Mr. Smits was sent by the Dutch Volunteers Foundation to Los Llanos, Colombia for a two-year project. There, on January 1, 1965, at exactly 6:00 PM, he met Mrs. Smits during the annual Ferias de Cali. They danced, fell in love, and subsequently married on February 5, 1966. That same year, the couple moved to the Netherlands.
In 1968, their first daughter was born, and Mr. Smits was offered a job in Canada through family and acquaintances. Because Mrs. Smits felt homesick for Colombia and felt Canada was closer to Colombia, they departed for Canada in 1968 aboard the SS Maasdam and settled in the province of Alberta. In 1969, their second daughter was born there. The children had a wonderful childhood in Canada, but in 1989 the family moved back to the Netherlands. The couple now also has five grandchildren, whom they greatly enjoy.
Mr. and Mrs. Smits share a passion for traveling. Family and friends in Canada and Colombia were also regularly visited. Furthermore, they both love dancing to Colombian music. Mr. Smits is still busy with photography and repairing household appliances. Mrs. Smits enjoys cooking and drinking coffee with her friends.
The couple looks back with great pleasure on the 60 years they have spent together. The different cultures they have encountered have greatly enriched their lives. Their formula for such a long marriage is doing as much as possible together, never taking anything for granted, and saying “I love you” every day.
They celebrated their wedding anniversary at home with family, children, grandchildren, and friends.