Page 14 - ARUBA TODAY

A14 LOCAL
Monday 13 March 2017
Dutch Couple named Goodwill Ambassadors of Aruba

Every week we read about In the presence of a few
one or more American of their Aruban friendsat a
couples being named gathering hosted by Clyde
Goodwill Ambassadors of and Milagro Harms of San
Aruba. Very seldom have Barbola Residences, Klaas
we seen visitors from Hol- and JannieBant-Baas were
land being honored this presented with their framed
way. Last week this string diploma that certified them
was broken when a Dutch as Goodwill Ambassadors
couple received their past of Aruba.The presentation
due recognition by ATA - was performed by the in-
Aruba Tourism Authority. imitable Ricardo Croesof

Friends of Klaas and Jannie follow the ceremony .From L to R, Michel Saade. Benjamin Romero,
Veronica Chemaly, Maya Romero, Tatiana Saade. Milagro Harms, Irma Salcedo.
Present, not on picture, Bobby Chemaly.

ATA who also surprised the
couple with several souve-
nirs of Aruba.

The couple first came to
Aruba in 1973 when Klaas
signed a contract to teach
Geography at the Cole-
gioArubano and to teach
future teachers at the APA
which now is the IPA - Insti-
tutoPedagogicoArubano. Newly named ambassadors Klaas (with beard) and JannieBant
Their three sons attended - Baas with Ricardo Croes, (in black), the hosts Milagro and
Mon Plaisir School; their Clyde, (left) and daughter in law LienekeBant, far right.
eldest son, Willem also at- Son Willem had job related duties that prevented him from at-
tended ColegioArubano tending the ceremony
for two years before the
family returned to Holland Bant couple have visited changed. In 1973 Lago
in 1977. Aruba every year, some- was still operating. In short,
In 1986 the family returned times twice in one year. Aruba of 2017 is complete-
to Aruba for a long vaca- Klaas has calculated he ly different from what it was
tion and rented the house and Jannie have travelled in 1973. But, Klaas and Jan-
of the well knownFrans van from Holland to Aruba at nie assure us, what has re-
Drie, also a Dutch educa- least 25 times. That adds mained the same are the
tor who has made Aruba up to almost 1000 hours of delicious climate, the sun,
his permanent home. flying across the Atlantic the beaches and above
In 1993 their son Willem and between the two of them, all, the friendliness of the
his wife Lienekereturned to to visit our island! Aruban people.
Aruba where Willem, fol- Klaas and Jannieremi- Klaas and Jannie are also
lowing in the footsteps of nisced about Aruba over happy to see that much
his father, was to teach at the years and mentioned more attention is being
Colegio for 5 years. The fol- the numerous changes paid to the Aruban culture,
lowing year their first son they have seen on their fa- nature and environment;
was born and was named vorite vacation destination. therestoration of historic
Klaas after his grandfather. The exponential growth of buildings and of course,
The next year Jan was born. the number of cars on the the Arikok Natural Park.
Klaas and OmaJannie roads, traffic lights, round- Klaas and Jannie reassure
came to visit every year. In- abouts, the expanded air- us that they will continue
terestingly, the young Klaas port, many additional ho- to make their yearly trek to
is currently working on his tels.Even the Colegio has their beloved Aruba.q
Master’sdegree hoping to
become the third genera-
tion Bant to teach at the
Colegio.
After spending two years
in Holland, Willem and
Lieneke returned to Aruba
and since then the elder