On the ravishing morning of Saturday, 13 May 2000, the river
Waal is streaming past Nijmegen in the way it was recorded for eternity by the
poet H.Marsman in 1947:
Thinking of Holland
I see broad rivers
flowing slowly
through infinite lowlands
But on the
quiet wharf of the river Waal there is something more to be seen.
Slow but sure small groups of people are
appearing at the end of the long boulevard and in the narrow streets leading
down to the wharf. It is striking that they are all heading for one and the
same point: the steamboat Brandaris. It
is also striking that most of them appear to know each other when these small
groups meet. Moreover, the captain and his wife give them such a warm welcome
that you would believe they were relatives.
Strange? Not really, for they are one big
family indeed. A hundred Somsens from the Netherlands and one from Germany
embark for a boat-trip from the oldest city in Gelderland, Nijmegen, to the
nearest town in Germany, Emmerich. And they are in the mood for it, for there
are beaming faces, you can hear bursts of laughter everywhere and the fresh
coffee in the boat is finished before long.
Embarkation prior to
the boat-trip
When at 10 o’clock the boat has slipped her moorings and we are
sailing upstream, our hostess Roelien Klompien-Somsen [981] tells us about the
trip in a lively manner and she also gives us valuable advice (do not jump
overboard and the like). This stimulates especially the children and they start
criss-crossing the boat from top to bottom. After being convinced that there is
no leak they settle in the wheelhouse next to captain Geert Klompien [1055].
They give him all kind of (sometimes contradictory) advice so that it is really
a miracle that Geert did not miss the turning to the river Rhine and that he
could tie up properly at the ‘Rheinpromenade’, bathed in sunlight, in Emmerich
by 2 o’clock.
Captain Geert [1055]
and his navigating officers
Thanks to the preparatory work of our German tribesman Helmut
Somsen [1562] everybody sets out to explore the old centre of Emmerich, armed
with a city plan and Helmut’s tourist and culinary tips. Especially the
restaurants profit by the Somsen invasion. For the sailors have become very
thirsty (and not only because of the heat) and very hungry as well (for it is
as late as 2 o’clock).
Neither the Germans nor the Somsens have
language or currency problems in Emmerich. There you can remain who you are for
the people in Emmerich understand you well and they like Dutch guilders and
their own marks equally well.
After that the swarm of Somsens has settled down on the
terraces opposite the Brandaris and
the final thirst has been quenched, everybody is counted and the return trip
begins.
For a very long time we wave to Helmut who is
staying behind on the wharf. And Helmut waves back to us: Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye)!
The kids go on enjoying themselves for there
are videos and comics.
The adults resume what they had been doing on
the outward voyage: telling stories, indulging in reminiscences, watching
photographs and sometimes they even cast a glance at the marvellous river
scenery that is slowly sailing past us. The sun lovers are on the promenade
deck and the revellers in the two bars are having the time of their lives.
Suddenly there is the sound of a squeezebox somewhere. Could
that be the skipper Geert himself or his Roelien? No, it turns out to be Johan
Somsen [1089] who, together with the guitar-player Arjan Somsen [415] gives this
voyage a fresh impulse through playing and singing some well-known sailor’s
songs.
Guitar player and
singer Arjen Somsen[ 415]
Mostly they are real sing-alongs so that before
long many of these songs sound over the water and reach the banks of the river.
So we reach the harbour of Nijmegen again after
a splendid trip.
What a day and what a precious feeling it
leaves behind!
Somsen sailors: l-r:
Leis Luiten-Sikking [3161],
Alie Köchl-Luiten
[1006], Lien Vrieselaar-Somsen
[977], seen on the
back: Willemien Somsen-te
Bokkel [1009], Willie
van der Sijs-Luiten [1003]
Slow but sure small groups of people are
disappearing towards the end of the long boulevard and into the narrow streets
sloping upwards from the wharf. Nobody would believe they are all related!
¦
LISTEN, A NIGHTINGALE!
Do you still remember
her: the soprano singer Jos Somsen [1426]? At the party
on Saturday evening during the Great Reunion in 1997 she sang a number of
songs to the accompaniment of the pianist Frida Somsen [60]. Encouraged by
our applause she continued studying and singing thoroughly. Today she forms
part of the group TRIGON, an ensemble
for medieval music. The first CD of this
group was
released quite recently and contains Gregorian and 13th century
hymns connected with the celebration of Candlemas, a festival that is
celebrated on February 2. These hymns are sung by three female voices, one of
which is the soprano voice of Jos Somsen.
The CD was produced by the Belgian label
Passacaille and is sold in more than ten countries, including The Netherlands,
The USA, Canada, Germany and Belgium. The accompanying textbook is in four
languages: Dutch, English, French and German. We wish Jos, Trigon and the CD a
very successful future! Family members in The Netherlands can order the CD Music for Candlemas directly with
Jos by transmitting fl. 40,- (postage included) by giro to 2945603 in the name
of W.J. Somsen in Tilburg.
Family members in the USA are advised to order
the CD (number: Passacaille 932) with their record store. The distributor in
the US is Qualiton Import.
For further information you can contact Jos
Somsen (photo) e-mail: jossomsen@hotmail.com
phone: +31 (13) 54 36 981, address: Jos Somsen, Nazarethstraat 32, 5021
VX Tilburg, NL.
