
Dear NLC Friends,
When I first heard the sad news that Martin van Brugge, Mr. Martinair in Canada, had passed away, I thought back to the NLC Christmas luncheons, where Martin generously donated Martinair tickets for the raffle. We had fun on stage when Martin and the KLM rep joked about their airlines. Martin’s calm disposition and his friendliness will always be remembered.
Our thoughts are with Lia and the family.
I want to share a picture of our two Martins, both sadly missed.
Henny G Baljet
In Loving Memory of Marinus Andries van Brugge (Martin van Brugge)
With heavy hearts, we announce the unexpected passing of Marinus Andries van Brugge, known to many as Martin van Brugge, on February 5, 2025, at 83.
He left this world too soon due to a sudden blood infection, leaving behind a family who deeply loves and misses him.
Martin was born on June 9, 1941, in the Netherlands to Andries and Margareta van Brugge.
Alongside his beloved sister Wil, he grew up in a time of profound hardship, witnessing the occupation during World War II, the Liberation by the Canadians, Americans, and British, and the incredible rebuilding of a nation. These experiences shaped him into the resilient and compassionate man he would become.
Martin proudly served as an officer in the Royal Dutch Air Force before channelling his passion for transportation into a career with the Netherlands Railways, where he delighted in showing both foreigners and locals the beauty of Holland. His love for culture and travel led him to master multiple languages and become a respected tour operator in Amsterdam. During this time, he met the love of his life, Laetitia van Kamende. Their love story began in the early 1960s, and a few years later, they married in the picturesque resort town of Zandvoort, a place that would become their cherished home.
Their journey together took them across Europe, always with their daughter, Sabine, in tow. Martin’s expertise and charisma led him to work for Arthur Frommer, expanding the renowned “Europe on $5 a Day” travel guides. He thrived in curating unforgettable experiences, organizing tours, and managing logistics, ultimately becoming a bridge between travellers and the cultures he so dearly loved. His warmth, humility, and genuine interest in others brought him lifelong friendships across continents.
In the quaint lakeside village of Vinkeveen, near Amsterdam, Martin and Lia built a home where their son Michael was born. There, Martin dedicated himself to expanding Arthur Frommer International’s tour operations before embarking on his next great adventure—immigrating to Canada in 1979. His mission was clear – to bring more Europeans to Canada and more Canadians to the Netherlands.
This passion led Martin to Martinair Holland, a Dutch charter airline offering affordable transatlantic flights. For nearly 30 years, Martin proudly represented Holland in Canada, growing the airline’s reach from occasional flights to a weekly service, then twice-weekly, before further expanding to include Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. As Martinair’s “topman” in Canada, Martin’s dedication helped forge stronger ties between Canada and the Netherlands, a tribute to the country that had played such a pivotal role in his family’s history.
Beyond his career, Martin was a devoted family man who found great joy in his retirement. He cherished every moment spent with his grandchildren—Ben-Willem, Sofia, and Lucas—who adored their Opa. A voracious reader with an ever-growing collection of books, he found comfort in literature, legendary jazz, and reminiscing about his travels. However, his greatest joy was always his family, particularly the quiet moments spent with his beloved Lia, children, and grandchildren.
Martin is predeceased by his dear sister, Wil, and her husband, Ronald van Kanten. He is survived by their children, Marvin and Ryan, along with their spouses and children. He leaves behind his loving wife, Laetitia, his cherished daughter Sabine and her husband Mark, their children Ben-Willem, Sofia, and Lucas, as well as his devoted son Michael and his wife, Marjorie.
Martin’s kindness, wisdom, and generosity touched countless lives. He was a man who brought people together, a storyteller, a mentor, and a true gentleman. While our hearts ache in his absence, we take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on in the many lives he touched.
We invite family and friends to join us in celebrating Martin’s life this spring in Zandvoort.
We will miss you forever, Martin. You were our father, husband, mentor, inspiration, and heart. May you rest in peace.
NLC Membership 2024/2025
We have not charged a membership fee since 2023. We need your support to continue organizing events, day trips and more. If you paid for your 2023 membership, it is valid from January 1, 2023, until December 1, 2024. If you did not pay your NLC dues in 2023 or 2024, please send a cheque for $25.00 p.p. for the 2025 NLC membership fee, valid from November 1, 2024, until December 1, 2025.
Please send a cheque payable to Netherlands Luncheon Club, c/o NLC, 44 Bartlett Drive, Seguin, ON, P2A 2W8. Or send an e-transfer mentioning your name on the e-transfer. Email: netherlandsluncheonclub@gmail.com
For more information, contact Henny Groenendijk by phone at 905- 465- 5771 or by email: Hennyg2020@gmail.com. Visit https://www.netherlandsluncheonclub.ca/
TOT ZIENS/SEE YOU SOON!
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