AMSTERDAM — Hennie van Andel-Schipper became the oldest Dutch person ever on Friday, reaching the impressive milestone of 113 years and 89 days.

The previous record was held by Catharina Angenieta van Dam-Groeneveld, who was born on 20 November 1887 and lived 113 years and 88 days. She died in her birth town of Leiden on 16 February 2001.

The new record holder was born on 29 June 1890 and remains in good health. She lives at the Westerkim retirement village in Hoogeveen in the north of the country, Dutch associated press ANP reported.

She is an avid fan of the Ajax football club and receives a flower from the club every birthday. The royal family lover also met Queen Beatrix in person last year, to make up for the cancellation of the Monarch’s visit to Hoogeveen on Queen’s Day 2001 due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

The director of the retirement village, J. Beijering, said Van Andel-Schipper has difficulty hearing and seeing and admitted her walking abilities have also declined, but her “upstairs room” is fine and she is otherwise in good health.

Despite the new record, no extra festivities were being planned for Friday, with Beijering saying the nation’s oldest woman had enjoyed a party in June when she turned 113 and will simply receive extra attention. Mind you, Beijering said, Van Andel-Schipper definitely enjoys the attention.

On her last birthday, Van Andel-Schipper also said her days were often spent waiting for breakfast, morning tea and so forth, prompting her to say that eventually people wait for their deaths. Nevertheless, Van Andel-Schipper cheerfully said she could also live to be a 120.

[Copyright Expatica News 2003]

Subject: Dutch news