View source for Article Herman van Veen opent Colombinehuis

{{Infobox
|above = [[Template:Newsarticles|News article]]<br>Herman van Veen opent Colombinehuis
|abovestyle   = background: #C7C7C7;
|subheader = ''(lit. "Herman van Veen opens Colombine House")''
|header11 = <hr /> Data
|label12 = Newspaper
|data12 = Drontens Nieuwsblad
|label13 = Author
|data13 = Unknown	
|label14 = Date
|data14 = 25 March 1997
|label15 = Page
|data15 = TBD
|label16 = City
|data16 = Dronte
|label17 = Language
|data17 = Dutch
|label18 = Original source
|data18 = [https://www.veenpers.nl/0000250397dn.htm link] (archived by [https://www.veenpers.nl/ veenpers])
}}
==Summary==
This article covers the opening of the [[Stichting Colombine#Colombinehuis|Colombinehuis]] and big plans for a niece of [[Alfred Jodocus Kwak]]<ref group="note">Figuratively speaking.</ref>, namely the character [[Stichting Colombine#Colombientje|Colombientje]]. 

==The article==
<blockquote>
Project met veel klein geld van de grond getild

'''Herman van Veen opent Colombinehuis'''

BIDDINGHUIZEN - Met het overhandigen van een grote gouden sleutel aan zijn zus Mary van Veen, die het huis gaat beheren, verrichtte Herman van Veen zaterdag de openingshandeling van het Colombine- huis aan de Spijkweg in Biddinghuizen. Het Colombinehuis gaat plaats bieden aan kinderen die er, om wat voor reden dan ook, eventjes tussenuit moeten.

Mary van Veen, op haar beurt, overhandigde de gouden sleutel aan de toekomstige gebruikertjes van het prachtige Colombinehuis, die de deur ermee openden. Het Colombinehuis gaat plaats bieden aan telkens acht kinderen, die samen met hun familie en of vrienden, tien dagen gaan doorbrengen in deze bijzondere accommodatie. Zoals de cabaretier en beschermheer van de Stichting Colombine het in zijn openingstoespraak verwoordde, is het bedrag dat nodig was voor de realisatie van dit project bijeengebracht met 'verbijsterend veel kleingeld', daarmee doelend op de vele acties die er al gehouden zijn ten behoeve de Stichting Colombine.

'''Groot geld'''

Tijdens de feestelijke opening kwam er echter ook groot geld aan te pas. Teneinde de exploitatiekosten, die worden geraamd op ongeveer één miljoen gulden per jaar, te bekostigen, boden de Nederlandse apothekers, verenigd in de KNMP, de Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij ter bevordering van de Pharmacie, een cheque aan van maar liefst vijfhonderdduizend gulden. In de toekomst zullen ook de inzamelacties voor het Colombinehuis doorgaan. Daarbij ondervindt het Colombinehuis de steun van onder meer de 'Loopgroep Biddinghuizen' die met het organiseren van sponsorlopen en hand- en spandiensten in en om het Colombinehuis bijzonder actief zijn.

'''Colombientje'''

Dan is er ook nog Colombientje, het nichtje van Alfred Jodocus Kwak, een geesteskind van Van Veen. Ook Colombientje, tijdens de opening van het naar haar genoemde huis 'in levende lijve' aanwezig, gaat ervoor zorgen dat er geld blijft binnenkomen. Een speldje met haar beeltenis wordt verkocht bij alle Nederlandse apothekers en in de toekomst zullen stripalbums over haar verschijnen en de hoop is al gevestigd op een televisieserie. Het is de bedoeling dat Colombientje op z'n minst nét zo bekend gaat worden als haar beroemde neefje Alfred Jodocus Kwak.

Binnenkort zullen de eerste families hun intrek nemen in het Colombinehuis. Er is inmiddels al een wachtlijst voor belangstellenden. ,,We wisten dat de nood hoog was, dat er grote behoefte was aar. een huis als dit. maar dat die nood zo onvoorstelbaar hoog was. hadden ook wij niet verwacht", aldus Herman van Veen. Het bijzondere aan het Colombinehuis is volgens hem dat kinderen mèt hun sociale niet ouders broertjes, zusjes en vriendjes hoeven te missen tijdens een vakantie.	

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'''A House Is Coming to Holland: the Colombine House'''

In 1977, Herman van Veen and Joost Taverne founded the Colombine Foundation. It has a beautiful name and an equally worthy purpose: supporting health and environmental projects in Europe and developing countries.

At present, the Foundation is busy scraping together funds for a refuge for children: a house that will offer safety and warmth to children who need it — for example, children recovering from childhood cancer who, together with their parents, need a chance to catch their breath. The house will also provide shelter for children exhausted mentally or physically, and for children fleeing hunger, political violence or war.

This requires money — a great deal of it — and Colombine is raising it. The Foundation takes its name from the word “Colombo,” meaning dove. The dove is a symbol of the bringer of peace, which is naturally a fitting emblem. But there is another reason for the name. In commedia dell’arte, Colombine is the counterpart to Harlequin; as is well known, Harlekijn is also the name of the company that handles Herman van Veen’s business affairs. The more idealistic side of Herman van Veen’s work was therefore given the name Colombine.

'''A Chance to Recover'''

Two years ago, the Colombine Foundation opened a new ward at Rotterdam’s Dr. Daniël den Hoed Clinic, with eight low-bacteria isolation rooms for leukaemia patients. The Foundation raised the two million guilders required.

Conversations Herman van Veen had with doctors at the hospital gave him the idea of building the Colombine House. When children returned home after treatment, they often fell through the cracks. Months of hospitalisation, treatment and the fears associated with them had such an impact on the entire family that, once back at home, they often found themselves in a deep emotional void.

What could be better for these children, and others, than to give them the opportunity to recuperate in an inviting environment? Children will be able to spend a wonderful holiday there with their parents, brothers and sisters, and any carers who accompany them. Naturally, the entire grounds will be accessible to wheelchair users. There will be a dialysis room with all the necessary equipment, as well as qualified staff.

'''Flevoland'''

On 6 April 1992, the first tree of the “A Tree for Life” campaign was planted in Flevoland. This tree was intended to be the first in the “Forest of Tomorrow,” created as part of a joint initiative by the Colombine Foundation, the Development Cooperation Information Service and UNICEF.

Next to this forest is a site owned by the State Forestry Service. It contains two sheds used for storing equipment such as tractors and machinery. The eleven-hectare plot has been made available to the Colombine Foundation to build the Colombine House.

The plan is to create twenty apartments, each accommodating a child and their close family. Every apartment will be fully adapted to the child’s state of health. Each will reflect a particular culture: for instance, there could be a Chinese, Tibetan or Mexican apartment.

The aim is to create a place where creativity, security, mutual respect and living close to nature will inspire renewed energy and health. The apartments’ furnishings and construction materials will come from the cultures they represent. Indeed, to a large extent they will be made there themselves, so that the motto, “Sharing the World,” can truly be put into practice.

'''The “Figure Eight of Colombine”'''

Architecturally, the idea is to use the shape of a figure eight, as it symbolises balance on Earth. One side of the world helps make the other side a little better.

As part of the 150th anniversary of the Royal Dutch Pharmaceutical Society (KNMP), a nationwide campaign was launched for the Colombine House. On Saturday, 26 September, a sponsored fun run was to be held, supported by employees of pharmacists’ associations.

The event, officially called “The Figure Eight of Colombine,” would take place on the grounds of Het Land van Ooit in Drunen.

Where possible, each pharmacy was asked to send at least two participants. Potential runners included pharmacists, assistants, friendly doctors, pharmacists from hospitals and industry, and trainee members. Participants were expected to seek sponsorship from friends, family, acquaintances, patients and colleagues.

All proceeds would benefit the Colombine Foundation, which intended to use them to finance the Colombine House. The project required six million guilders, which organisers hoped to have raised by 1996.

'''Land van Ooit'''

There were many enthusiastic responses from Brabant. Nutsschool De Driestam in Eindhoven had already sponsored a bus full of children. Armed with sponsorship cards, they would walk two kilometres past the park’s most beautiful spots. Hopefully, their example would be followed.

There would also be plenty to enjoy that day. Many prominent figures were expected to participate, including Herman van Veen and his son Valentijn, Fred Oster and Hein Vergeer. Older participants could choose distances of 5, 10 or 21 kilometres — the half marathon.

'''Joost and Jacqueline'''

For Brabant, Joost and Jacqueline Vincent coordinated Colombine’s campaigns and work. They did so entirely as volunteers and could use some additional support, because much work still had to be done.

“September in particular is extremely busy,” said an enthusiastic Joost Vincent, though as the conversation continued he became somewhat concerned. “The situation is this,” he continued. “The handover by Herman van Veen of the low-bacteria rooms to the Dr. Daniël den Hoed Clinic made such an impression on my wife that she immediately decided to do more than make the usual monetary donation.”

'''Taking Action'''

His wife added: “We wanted to do something tangible for Colombine, so we decided to volunteer to coordinate the work in the province of North Brabant. People were needed because the professional staff member could no longer manage the amount of work. That is how we became involved, and we have remained extremely enthusiastic ever since.”

Asked about their financial position, they explained that this was actually one source of their concern. They had to live on one income and had two children. Since beginning their voluntary work, their telephone bill had doubled, and petrol costs had risen considerably.

“Recently, however, a fund was established from which people who need it can claim their expenses,” said Joost, visibly pleased. They were convinced that everyone would use it responsibly. Above all, they hoped it would ensure that the volunteer group would not become limited to an elite in the future.

In any case, they had enthusiastically launched the campaign for “The Figure Eight of Colombine” and hoped for many participants from Brabant. Those interested in sponsoring the event or running themselves on Saturday, 26 September, could contact the KNMP in The Hague: 06-0223343.
</blockquote>

==Includes information on==
* [[Herman van Veen]]
* [[Stichting Colombine]]
* [[Stichting Colombine#Colombinehuis|Colombinehuis]]
* Mary van Veen, sister of Herman van Veen
* [[Stichting Colombine#Colombientje|Colombientje]]
* [[Alfred Jodocus Kwak]]]

==Notes==
<references group="note" />

==References==
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