The Big Move (Part Four) – The Final Report

The company that is coming to install the kitchens does not have enough staff to get everything ready on time. Therefore, we decided to begin the move on Tuesday, April 7. 2026

On Monday, March 2, the movers came to inspect the new apartments on the Olympiapad. No furniture may be brought in over the balcony. Everything must go through the elevator, which is 210 cm deep. To reach various rooms, 90-degree turns must be made. The movers took measurements and then went to look at the furniture on Burg. Cortenstraat. Dressers that fit in the elevator will go along. Some furniture will go out through the open window on Cortenstraat and into the moving truck. On Burg. Cortenstraat the moving truck cannot reach the back area, so the moving lift will be placed on the street.

On other days that week, they inspected the other buildings: Capucijnengang and Roode Leeuw, the PBS, and the Beyart.

We have now made the following plan. On Tuesday, April 7, four brothers who live on the second floor of Burg. Cortenstraat will move. They and the furniture from the chapel will go along. The brothers involved will travel on their own to the new flat and wait there for their belongings. They can then set up their rooms and prepare the dining room and recreation room. We must temporarily give up some furniture for the shared spaces because the furniture we selected is still at Capucijnengang and the Beyart.

On Wednesday, April 8, the office furniture from the PBS will be moved. Furniture for the common areas will also be taken. Of course, we do not know how many days they will need in each building. The movers have made a plan, and they will try to follow it.

Br. Wim Swusten has decided not to move. His flat will now be occupied by Br. Paul. The secretary of the GB board will then live next to the General Superior. Br. Lo has made a few other changes as well, including with the offices, because they vary in size. Some brothers and staff members will share an office.

On March 10, we showed the new flats and the old buildings to the housekeeping staff. They can now also prepare and pack items from the existing kitchens and cleaning rooms.

On March 16, the garage and bicycle storage were handed over, with Lo representing us. A meeting day for brothers and “associates” was organized on the feast day of St. Joseph. During the gathering, the new flats were explained and everyone could ask questions.

When the names of the brothers who would be moving were mentioned, not everyone knew who they were. Therefore, in this final edition we are including photos of all the brothers who will be living in the flats.

We also received good news that the kitchens on the ground floor can be installed on time after all. We also received the final allocation of the flats. So now all the stickers can be placed or replaced.

“Home Ready” is still working on the floors, walls, and curtains. According to them, they will be finished on time—and that is before Easter.

Real Estate Agent

During a meeting with the real estate agent, we created a schedule for emptying, cleaning, and handing over the buildings. We have allowed extra time, and the keys will be handed over no later than May 18, 2026.

During a final preparatory meeting with all new residents, we reviewed everything once more: how the flats are allocated, the moving plan. Everyone received their keys and was again asked to check their personal lists.

History

I still see myself as an outsider because I have not been back in the Netherlands for very long. You must imagine the following: the general board lived on Burg. Cortenstraat, and some brothers (like myself) joined them.

The religious house FIC Netherlands was based on the Prins Bisschop Singel (PBS). In addition, there were a few Dutch brothers who were still healthy enough not to require a nursing home like the Beyart.

Brothers are being moved, but also three groups: the general board, the board of the religious house Netherlands, and the ordinary brothers who will now live together in the new flat on the Olympiapad in Maastricht. We discussed a daily schedule including prayer, meals, and recreation. Attention was also given to grocery shopping, laundry, and cleaning the rooms.

Other topics came up, such as staffing, payment for purchases, and leadership.

I found it very interesting to hear all this—it was clear that this was not the first time communal living had been discussed. Not all questions were answered to everyone’s satisfaction. In my opinion, it will take time before these groups (General Board and Religious House Netherlands) dissolve and we form one international community. There was still far too much talk about the positions the brothers currently hold. These positions have nothing to do with the international community.

For example: I was a director of an organization in Ghana, others were principals or teachers in schools. Others held positions such as advisor or financial administrator. In a community, you must forget all that, because no one is more important than anyone else. That still needs to grow here.

The movers began preparing everything. Because we knew the date they would come to our building, we sorted and packed the linen room the day before. All brothers also had to empty their closets and clear the food storage racks in the basement. Over the years, many things have been collected from other communities. We find this in all buildings: sheets from Postjesweg Amsterdam, furniture from Nijmegen or Waalwijk. “Remember, this came from Rotterdam.”

The movers dismantled all the large wardrobes. They had wardrobe boxes where suits and coats could be hung. But where do you put those? So the last days were a bit of improvising. We no longer knew where to find a drinking glass because those were already packed. Especially for brothers who lived in the same room for many years, it was quite a hassle.

In the flats, we also had to cover the new floors to protect them from dents. The kitchens can be placed on top of that before installation. This is already well underway.

Team Beyart

Team Beyart collected all the paintings from Burg. Cortenstraat, and it was quite an exhibition. On Good Friday, we will bring the paintings and statues from Capucijnengang and Roode Leeuw to the Beyart. From there, they will be sold.

It turns out to be very difficult for everyone to make the decision to move. Br. Ted van de Geest has decided to move to the Beyart. This must happen before the end of the year because the building in Capucijnengang will be sold.

Br. Lo and Mr. Eric began connecting the internet this weekend. The TV connections are also ready. Br. Jos Bom has already driven several times with a full cart of books to the library basement. It is a large basement where all old books are sorted and sold again. They also collect old CDs there.

April 7, 2026

The move has begun. Four brothers who lived on the second floor of Burg. Cortenstraat are now being moved to the Olympiapad. It is quite an experience when you have packed everything and arrive with your bags and suitcases in an empty flat. Where will I sleep tonight?

The weather cooperated very well because the sun was shining. It was late in the afternoon before we could set anything up. In the dining room it felt like camping because there were no tables, but it all worked out. Sleeping did not go so well because we did not yet have the remote controls for the sunshades and there were no curtains. During the day the sun shines generously inside, and the bedrooms become very hot. The next day I hung a sheet in front of the window.

On the second day, the furniture from the Beyart arrived. These are pieces for general use, so very welcome. And so each day we received a moving truck with furniture from the various buildings.

On Friday, April 10, the second group from Burg. Cortenstraat moved. We have now furnished the dining room, recreation room, and food storage room. The linen room and cleaning supplies room followed.

The secretariat and financial office have also arrived, and the setup has begun. The departments on the ground floor are already taking shape.

We are now discovering that some brothers brought too much, so not everything fits in their rooms. Things are still being rearranged until everything has a place.

The dining room, kitchenette, and recreation room are now furnished and already in use.

On Friday, April 17, 2026, the moment arrived: all brothers and staff have now moved to Olympiapad Maastricht. Br. Raphael and Br. Gaspar still have to arrive from Malawi, but their beds are already made.

What still needs to be done

1. All buildings must be checked again to see if anything remains that can still be used.
2. The buildings must be cleaned so the keys can be handed over to the new owner.
3. The building in Capucijnengang will be sold at the end of the year.
4. Roode Leeuw will remain in our possession for now.
5. In May, a door will be installed between the dining room and the recreation room. During the work, we will temporarily cook, eat, and recreate in the General Superior’s room.

Now we must try to live here with the new features such as floor heating, boiling water from the tap, spacious rooms, and sunshades. We must also follow the environmental rules.

And please do not drive over the grass, because one of the many residents will notice. Complaints have already been made.

Now that we live here, you are very welcome to come and take a look. Please ring the front doorbell.

The Brothers who stay at Olympiapad appartment are Bros: the Superior General, Lo Koeleman,  Jos Bom, Widyo Soemantri, Wensislaus Parut, Gaspar Kalisto, Gerard Langelaan, Agustinus Marjito, Remy Nyukorong, Raphael Besigrinee, Frans School, Jos van Dinther, Michael Sidharta Susila, and Paul Sabogu.

Br. Jos van Dinther