As we all know she was a splendid dancer. We both  liked Matisse. This we saw in France! One of her beloved places to go to!

I work in China. madeleine had a wonderful collection of cHina plates. She showed my work with the plates. I felt so honored!

Dearest Madeleine Eekels, I just want to let you know it was the most beautiful memorial service to imagine……..it was the truth combined with magical lies……..and your dream come true, ”The dance of the blessed spirits’’, Symbolized your beauty and elegance. And you left the building with a, ”Gracious Salut d’Amour”, danced by Chabeli…… Your sons reflected each on their own manor what you mean to them, so real and to be proud off you did a great job for all off us who love you forever…. After the Memorial we of course met some very nice friends of yours, and we went to this beautiful museum close to the Magical habitat where you have spend so many precious moments……. Big hugs and kisses for you and Herman

Hoe zij recht staat; dat ik zie
Hoe zij recht staat; dat ik zie
hoe zij dit doet door zo te staan
zoals zij gewoon is: haar voeten
iets uit elkaar, haar armen

neerhangend, haar kin iets omhoog;
zo snel denkend, dat haar stem eerst
liever wacht of het de moeite loont
om het te zeggen. Juist zij is het

die afkomstig is uit zichzelf. Al
wie haar nadering heeft herkend,
al wie haar stem heeft doordroomd:
die zal zich nooit kunnen vergeten.

Hoe onmooi is haar schoonheid.
En hoe welluidend op haar handpalm
alles zal kunnen verstuiven tot het
nooit heeft willen bestaan.

[Hans Faverey 1985] 

Dear Madeleine,

More than ten years we have enjoyed your sparkling presence, be it as co-organiser and member of our artlovers group or member of the Kunst in de Kamer Committee. Your wide knowledge, love of all art forms, your generous hospitality at  your home for chamber concerts and meetings, your enthousiasm and support of musicians, particularly the  younger ones was most remarkable.  You were and will remain an inspiring example. Your photo reminds us of the intensity of  your enjoyment.

Catherine and Werner Ruinen

Liebe Maxeleine,

Was haben wir doch für schöne Stunden zusammen mit Hermann, Reto, Dir und mir gehabt hier in Klosters, im Wynegg am Stammtisch, in der Chesa Grischuna oder im Berghaus Vereina bei Köbi gehabt!! Wir hatten so viel Spass zusammen, ich werde das nie vergessen. Du fehlst auch hier in Klosters. Meine Gedanken begleiten Dich auf Deiner Reise. - Ganz herzlich. Uschi à Porta

From the first moment Madeleine saw Roan dancing at Dansers Studio, she believed in him and his talent.
Now he is a student at the Royal Conservatory The Haque and played in Billy Elliot the musical the part of Billy Elliot.
Madeleine came many times to the theatre to watch him. We are gratefull for her advice, support and loving.
We are also gratefull that we've got the opportunity to know her. Madeleine we love you and you'll be loved and missed forever. 

Since Jacqueline was 16 years old, Madeleintje has been a very special part of her life. Madeleintje and Herm were her home away from home family in the Klingelaan.  The many times she sat at her kitchen table discussing study plans, boyfriend problems and much more…. A glass of wine always did a lot of good!

Madeleintje and Herm had an engagement party for us, it was so much fun sharing our friends and family with them, this made her even more part of our family.

The thing that we will remember most about madeleintje is her genuine interest she had not only for us but also for others. She was always interested in what you were doing and what you had to say.  She alsways made you feel good about what you were doing. 

We will miss being able to spend Thanksgiving together, those moments were great.

Jacqueline, Onno, Julie and Laurence 

Madeleine and I shared the same grandmother. Always with a cigarette between her lips, brushing the ashes off her bosom. She was an unconventional oma with a big heart. When her daughter returned from Indonesia as a widow and had to work hard to support her family, she was the one who practically raised little Madeleine and her brother. And in the post WW2 housing shortage she welcomed her youngest son, my dad his wife and daughter to come and stay with her. Madeleine loved oma and she must have told me, her younger cousin, the potato story a hundred times - even a few weeks before she passed away.
Oma would sit with a pail of potatoes between her legs and when she'd peeled one she'd give it to me. I was then supposed to throw the potato into a a bucket filled with water 3 meters away. The living room was soaking wet, I danced with joy and oma held her tummy laughing and laughing.

dear memories.....
den haag  I was just born; the baby on the pictures in May 1946.
The worldwar2 was just finished.our house (oma Koot and my mothers) just saved.
In 1948 I had my special-diner before leaving for Indie. 

My Dear Madeleine, Over 20 years of Friendship... So many beautiful moments together. Thank you for the Laughs, the Creativity, the Amazing Talks we had, the Support you gave, the Pragmatic Wisdom you offered when needed, the incredible time spent together.

It has been a great pleasure working for and with you at Dancers Studio. Being part of this very special team of people you gathered, which often felt like family, has been pure Joy and Inspiration to me. I miss you already... RIP my Dear Friend.

 Madeleine was a Fulbright scholar attending the University of Arkansas in 1959.  This is from the Razorback, the yearbook, that year. She was elected St. Patricia by the School of Engineering students. Her talent for that contest was (surprise) dance.  

In 2012 Madeleine organised a party for her family of her mother's side (Koot). The family had not met in many years because of the early death of my parents (Jaques and Gien Koot), the early death of my uncle (Wim Koot) and my aunt, Madeleine's mother (Willy van Galen-Last-Koot). Madeleine managed to trace all family members and invited them in her house. 
It was great to meet after so many years most family members. It was a very nice come-together so well organised by Madeleine, with good Indonesian food, in the tradition of our family.
Unfortunately, there was no follow-up after that time. But we carry good memories of that day.
Thanks, Madeleine and rest in peace.

Jaap Koot (your cousin) 

Dear Madeleine, you always were, are and will be for me not only fantastically clever, original and charming person, but also the ONE, who supported me when I needed it most.
In the distant 1995 you offered me to play for your classes. Soon after I started, my mother died and I went to Russia for the funeral. In two weeks after my coming back there was an annual performance where you presented all your students. On the day of the performance you told me:"Start the concert. Play whatever you want. It has to be the tribute to your Mother".
In the dimly lit hall I played the G. Sviridov's "Romance" from "Snowstorm".
Now, parting with you, I want to send you this magnificent music, which, I believe, will help you in your flight to Eternity.
Always with love,
Valentina.

A note from Madeleine to her sons about meeting the King :)

--------

Dear ones,

You have to keep your fingers crossed for me on Saturday .

In this yearly commemoration of the capitulation of the Japanese in Indonesia , former Dutch East Indies , the King will attend the ceremony .

He asked to meet some people , afterwards , who were interred in the camps there.

18 were selected , I am one of them. He will meet with us at tables in a hotel nearby, alternated by the prime minister.

Quite an honor .

I am going to wear a dress , which I bought on sale for 20 Eu in London !!! But really nice .

Since I have been locked into my house for 2 weeks with those terrible painfull bruised ribs , which I got on Aug 2 , after a bad fall over my gardenhose in the garden , I have not been out .

I am a bit scared that I will still have these painspasms ! I yell , when I have one ....God forbid I do that at the table with the King . You all can pick me up in the Psych ward then .....

Therefore you will have to keep your fingers crossed or say Holy Mary 's for me

Love , mom

PS I wonder whether the King remembers that I was his daughters ' ballet teacher !!

Sent from my iPad

I was amazed when I came across this newspaper article in my mother's scrap book. She had never told me about the occasion. I especially love the nuanced dialog. Grace amidst tension between an infamous male segregationist state Governor (and WWII veteran) and a 20 year old female Japanese concentration camp survivor from a Dutch colony whose father died fighting before liberation by Allied forces.

Soooooo many themes...Colonialism, world war, European reconstruction, education, slavery, racism, segregation, patriarchy and on and on. How fascinating.

Sweetest Madje.......unfortunately I knew this moment was coming..... The 19th of July 2015 was the last time I saw you in person it was such a beautifull one. You and my mom Lucy (as you called her) where going to Kloosters, what you always did by train. I came to wave The best friends forever goodbye meeting up at: Restaurant de eerste Klas at platform 1 at Central station Amsterdam. You ordered your favorite dish: Gebakken lever met uitjes en spek, (baked liver with onions and bacon). And I had a traditional Hollandse garnaaltjes cocktail, (Dutch schrimp cocktail). During dinner I said I would love to come along with you girls, and you said.....damn how stupid why didn't we think about that earlier..... Last minute I did some shopping at the stations shops, fresh Orange Juice, News papers, nuts, licorice and pain au chocola.....for breakfast awakening in the train the following morning. And of course we where at the correct platform 15 minutes before departure......plenty of time to say good bye...... not knowing this was really the last time...... I am proud remembering that when I was a little girl practicing classical ballet you saw me as the daughter you never had.....and sending me letters and pictures from Nashville Tennessee......! Love you forever and missing you I have to get used to...... Katrien XXX

I had the honor of receiving a Fulbright Award to study contemporary dance in New York City. But I think the best thing of the award was the fact that Madeleine was asked to hand me the award since she had also received it for dance. In this photo she and Ambassador Hartog Levin are handig over the award, but the logistics seemed overly complicated with two pieces of paper at that time, which made all of us laugh! 
She was such an inspiration to many of us and we continued to see eachother through the board of the Netherlands Fulbright Alumni Association and when we went to see performances together or talk about the dance world in The Netherlands and in the United States. I am extremely grateful to have met her and to have had her in my life.