In a warm atmosphere filled with Surinamese music, the National Library of Aruba received a special gift: a private collection belonging to the writer Lou Lichtveld, better known as Albert Helman. He is known for books such as “De Stille Plantage” and “Amor ontdekt Aruba.” The latter was written by Lou at the request of Mr. Henny Eman (grandfather), who wished for Helman to write “something unique” about Aruba. This resulted in “Amor ontdekt Aruba,” a book that also brought recognition to our island through literature.
The couple Henri and Ida Does, who were friends of Lou Lichtveld during his stay in Aruba, were entrusted with the task of donating Helman’s book collection to the National Library after his passing. This beautiful wish and gesture has now been fulfilled 29 years after Lou’s death in 1996.
The evening featured speeches by Ms. Astrid Britten, director of the National Library, Mr. Henri and Mrs. Ida Does, Mr. Wim Rutgers and Prime Minister Eman. The collection was symbolically handed over by the Does couple to the Prime Minister, who then passed it on to director Britten, who in turn delivered it to Mr. Renwick Heronimo of the Arubiana-Caribiana Department of the National Library.
Parliamentarian Xiomara Maduro attended the event to thank Mr. and Mrs. Does and to congratulate the National Library on this valuable gift. “It was a very interesting evening, where through each speech we learned a bit more about Mr. Lou Lichtveld as the writer Albert Helman and as a multi-talented Surinamese,” Maduro expressed.
Press Release Xiomara Maduro
