In memoriam our colleague Arie van Duijn

13/03/59 - 13/12/20

His bicycle was always at the ready. For years Arie van Duijn accompanied new guests to their place on his bicycle. A true host at heart: seven days a week, 24 hours a day. After his sixtieth birthday, he decided to take it a little easier in the summer months. He was able to enjoy that for one summer because on Sunday he died in his home after a short illness.

Young Arie was soon attracted to the tourism industry. During his school vacations, he worked at the Rijnsburg campground Koningshof. After training at the Social Academy, he worked briefly in social work. His heart eventually turned out to be more in the tourism sector and he started working at the reception of Camping Koningshof. In 1995 he transferred to Camping De Zuidduinen where he became the manager and lived with his family.

Arie van Duijn became the face of Camping De Zuidduinen. From April to the end of September he was on hand to make all guests feel at home. He knew everyone and was involved with all the guests. He knew a lot about the guests. If someone had been sick years ago, he remembered exactly.  If guests died, he went to the funeral. If someone was sick, he arranged for medical help to come or for someone to be taken to the doctor's office. Especially in an emergency, he was always available. He was a very social person.

Last summer he still worked four days instead of the usual seven days a week. He wanted a little more time to ride his motorcycle, walk the dog, play cards with friends or ride his bike for a bit, outside of camping trips. He moved from the camping house back to his parents' house in Katwijk aan Zee.

Arie van Duijn became ill in November and died Sunday, Dec. 13, at the age of 61. We are going to miss him tremendously.

Please leave a written condolence, memory or anecdote about Arie at https://www.memori.nl/gedenkplaats/arie-van-duijn.