Freedom Celebrated In Prison ...

Arjan Erkel today celebrates 10 years of freedom with a lecture in a former prison in Rotterdam. On April 11, 2004 ended his hostage (as a former employee of Doctors Without Borders) from 607 days in the Russian republic of Dagestan.

When Erkel first arrives in his own house in Rotterdam, he first puts on his turntable. He puts on the record Oerend Hard, from the Dutch rock band Normaal. That helped him keeping courage during his period of hostage. "Even the guards sang the 'oe-oe-oe' sometimes loudly. I cried. I was at home, could continue with my life."

Two members of Normal perform during the lecture. On the picture you can see the band leader Bennie Jolink (37 years older now than on the video ;)) during the performance of the song Oerend Hard, with which the lecture is terminated.