ALL ANTWERP. “There is nothing to see in Hoevenen” (Antwerp)
Every weekday our reporter and photographer pick a casual passer-by off the street for a nice conversation. Want everyone has a story. And certainly in Antwerp. Today: Walter Bastiaenssens (69).
Rebecca Van Remoortere
“There is nothing to see in Hoevenen. I live there, but you can’t just go and have a drink there. you have to be in Antwerp. So I come a few times a week with my electric bike from Hoevenen to the city to drink a coffee. I prefer to go to the Pakt in Berchem, to the Black & Yellow Coffee bar at Joke van Viggo’s on De Coninckplein. I already switch. When you’re retired, you’ll all have time for that.”
“In the beginning I had a very difficult time with that pension. I had a lot of trouble doing nothing. I was a prevention advisor at Katoen Natie the dock. That was a varied and fun job. I got on well with my boss, he let me do it. As long as I got my work certificate, it was fine. I missed it there for a long time. Now I’m over it, but it took a really long time.”
“Now I try to plan something every day. Tomorrow I’m going to watch the golf of some comrades in Ranst. Then I cycle along the canal to there. I never take the car again, but always go by bike. I used to play competitive volleyball in the distant past and my knee still bears the consequences. Fortunately, there is now like an electric bicycle.”