Quote:We found it incredible that everything at this station was volunteer and that Maarssen was only a small town. Over the next few days I learned that money and financing of the Fire Service in Holland is not so much a problem as it is in the UK.
After our epic photo session Arnold invited us to the station bar where we had a couple of cold beers - the bar is bigger and more well stocked than most pubs and taverns I have seen and apparently the fire station is like a social club at weekends!
Many volunteer firehouses here in New Jersey and other areas of nearby states that I've visited over the years also have social halls with similar bars, many of them having club liquor licenses just like veterans posts. Maybe it's because our state was once a Dutch colony.
Rich Dean, Butler, New Jersey, USA
Member of Kinney Hose Co. 1, Butler Fire Dept. since 1973, Fire Police Officer since 2000
Dispatcher at Butler Police Communications from March 1975 to July 2009
Secretary of North Jersey Volunteer Firemen's Association since 1980
Member of Tri-Boro First Aid Squad (volunteer ems) since 2000 as a driver
Member of many Yahoogroups, owner of some such as:
[post="0"]FirematicEvents Yahoogroup[/post]the place to for listing and discussion of any event by a public safety organization.
[post="0"]RailfanEvents Yahoogroup[/post]
[post="0"]Railpics Yahoogroup[/post]
Member of Kinney Hose Co. 1, Butler Fire Dept. since 1973, Fire Police Officer since 2000
Dispatcher at Butler Police Communications from March 1975 to July 2009
Secretary of North Jersey Volunteer Firemen's Association since 1980
Member of Tri-Boro First Aid Squad (volunteer ems) since 2000 as a driver
Member of many Yahoogroups, owner of some such as:
[post="0"]FirematicEvents Yahoogroup[/post]the place to for listing and discussion of any event by a public safety organization.
[post="0"]RailfanEvents Yahoogroup[/post]
[post="0"]Railpics Yahoogroup[/post]