Couple celebrates 60 years of marriage with visit from Harlingen mayor
Klaas Haijma and Maria Degenaars from Harlingen marked their diamond wedding anniversary after six decades of marriage. Mayor Ina Sjerps personally congratulated the couple, highlighting their lifelong journey across the Netherlands and their enduring love story.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Couple | Klaas Haijma & Maria (Riet) Degenaars |
| Anniversary | 60 years (Diamond) |
| Wedding Location | Hoofddorp Town Hall |
| Current Residence | Harlingen, Fryslân |
| Mayor’s Visit | Ina Sjerps |
| Children | 3 |
| Grandchildren | 2 |
| Previous Residences | Haarlemmermeer, Texel |
| Marriage Year | 1966 |
Local mayors in the Netherlands often recognize significant milestones in residents' lives, such as anniversaries, to foster community engagement. This visit by Mayor Ina Sjerps underscores the municipality’s role in celebrating and honoring long-standing citizens.
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Read the full translated article below
Diamond wedding anniversary for couple Haijma Degenaars
Tuesday, March 15, 2026, was a day of celebration for Klaas Haijma and Maria (Riet) Degenaars from Harlingen. Exactly sixty years had passed since they exchanged vows at the town hall in Hoofddorp, a decision they have never regretted. Mayor Ina Sjerps paid them a visit to congratulate them on this milestone.
The Afslag in Berlikum
Klaas was born in Sint Annaparochie. After completing his education, he worked for a few years at the vegetable auction De Afslag in Berlikum. Following his military service in Suriname, he moved to the Haarlemmermeer in 1962. There, he began working for the municipality in the accounting department. At the time, all invoices were paid in cash, and he had to visit the bank weekly to withdraw money. It was there that he met a bank employee: Riet. Their mutual interest was not without consequence. Klaas not only withdrew money from the bank but also found his great love.
Riet lived in Nieuw Vennep, and marriage soon followed. In 1966, they were given a house in Nieuw Vennep and got married. Together, they had three children and later two grandchildren. As they were not fond of big cities, and it was already clear that the Haarlemmermeer would grow rapidly, the family moved to the beautiful island of Texel in 1982. Klaas began working in the Finance department of the municipality there. Riet also worked in the same department during the summer months, handling tourist administration.
Choice for Harlingen
In 2002, Klaas retired and enjoyed his free time. As their children lived on the mainland and traveling by boat became increasingly difficult for both, Klaas and Riet decided to move back to the mainland themselves. Since they do not speak Frisian, they chose Harlingen. In 2017, they moved to Harlingen, where they found a beautiful home. Since then, they have been living there with great pleasure.