My Story
It was a Thursday morning, around 11:30, and I was once again walking along a familiar path toward a front door.
With a handful of letters in my hand, I slipped them through the letterbox that had become so familiar to me over the years.
My work as a postal carrier provided me with an income, but deep down, I wanted to do something more meaningful—something that would allow me to help people and bring them joy.
I no longer wanted to live on autopilot. After all, if we’re honest, anyone can put a letter through a mailbox.
That same evening, I opened my laptop and saw a message from my cousin Ingrid, who lives in Canada. She told me that she was planning a trip to the Netherlands and needed my help.
She wanted to meet the Dutch side of our family.
Even more importantly, she wanted to return to her mother’s birthplace in the hope of finding the farm where her mother had been born.
After the Second World War, her mother had emigrated to Canada with her parents and brothers. But where should she begin looking? She had searched online without success.
“Yvonne, you live there… YOU have to help me!”
A Journey Back to Her Mother’s Roots
Together, we drove to her mother’s birthplace in Fryslân. It was a small, picturesque village.
When we arrived, our first stop was the local cemetery.
Of course, visitors stand out in a small village, and before long I found myself talking to a local resident.
I’m naturally someone who enjoys meeting people and starting conversations, so it didn’t take long before I asked whether he knew the family.
What luck.
He knew exactly who we were talking about. He even knew where the family farm was—and, most importantly, the farm was still standing.
A Warm Welcome
When the current owner heard our story, she enthusiastically invited us inside.
As she showed us around the house, she shared stories about people who had hidden there during the war and about the history of the property itself.
Then came the moment none of us expected.
The homeowner presented Ingrid with an English-language booklet.
Inside was her mother’s story.
There were photographs and details about the family’s departure for Canada—memories that Ingrid had never seen before.
The Moment Everything Changed
The most beautiful moment was seeing the tears in Ingrid’s eyes.
Tears of joy.
Tears of emotion.
Then she hugged me.
Even now, I can still remember that hug and how it felt.
That was the moment I realized how meaningful this work could be.
It was then that the idea first took root: helping people reconnect with their family history could become much more than a hobby.
From Autopilot to Purpose
What a difference.
Instead of working on autopilot, I now have the privilege of working with guests who are searching for their roots.
I am personally involved in every journey. I make sure that every detail is carefully arranged, so my guests can begin their trip without worries and fully enjoy the experience.
Most importantly, I want every roots journey to become a lasting memory—something that stays with people long after they return home.
Would You Like to Discover Your Roots?
Are you dreaming of coming to the Netherlands to explore your family history and discover where your story began?
I would love to help.
Send me a message, and perhaps together we will go in search of your roots.
With love,
Yvonne