Report of the TVK Autumn Meeting 2024 in Antwerp
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, the members of the Trintella Circle of Friends (TVK) gathered in Antwerp's super-centrally located Hotel De Keyzer, for a pleasant and tasty autumn gathering. The day started at 9:30 am, with a warm welcome at the hotel from where we walked to the station, where the smell of fresh coffee and chocolate croissants quickly put a smile on everyone's face. What a wonderful way to start the day! The station restaurant was an unplanned, but spectacular location. The organization has shown its most creative side with this – last minute – solution. Chappeau!
Chocolate Nation – the chocolate museum At 10:30 am we set off for Chocolate Nation, the chocolate museum of Antwerp. It was a true adventure, an interactive experience where we discovered the stories behind Belgian chocolate, with the help of a sound device. The smell and taste of the chocolate made for a real Willy Wonka experience! After the tour (which lasted between 60 and 90 minutes) we could enjoy the different flavors of chocolate and buy a few delicious souvenirs in the museum shop. For the members who unfortunately could not be present, postcards of this museum have been sent.
Lunch at KLYC Around 12:00 we left with our own transport to Windkracht 12, the clubhouse of the Royal Liberty Yacht Club, located on the Left Bank of Antwerp. It was a short drive and we arrived at a cozy and special lunch location. The lunch was provided by Bits N Bites, a bistro from Kontich that offers work to people with mental disabilities. It was a heartwarming moment, especially since the owner of Bits N Bites is the sister of one of our members, who started this case for her daughter with Down syndrome, Roxanne. The sandwiches, soups and salads were delicious. After lunch Jan told us from the Left Bank what we could see in the skyline on the Right Bank of Antwerp; It was nice and clear. With this we have rightfully stood on the most spectacular terrace in Antwerp and heard how they chose this Yacht Club with their Trintella 42.
Presentation about sailing in England After lunch, we listened to a fascinating presentation by Jan van de Pouw about his sailing trip "Around England" in the summer of 2022. The stories were about special harbor masters, whiskeys and preparatory calculations and logbooks, not to mention currents and high and low tide. His stories and experiences put us in the mood for adventure and sailing!
General Assembly and farewell to Helms Around 16:00 hours, the General Assembly took place, where important matters for the association were discussed. The meeting was a special moment, with a farewell to our chairman Helms, who has done many years of dedicated work for the TVK. Marike van Meer spoke striking words about the fact that the association exists for but also because of the members. She explained in detail what help the board needs and welcomed new volunteers who signed up to support the association. Beautiful glass artworks were also presented to members who had made a special effort, including Mr. Robbe, chairman of the audit committee, and webmaster Theo, who continues to put his boundless energy into the association. Siem took the opportunity to thank Helms on behalf of the association for his undeniable contribution.
Dinner at Fong Mei After a small freshening up in the hotel, we went to the restaurant around 19:00 for a joint dinner. We enjoyed an authentic Chinese dinner at Fong Mei, a cozy Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. The atmosphere may have been simple, but the food was delicious! Everyone agreed: the flavors of the dishes made this a great end to the day. The local Chinese even consider this restaurant to be the best in Antwerp!
It was a great day full of fun, good food, interesting stories and beautiful moments of togetherness. We are already looking forward to the next meeting of the Trintella Circle of Friends! Many thanks again to Jan en Patricia van Laeken for the organisation!
