we received at home at the time and I have always kept it. When I pass City Hall I often think back to this special moment.
Kenny
Kenny: ”As an artist I often perform in pubs and cafes. Doetinchem is my hometown. Once I started here as a DJ, and now I regularly sing in Doetinchem pubs. Playing for Doetinchem’s audience is the most fun. With your own people around you notice a certain special atmosphere that you experience differently elsewhere in the country. During the last carnival gala I sang a few songs by Hazes among 1000 fellow townsmen. The welcome I received there was fantastic! In my spare time, I also regularly go out in Doetinchem myself. The nice thing about this is that it doesn’t really matter where you walk in, it’s always nice and always a party. And there are plenty of acquaintances you can have a chat with. That makes Doetinchem so much fun! When I go out I often do a kind of little pub crawl. I would definitely recommend the King to come along sometime. Then we would start with a pint of beer at the Kartouwe. Then a shot at Café Jansen, and the rest would follow! I think he would be amazed at Doetinchem’s company!
Carole
Carole: ‘Before, my running buddy and I used to go running for an hour at De Kruisberg every
Wednesday morning. Due to osteoarthritis in my foot, running is no longer possible and we now walk about 5.5 km as an alternative. Always we walk past this beautiful
spot. This spot in the forest is so special because it is always
beautiful no matter what time of year you visit. In spring and summer it is the most beautiful because it is greener then. But it is also beautiful when the lake is frozen. You can see different birds and plants and always beautiful skies. The surroundings are reflected in the water of the lake. Especially when the sun shines it is beautiful! It gives you the feeling of being free and it gives me inner peace.’
Sylvana
Sylvana: “I experience Doetinchem as a nice, quiet city where I grew up without any worries. With its meadows, cows, sheep and especially the lovely country smells. Because yes, I think I am one of the few who likes the smell of that, haha. My husband and I bought a beautiful newly built house in Wijnbergen two years ago. Still, our wish remains a small farmhouse somewhere over there among the cow dung. With the additional wish of a Tiny house in the backyard where my parents can stay so that I can easily take care of them should the need arise in the future. My husband and I work together as graphic designers and photographers. It is wonderful to be able to work in your own town for local entrepreneurs, with the sobriety. noaberschap and our beautiful dialect. Our beautiful little town on the old IJssel River that becomes more and more beautiful by the year. Where you can eat delicious food, have a drink on a terrace. Shopping until the stores close, cozy and beautiful activities. My town that is not a village.
Herman
Herman: “Together with my parents and brothers I lived for years in the Vijverberg district, right next to the Graafschap Stadium. Even when I was little I came here often. Not only to watch soccer, but also to search for cigar bands and bottles under the stands with my friends. We also cleaned the stands and ticket booths. As I grew older, I followed in the footsteps of my father, Pete, who had an architectural firm right next to our home. After the home and business space were sold, I had my consulting and architecture firm in the Walmolen for a time. Therefore, the Walmolen also has a warm place in my heart. Unfortunately, due to my health I can no longer practice my profession, but I still have a passion for architecture and for the city. I also still enjoy visiting matches of my ‘old neighbors’: De Graafschap!
Mijntje and Rosie
Mytje and Rosie: ‘We like to blow out at the Greephorst. The King needs to see this! You can just play there all the time! With cold and with warm weather. In winter, when it snows, you can enjoy sledding. In autumn you can play in the mud with your boots. In spring and summer we like to play in the sand by the water pump. Then we make dikes, castles and lakes. Every day you discover something new in the Greephorst. We also like to walk there with our dog. We love the wooden play equipment. But also the water pump! And the stretching poles. Luckily we live almost around the corner. It’s only a 3-minute walk from our house. We often play there for an hour or so, but with hot weather sometimes all day!
Maaike
Maaike: “I was born above my parents’ store, Vermolen lingerie, then still on Boliestraat. With the neighborhood children we played hide-and-seek in the basement of the Bedstee (a bed store on the spot where Meester Mokka now sits). Or we played marbles on the little square between Boliestraat and Hamburgerstraat. Our family lives always revolved around the store first, and we kids got along just fine. When we got a little older we did see more advantages: nice walks to the cafes in town, very close by. And I remember the first city festival, on the occasion of 750 years of Doetinchem. A great time! Life in Doetinchem is a social life of us knows us, and through it you know almost everyone. Doetinchem is in my eyes a city with village-like coziness. I also see this reflected in the store, people are loyal and grant you the sale and this reaches far into the Achterhoek! We know most of the customers who come in and especially their bra size.’
Gert Jan
Gert-Jan: ‘I like to go running on the bike path parallel to the Barlhammerweg along the Oude IJssel from Doetinchem to Keppel. Out of town, into the meadows, up the dike, along the water. I used to often pass it from the water when we spent many days on the water in our little boat as children. Never realized that this route ran there. A surprisingly beautiful part of Doetinchem just outside the city where it is nice and quiet. On the dike you have beautiful views over the green meadows and the water with passing boats. The children often come along on bikes or scooters. Getting some fresh air together, a nice conversation and spotting herons, rabbits and deer. Every time they see something new!
Corine
Corine: ‘I would like to put my workplace Kasteel Slangenburg in the spotlight. Besides my work as a teacher of a grade 6 elementary school, I also work in the restaurant Het Koetshuis of Slangenburg Castle. Purely because my heart lies there. A beautiful forest where I always walked with our Bernese Mountain Dog until this summer. Our dog died suddenly at the age of 5. After the cremation of the dog we went with our family for a cup of coffee at Het Koetshuis. My eye fell on a vacancy there. And as if it was meant to be: I now work there! The circle is complete. A cool place in Doetinchem that should not remain unexposed. Especially since Het Koetshuis was totally renovated this year and is a real enrichment for lovers of this area with delicious snacks and drinks. Also fun in combination with a tour of the castle!
Dick
Dick: “At 16, I joined the Royal Navy. During that time I visited many countries and even after that I lived in many places, at home and abroad. A few years after my retirement, I returned with my wife to my hometown of Doetinchem. This beautiful city, with its village character, gave me much pleasure in living and living in my younger years. Soon I felt completely at home again. After a few months I became a volunteer at the City Museum and learned even more about the city’s history. The Walmolen has a special place in my heart, but I also love coming to the old cattle market where the 2 cueing peasants stand (made by my uncle Adri). Not to mention the Catharinakerk in the center where I was baptized and where a stained glass window, adopted by our family, immediately stands out. Now I volunteer at the County HET Museum. When people ask where you live and you say “in Doetinchem” the response is invariably, “Oh the SUPERBOERS.”‘
Yuri
Wife Maryse on Yuri: “Yuri worked at Gringo’s for many years and pretty much belonged to the interior. He stole many hearts of dear customers and friends there. And eventually my heart too … or I his. He can still regularly be found on Grutstraat where he enjoys socializing with acquaintances, friends and former customers.
The special thing is that Yuri, like his sister Diana, fled Georgia. But since their arrival, he has taken the Netherlands and especially Doetinchem into his heart. He even drives with an old portrait of Beatrix in his car, knows just about everyone in Doetinchem and can already speak quite a bit of flat!
Mechteld
Mechteld: “I feel at home in Doetinchem. Like my parents, I was born and raised there. And I still live there! I went to school in Doetinchem, have been playing volleyball with the most beautiful volleyball club for over 25 years and have been working at Partner in Pet Food (formerly Mervo products) for almost 20 years. I am partly responsible for “the traveling dog” which is painted on the silo at Partner in Pet Food and has now become an eye-catcher of Doetinchem!
My favorite spot? That’s the Saap Roelofs bicycle bridge, next to the railroad over the Oude IJssel. From the bridge you have a view of the center of Doetinchem with the windmill and the church tower on one side. And if you look in the other direction, you can see ‘the traveling dog’.
Anna
Anna: ‘I was born and raised in the north of the Netherlands and came to Doetinchem 14 years ago for love. His name is Martijn: born and raised in Doetinchem. Now, many years later, I am still happy with our 2 girls and our cat in our palace in the beautiful green district Overstegen. We are happy to live in this urban village where everything is close by. Our favorite spot, and certainly mine, is Beachclub Stroombroek. Gazing for hours over the water and enjoying the sun, together with the children at the place where our lives officially began together…. A beautiful, special place with many great memories. A place where for a moment you have the feeling of being in another place….
Henk & Geertje
Henk: “As Schöneveld neighborhood liaison, I try to bring people in the neighborhood with the same positive energy together. That way we can realize beautiful ideas together. My most beautiful personal connection is with Mrs. Geertje Maandag. She was born in North Brabant, is 88 years old and a fellow neighborhood member. Since 2020 we walk every Friday morning from 08.00 am and afterwards we always have a cup of coffee. During our walks we have the most beautiful conversations, about personal things but also about world news. We noticed that on early mornings very few people greet each other. Our mission: greet everyone we meet on our walks with a smile with: “Good morning! How wonderful to see that after 5 years this concept is apparently contagious. In the morning we are now being greeted ourselves!
Christel
Christel: ‘I was born and raised in Doetinchem 66 years ago, on the Dr. Huber Noodtstraat. When we went to school we always walked down the busy Dr. Huber Noodtstraat past the old stables, later Talk of the Town. Then around butcher shop Schuurman, through the small street past the old Wilhelmina Hospital to St. Anna kindergarten and Liduinaschool. My childhood took place in the town, the center. Now we live in an apartment above “Sachtleven” and overlook the IJssel and the Bleek. A more beautiful place as a Doetinchemian I cannot imagine. Here I often think back to the many memories of old Doetinchem and often look through the albums of my entire family: nostalgia and memories…. I could write books about it!
Mehmet & Ipek
Mehmet has lived in Doetinchem for 54 years. His father was one of the first guest workers in Doetinchem back in 1965. Every Tuesday he goes to the market with his wife. There he always enjoys a delicious fried fish or herring at M. Zeefat. The Tuesday market is his favorite place, where he visibly enjoys the atmosphere and the people. Even the grandchildren often get to enjoy a delicious fish. Mehmet: “The market is like a second home: here everything comes together – the food, the people and the stories.
Bram
Bram: “I live in the Vijverberg district. Early in the morning I often cycle on my orange student bike along the beautiful Vijverlaan to the station. It slowly starts to get light and the atmosphere is different every time. In the distance, Scottish highlanders are grazing very peacefully in De Zumpe nature reserve. Slowly I approach the Graafschap stadium. The large illuminated logo looms up. I always look through the fence into the stadium. A little further I cycle under the tall trees. Large flocks of birds fly above me and make a lot of noise. Via the dirt road I slowly approach the station where the train to Arnhem is already waiting for me. A more beautiful start to the day does not exist for me! This little street, a hidden gem, is for me the ultimate beauty of Doetinchem.’
Thea
Thea: “The Kartouwe is the most beautiful place for me because I grew up there. It is quite an honor for me to run this café. You don’t see many cafes like this anymore in these modern times. The grandchildren of past guests come here to reminisce about the old days. You could call it a big living room where everyone feels nice and welcome. A unique feature of Kartouwe is the billiard table that is more than 100 years old. Would the King walk in here one evening? If so, he will certainly have a nice feeling about his visit. Especially because Kartouwe is an authentic brown café with a warm welcoming atmosphere and with a very large regular clientele.’
Ellen
Ellen: ‘Nature reserve the Zumpe is practically in my backyard so I walk there in no time. Alone, with the dog, or with the whole family. Especially early in the morning I enjoy the silence and nature. Why do I think the Zumpe is so typically Doetinchem? It is in front (or behind, whichever way you look at it!) stadium de Vijverberg, and it is a nice place to ‘be’ for a while, to slow down and enjoy nature. I’ve had many picnics there with my daughters, and we’ve also caught tadpoles there and searched for the Scottish highlanders. It brings back wonderful memories!
Ben
Ben: “When I sit on the bench there at the mill I go back in time. To when I was about 8 years old. Then I came here in the winter with my boyfriend who had a sled. We whizzed down at breakneck speed all the way to the streetcar rails where we came to a stop. Fortunately, because otherwise we would have ended up in the IJssel River! When I sit on the bench I always think back to this time.’
Mark Boumans
Mayor Mark Boumans: “For me, the Kruisberg forest with castle De Kelder is the most beautiful place in Doetinchem. I like to come here to clear my head and enjoy nature. Mostly walking, but every now and then also on a mountain bike. Although I just found out that I need to have my brakes done. That might give away a little how often I take this bike out. I’m curious about your favorite spot in our beautiful region!
