Hague 'dies' by typo in Leeuwarden

Although the Hague Maaike Wierenga describes herself as a woman who is in full life, "she declared on January 3 by the municipality of Leeuwarden death. She only found out after last Thursday a letter on the doormat was her health insurance.

,, I was home late that day and did not want to make it directly open, '' she says. ,, When I read the letter the next day, I was shocked me rot. It was addressed to the 'next of kin of Mr. Wierenga. The company had received news of my death, and thereby stop put the insurance by January 4th.

When I was the same day to my doctor and the hospital had to, I also appeared there too no longer exist. ''

Birthdate
There appeared to be a question of mistaken identity. In the Frisian capital was created on January 3 a Mrs M. Wieringa deceased, with the exact same birthday as her almost namesake Hague. ,, Do you really not lived in Leeuwarden, she asked me yet at city hall. Though I am perhaps quite old, about some things I'm very positive. I am in my life been one time in Leeuwarden, am sitting in a café with a friend who unfortunately is deceased. I thought it was not even special. Then Groningen fun. ''

If saving grace Leeuwarden municipality sent flowers, which now kept in her room next to the excuusbos she got from The Hague earlier.

Councilman Civil Affairs Harry van der Molen from Leeuwarden regrets the embarrassing mistake. ,, As a typing error has been made ​​in its name, its data incorrectly entered the central database, '' he says. ,, Here there is a unique coincidence, but this should simply not happen. We are going to consult with Ms Wieringa straighten carefully. ''

Afterwards the Hague woman can still laugh at the Kafkaesque situations in which it finds itself, but they nevertheless have a few bad nights sleep. ,, It's weird thing to read about yourself, '' she says. ,, What still amazes me the most is that you will put in this digital age, with one push of a button from life, after it takes a lot of effort to turn all back. ''

The municipal discount card with which they can free tram ride, no longer works, and according to a letter from the Social Insurance is the accrued holiday pay from her retirement already underway. She is still waiting for positive news from its housing, while she leaves creating a new DigiD on the male filling out her tax form.

When this is all over, she can start her second life. ,, I keep all correspondence around this mistaken identity, '' she says. ,, That's nice for my kids to have the funeral as soon I'm really dead. They have the run David Bowie, who I'm a fan. Not his swansong Lazarus, but Wild is the Wind, still his best song. ''

Hotel Discount
As a concession considering alderman Harry van der Molen Ms. Wierenga invite another to come to Leeuwarden, possibly in combination with a hotel stay. ,, But we like to personally discuss with her. Hopefully, we can ensure that this lady gets a positive image of our city. ''

Nico Heemelaar / AD.nl © Jacques Zorgman