TOOS VAN DER VALK: LEADING LADY OF THE FAMILY

The whole of the Netherlands embraced her in their hearts after she was kidnapped in 1982 and was only released after three weeks. Just like many people shared in her sorrow during the other sad events she had to deal with privately. Toos is also beloved by her 38 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren, who adore her. We ask this still very energetic grandmother and great-grandmother what such a large and close-knit family means to her.

What an incredible amount of offspring. You must be very busy with it, no doubt.

"The phone rings all day long for me. I am always surrounded by one or more children and grandchildren, they visit me constantly. This month, I am even taking all the grandchildren to our hotel Barcarola on the Costa Brava. I often make such trips with them. Sometimes just with the 19 girls, other times separately with the 19 boys. And now with all of them. We play games like Klaverjassen or engage in sports activities. It's truly a tradition in the family."

You also share your daily life with Marvis.

"Yes, she has been my right hand and my best friend for nine years. Marvis even lives with me in my house. She is also family to me, absolutely. We do everything together. Groceries, shopping, traveling." You certainly do not spend your old age sitting behind the geraniums, as we say in the Netherlands.

Are you still strongly involved in the company?

'Oh, absolutely. I am still present at family meetings. We started out at Hotel Vught, where all the children were born. After 21 years, we moved to Nuland, where I still live. I still visit Hotel Nuland regularly, of course. Our company has burned down completely twice, but it has risen from its ashes. And the new building is once again beautiful. Every time I am there, I enjoy the warm atmosphere.' You will experience that resurrection as a victory.

A Van der Valk hotel cannot simply be burned down.

[Laughs] 'True. That's why I'm extra proud, yes. Here we are again! It gives a very good feeling.'

What wisdom do you pass on to your children and grandchildren at the age of 92?

The wisdom that happiness never comes alone. That bitter setbacks and sorrows are also part of life. And that there is only one way to overcome them. Namely through the love you receive from your fellow human beings. Love ultimately conquers everything. The support of my family and friends helped me get through my worst pain. I was happy and moved when I came home after that abduction and everyone was there for me. Thanks to our strong family bond, I have also been able to process other tragic events in my life. When I don't feel well now, I counter it with a positive thought. Look at what has stood against it and still stands, I tell myself in those moments. How lucky I am with my dear family and with the fantastic marriage that Gerrit and I have had for 54 years. With that realization, you gather ammunition for those phases in life when things are tough. The love of my loved ones has made me stronger.

What is your biggest wish as the leading lady of this big family?

"That we will remain closely and lovingly connected to each other in the near and distant future, and that we will continue to learn from each other. I have every confidence in this, because each successive Van der Valk generation is instilled with our family values from a young age. This sense of togetherness also forms the foundation of our beautiful family business, which hopefully will continue to exist for a very long time. That is my ultimate wish."