“I always ran into a wall of silence with my mother,” says Adri. “She didn’t want to talk about it. And I didn’t want to push things to the limit, so I left it that way. ”
No interest
Adri was told that his mother’s husband was not his biological father when he was 16. “My parents were married for 12.5 years and had to tell them I was there before they got married.”
The announcement did little to him. “You will study, work on your career, get married and have children.” Which he wants to say: his life took up to him and gave him little reason to think about his real father.
One Nightstand
He had a suspicion. “My mother lived in Middelburg, which was liberated by the Canadians. So I thought of a one-night stand with a Canadian. I did not know that the French had also fought. ”
It was only when he heard about the possibilities of new DNA research far after his retirement that he decided to investigate. “I gave up my DNA last year and it turned out to be a good match with someone in France, who later turned out to be my second cousin.”
Together to France
On March 9 news came that his biological father had been found: “That was very emotional.” He went to France a week later with Bram Endedijk and a camera crew.
“We were received very warmly there. Suddenly I had a whole family with it. We gathered around my father’s grave, who died in 2010, and they all saw similarities. They didn’t need DNA evidence, they saw it that way. ”
The most emotional was Jean-Jacques, Adri’s father’s grandson. “He spent a lot of time with my father as a boy. He just kept looking. He was very moved. ”
Legion d’Honneur
In France, Adri also heard how his father had fought all over the world as a soldier in the service of the French army. “He was a commando, was captured several times and managed to escape. He has received many awards, including the Legion d’Honneur, the highest French award. That makes me proud. “
“It gives me peace that I have now found my father,” says Adri. “I am very happy that I went to his grave and felt the reunification there after 75 years. Now the circle is complete. ”
“My life is more complete”
Due to the corona crisis, a new visit to France is not yet possible. “But of course we hope that the French family members come here to see where their uncle and grandfather fought. Because they never knew that ”, adds Adri’s wife Lidy.
“My life has become more complete,” says Adri. “Because I already had my mother’s family, my stepfather’s family was always somewhat distant, but my biological father’s family immediately feels like family. And that is mutual. ”
The documentary ‘War Children’ will be broadcast on NPO2 on Monday at 6.55 p.m.
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