I still remember the first time I met Laurens. We shook each others hand and he said with a little too much enthusiasm: “So, I think we will become the best of friends”.

For a few times I tried to join the afternoons where he played all kinds of complicated board games. He tried explaining them with great enthusiasm, but when I finally understood what was happening, we were done and he already had another game ready. He was always better at games than me. I never stood a chance in any of the games of League of Legends or Civilization we played over the years. Recently he made sure to remind me of this. “Yea, you sucked at all these games, except Starcraft, you were pretty decent at that one”.

I don’t really know how many games we started to make ourselves. We had game jams where we tried to make a game in a weekend, we had all kinds of notes and sketches and ideas floating around. I think we actually managed to finish one in the end. I hope to one day finish the game we worked on together last.

Another game we played was who could wind up the other most. Like little puppies play-fighting we made it a sport to get the biggest reaction out of each other.
I would make a unnuanced comment on the bible and sit back and watch the show. In turn he loved to have people pull their hair out because of comments he made on political or cultural matters.

I attached two photos of Laurens helping us to renovate our house and move. Together we tore the place apart, and he helped us pick up a washing machine. It was quite a puzzle putting it into the little car, but we figured it out. We were feeling so accomplished when we had finally moved it up three floors and all the way in the back room, only to find out it broke too soon and we had been scammed.

Laurens was always ready to help people out. Wether it was people who needed some extra support, like the homeless refugee who lived with them for several weeks, the foster children who needed a quiet place or people in general needing friendship and companionship. He threw his full intensity in support of people who he saw needed it.

On vacation in Norway we went on beautiful hikes in which he considered moving into a viking re-enactment village and learn their ways, we went on runs together and he was constantly listening to an audio course on learning Norwegian.

In my memory Laurens will always be stepping around their big chickens wearing his wooden shoes, looking for eggs to make for breakfast. In Oldebroek he had the space and time for his unusual hobbies like smoking salmon or making his own butter. In the event of the apocalypse, Laurens would be the guy you would wanted to be around.

I am happy that our last conversation was so typical of the ones we usually had. He gave me his theory on what came first, the chicken or the egg. We talked about Martin Luther. We laughed at our recurring inside jokes and he recommended to me a video game he knew I was going to love.

I will miss Laurens. I will miss his colourful story telling about strange and bizarre situations, his child-like enthusiasm, his authenticity and honesty and his eagerness to do something together, and to do it well.

Making wonderful memories with good friends in Karoo, South Africa.
We were on holiday in South Africa while Laurens and Annelyne were with YWAM in Muizenberg, so we took the opportunity to spend a few days together in and around Karoo National P.ark.
Many meaningful conversations, but of course also a lot of fun together! A few moments of joy were:
-We drove through the park when he spotted a tortoise walking our way, Laurens jumped out of the car to pick up the tortoise, drive, and drop it off 500m further 'now he has to walk ALL that way again :)'.
-WIthin a fenced area we saw some baboons which he teased out to come after him, but when they did he really got a fright and suddenly ran to the car very fast 'oops, I forgot that monkeys can climb fences'
-He was convinced that meat in South Africa was not so great, while we with our South African background were SURE he somehow never tasted the meat. SO we bought him a local lamb burger, and his words were 'I've NEVER EVER tasted such a delicious burger in my life before, I hope I'll have space for more'
-The smell of the first rain of the season we all enjoyed together.