THE DUTCH ON KYTHIRA IN THE 1960'S
In 1960, George and Anna Koksma arrived on Kythira, responding to a 1956 request by Bishop Meletios Galanopoulos to the World Council of Churches to improve living conditions. This website documents their projects on the island until 1971.
Two fragments from Jean Bingen’s diary:
Sunday, January 28th, 1962
10:15 AM: Departure from Arnhem train station in the Netherlands. Our destination: Kythira, a remote Greek island where we, a group of civil engineering students from the HTS (High Technical College) in Arnhem, will embark on a six-month internship with a Dutch development team under the World Council of Churches.
The selection process was rigorous, and we were chosen from a pool of eager candidates. We were warned: no shorts, no fraternizing with girls, and expect a dry, barren landscape. With public transportation being scarce, my trusty motor scooter seemed like a wise decision.
Thursday, February 1st, 1962
We* arrived in Kapsali around 1:30 AM, disembarking our ferry via small rowing boats amidst a choppy sea. With no landing stage, we found ourselves clambering over luggage to reach the shore. Taxis transported us to Chora, where the office and team house were located. Our accommodations, a house shared with four others, was situated behind the Agia Anna church, offering a breathtaking view of Kapsali’s two bays from its balcony.
*Erik Boekaar, Wessel Breunisse, Martin Klerkx and Jean Bingen
**Chora is the capital of Kythira island
