This is an excellent response to the recent despicable article by Daily Mail that British Tourists are disturbed by refugees on the island of Kos. A young Dutch, Niels Verheij, is about to go for holidays to Kos and he is bringing two extra suitcases full of shoes for the refugees who have stranded there.
“With a little tamping 20 pairs will fit in a suitcase, ” Niels told Dutch news website AD.nl
Read the story below
KUDOS!!!
Dutch tourist will distribute shoes to the refugees in Kos
For months Niels Verheij was looking forward to the holidays on Kos together with his wife Andrea. A few weeks ago, he learned that huge number of refugees from countries such as Syria try to reach the European mainland through Greece were on the island.
“You’re not really waiting to see refugees during your holiday, so we were quite hesitant. Gradually, the mood changed. Those people abandoned their homes not for fun but due to the war. It is horrible what a havoc the Islamic State caused there.”
Initially, he wanted to bring with him some extra money for the refugees, be able to offer them something to eat or drink.
But when he saw a picture of a man without shoes lying on a bench on a newspaper and decided to include shoes. “These people have a long way behind them and their shoes might be worn out. They have nothing more than a few euros. It seems that eating and drinking is properly regulated.”
Excess baggage
On Monday he put a shout out to his friends on Facebook and an hour later a neighbor came along with the first pair. Initially the plan was to stuff one of the couple’s suitcases with the shoes. “We do not take so much baggage, because the weather is good there. You don;t need more than a few shorts, really.”
But because of the large number of responses he decided to take two extra suitcases even though he has to pay extra for them. “I had hoped that the tour operator would allow the extra suitcases fro free, but they did not want to cooperate. With a little tamping 20 pairs fit very well into one suitcase, so I can hopefully make forty people happy. ”
Despite the flood of refugees Niels Verheij is still looking forward to have a nice holiday.
“Last week I read in the newspaper a story where tourists complained that their vacation was ruined as a result [of the refugees there]. That is a very wrong attitude. These people are fleeing a war. ”
(Article in Dutch in AD.nl
English text via google translate and some editing by KTG)
Last week UK’s Daily Mail published an article complaining the “Refugees ruin Britons holidays turning Kos into a ‘disgusting hellhole.” The shameful report triggered an outrage not only among Britons and Greeks, but worldwide. DM was forced to modify a bit its very ugly title due to pressure and very strong reactions.
From what I hear, DM is wandering around seeking for tourists and refugees on the island of Lesvos now…
“Wandering”? I guess that means a headline like: “I nearly died – refugees drank the island dry – look these thousand year old trees are dying too!”
DM should look on tripadvisor, here are the results for Kos:
http://www.thetoc.gr/eng/news/article/tourists-reject-daily-mail-bile-over-refugees-on-kos
Enjoy your holidays, Niels!
Thanks 😉
Niels, YOU ROCK, MAN! 🙂
Thanks a lot its just a little thing what we can do 😉
🙂 already in Kos?
25 June we are going there
Around 09:00 25 June 🙂
we will be glad for a follow up for the story and a picture or two, if possible. Enjoy your holidays and thanks.
Sure no problem ☺
Have a nice day 😉
thank you. have a nice day too 🙂
Thank you Niels for ‘getting it’ and for having a big heart. God bless you and people like you 🙂
Just my opinion –
The Daily Mail have great photographs to look at
AND NOT MUCH ELSE TO THEIR CREDIT
I have posted this article on the Daily Mail facebook page, Kos is a wonderful Island.
:)))