Expatica remembers: One year after our loss on flight MH17

This week Expatica prepares for the one year anniversary since the fatal MH17 flight where so many lives were lost, including the lives of Expatica’s managing partner Antoine van Veldhuizen and his family. We will celebrate, remember and mourn alongside the Netherlands and all those who were touched by this tragedy.

Antoine and his family were on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 when it crashed on Thursday, 17 July 2014. Our thoughts and hearts continue to go out to their family and friends. Antoine, Simone and her mother Christiene, and their two boys, Quint and Pijke, have been widely loved and truly missed by so many of their peers. The support shown by the local and expat communities has been overwhelming and touching.

In their memory, we are proud to continue the PACQS Foundation, established in Pijke, Antoine, Christiene, Quint and Simone’s names. Run by family and close friends, PACQS—to be pronounced ‘pax’, Latin for ‘peace’—has made it its mission to support a number of charities striving towards world peace and a safer, healthier and more sustainable society.

This week on Friday 17 July 2015, the Expatica Team will be taking a day to itself to remember our team member who always had the loudest laugh.

Antoine has meant a great deal for Expatica. He was the personification of the Expatica Family. He co-developed Expatica almost from the very start. He started the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair, which is now in its 12th edition. It is impossible to mention everything he did for Expatica in the 12 years he was a part of the team. His boundless and infectious energy led to many initiatives and successes.

Antoine will never return, but he will always be part of the Expatica Family, forever known as its most important, energetic, loyal, likeable, committed, sympathetic, best member with the loudest laugh. He will never be forgotten.

Expatica

Should anyone wish to leave a message in memory of Christiene, Antoine, Simone, Quint and Pijke, please feel free to do so at the family’s memoriam Facebook page.