Bert Broekhuis

Bert Broekhuis, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, left this world on 7 February 2026, just a few weeks shy of his 83rd birthday. Born on 14 February 1943 in the modest town of Oud‑Beijerland, Bert grew up with a curiosity that never faded—whether he was debating policy in the House of Representatives, tending his garden, or swapping stories over a steaming cup of coffee. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marloes, whose laughter he claimed was the best soundtrack to his long, public‑service career; their two children, Anna and Jasper, who inherited his love of music and mischief; and his four grandchildren, whose eyes always lit up when he pulled out his old accordion and played a tune that seemed to make the whole house sway. Bert’s public life began with a stint as an MP for the Labour Party from 1981 to 1982, a brief but passionate chapter that taught him the art of listening as much as speaking. He then turned his talents to municipal service, first as mayor of Cromstrijen from 1984 to 1988, where neighbors still recall his habit of showing up unannounced with fresh strawberries for the community fair. In 1998 he stepped in as acting mayor of Bernisse, later becoming the town’s official mayor—a role he cherished until his retirement in June 2005. Even after stepping down, Bert never stopped volunteering at the local library, tutoring teenagers in civics, and helping anyone who needed a steady hand or a listening ear. Those who worked with him remember his quiet humor—he’d slip a playful rhyme into council minutes, and his eyes would twinkle whenever someone caught the joke. Family was the anchor of Bert’s life. Sunday brunches were sacred, filled with lively debates about everything from the best way to brew coffee to the latest political headlines, all punctuated by Marloes’s famous apple pie. He loved to take his grandchildren on “adventure walks” along the nearby dunes, pointing out hidden birds and insisting they “listen to the wind” for wisdom. Those who knew him well say his greatest joy was seeing his family grow—whether it was a newborn’s first