John (57) and Henrita Bens (56) decided eighteen months ago that they are going to close with their Café D’n Bens. Due to the lockdown, the only café in Langenboom has already closed and the cafeteria will open for the last time this weekend. Because John also turned out to be incurably ill, they ended up on an emotional roller coaster.
John and Henrita are the third generation to run the pub. “If our last two years were to be made into a film, you would find the script implausible. The difficult decision to quit was followed by corona, which means that we have barely been open. Disaster struck when John turned out to be seriously ill. A real one. It is not possible to say goodbye to D’n Bens “, Henrita says with a tremor in her voice.
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In March, the demolition hammer in the cafe. Homes will be built at that location in the heart of Langenboom. John and Henrita have bought a life-proof house on the spot of their café. The house will not be ready for more than a year and the chance that John will ever see it is very small. “He has cancer. He is now deteriorating rapidly and in a lot of pain,” says his wife Henrita.
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When they made the decision, they had a year and a half to say goodbye. “The decision did not feel like a relief. A cafe in a small village is not a job. It’s your life. You are always ready, even when you are closed. One rings the doorbell for a pack of cigarettes, the other for a crate of beer. . We know the people and offer a listening ear. Our customers have become a bit like our family. We couldn’t go to parties and birthdays, we gave the parties, “Henrita says, quickly adding:” We did that with lots of fun.”
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Still, catering life broke the two up. “It always goes on without a break and that broke us both up,” explains Henrita. “Our children did not want to take it over. They thought their existence was too uncertain and they know how hard work it is. We were quite afraid that we would miss contact with the customers. We were not even able to get used to this idea, because in March we suddenly closed due to corona. In August we took home the corona fair in Langenboom. We had to lock again in October. ”
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Meanwhile, John was told that his days were numbered. “He has lung cancer that has spread to the bones. He is now deteriorating very fast. We had so many plans for a real goodbye. A Gooise poop bingo, an Oktoberfest, our annual Rock D’n Bens with local bands and of course a reception. and party for our regulars. We would have done the latter outside in the spring if necessary. John wants to, but is probably not going to make it. “
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A village without a café is dead. The inhabitants know that too. Soon after it became clear that D’n Bens would stop, village initiative ‘Eigen Kweek’ was set up to keep Langenboom livable. “This makes the view of a new café a lot bigger,” says Henrita with some relief in her voice.
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The Benskes have not yet said goodbye to their customers. Customers have not yet said goodbye to them either. “There are banners at the door and big posters thanking us. We get flowers and tickets, it’s really incredible. It does us so good, it really helps us. This weekend our cafeteria will open for the last time. It will be heavy. but there will probably also be laughter again. It’s always been that way. “
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