Seniors' Council from Belgian Bocholt visits Bocholt

27 senior citizens from the Belgian twin town of Bocholt were guests in Bocholt last Wednesday. The occasion was the regular reciprocal visit by the senior citizens' councils of both cities, which has been fuelling the twinning relationship for many years. The group was accompanied on their visit by members of the Bocholt Seniors' Advisory Council, the City of Bocholt's Seniors' Officer, Sarah Bußmann, and the European Affairs Officer, Petra Taubach.

The day began at LernWerk Bocholt with an official welcome from Mayor Christian Mangen. "I was able to experience just a fortnight ago with an official delegation in Belgian Bocholt how warm and lively our partnership is. It is all the more wonderful to continue this bond here today with the meeting of the seniors' councils", he said. Edeltraud Chrysanthou, Chairwoman of the Bocholt Seniors' Council, also welcomed the guests. She was delighted to be taking part in this exchange for the first time. Marc Voets, Chairman of the Seniors' Council from Belgian Bocholt, thanked the guests for their welcome and presented them with two vases from a local Belgian ceramics workshop. They belong together and show the letters BOCH on one vase and OLT on the other. Both show the bond between our two twin towns," said Voets.

After the welcome, the group was given a guided tour of the LernWerk, including the roof and appendix, by Jule Wanders, Head of the Department of Culture and Education of the City of Bocholt. A short walk around the Kubaai site rounded off the first impression of Bocholt. During the lunch that followed in the Europahaus Bocholt, German and Belgian senior citizens quickly got talking to each other. The exchange built on previous encounters, which repeatedly centred on issues relating to work with senior citizens, living in old age and social commitment.

A city tour followed in the afternoon. The route took them past the Aasee lake and through the Mussum industrial park. Even some Bocholters learnt something new about their city. Finally, the group visited the LWL-Museum Textilwerk Bocholt. There, the guests were given an insight into the everyday working life of textile workers at the beginning of the 20th century. The historical looms and the steam engine in operation were particularly impressive. After the guided tour, the visit ended with free time in Bocholt city centre.