Dear Bram and Yulia,

It is a special day, for you, for everyone here present and certainly also for your parents, for Larissa and Oleg, and for Dick and me.

On the way to this day, this life-event, in which you begin a new chapter, Dick and I have regularly looked back at how Bram, as our youngest son, brother of Daan, grew up to become the fine man who said yes to Yulia here today.

It was on a Sunday, early on the day and in tropical temperatures, that Bram was born. A Sunday child, and he has always remained that for us.

I can say that Bram went through life hopping: sweet, uninhibited and enthusiastic. A popular child who made friends wherever he went: in the neighborhood, at school, at the soccer club, the music school, the orchestra; with his many friends it was always busy around Bram.

A reflective child as well, involved in others and also early on involved in events in the big world.

As early as elementary school, he was a motivated follower of the news. There was no minister whose name he did not know and on vacations he and his brother Daan watched the eight o'clock news for us. I can still see them standing there, in the cottage, behind a makeshift cardboard TV screen, where Bram, as a 6-year-old, slissingly announced:

"In Bosnia-Herzegowina, a house is on fire."

And much to the delight of his father, nicknamed Dick Barometer, the news broadcast ended with the weather forecast: and it was always positive, sunshine, never rain, befitting how Bram is in life.

A contented child too, who asked little for himself. Sometimes too little. That Bram chose to study political science seemed a logical choice. He could use his musical talent in violin and piano lessons and in the orchestra; at least, that was how we looked at it and how we thought Bram was doing.

But that turned out to be different. It was his violin teacher who called us during his first year at university to ask if Bram couldn't also study Composition at the Conservatory. She added, "He can easily do it on top of that because he already puts so much time into composing.

When we asked Bram why he had not discussed this with us himself, his answer was: 'Yes, I thought: Daan is already doing a second study at the Conservatory, and if I am going to do that too...'.

Taking the other into account, asking little for himself, that characterizes Bram. Fortunately there was a teacher who saw that, otherwise Bram's life would probably have been much less musical and we would not have been able to sympathize, enjoy and be proud of all the beautiful work he has created.

Music is Bram's great passion, yet he chose to do another 2-year master's degree in political science in Copenhagen. It was a big hit: an interesting study, many international friends and, as conductor of the university orchestra, he was able to use his musical talent.

We have fond memories of our weekends in Copenhagen, with Bram on the conductor's podium.

And it was this choice of Copenhagen that led to our being here together. Because somewhere, high in the sky, between Copenhagen and Amsterdam, Bram and Yulia discovered each other, the spark jumped over, and they never let go of each other.

Yulia, coming from Moscow at the end of 2018, to live and work on her own, without family around her, in Amsterdam, in a rather different culture, with a different language and a different social context. Go figure! But Yulia did it and how! Very brave!

We are now more than 6 years after the memorable Copenhagen-Amsterdam flight. We got to know Yulia as a sweet, humble, intelligent, young woman, who knows what she wants. And we see how compatible Bram and Yulia are:

the importance they attach to both their families, their view of the big issues in the world, their being together with their many friends, enjoying concerts, opera and ballet together, it binds and connects them in love for each other.

And, Bram and Yulia, you have successfully passed your first stress test: I am referring to your search on Amsterdam's overheated housing market: constantly visiting houses with so many other prospective buyers, making offers, being outbid all the time and then, once you had made the highest offer, the purchase could not go through.

Many frustrations, but with hindsight they were not for nothing: you did manage to cash the best opportunity, a beautiful apartment at 40 Buiten Kadijken, and together you made it a beautiful and warm home.

Dear Yulia, the arrival of Bram, on that warm Sunday, has filled our lives with love and pride for over 35 years. And now he is your husband and you are his wife and our dear daughter-in-law. We are happy and proud!

We wish you much happiness together: go for it, love each other, in good days and in not so good days, make it a lasting composition, a duet, each with its own sound, in harmony with each other and with all those you love.

Let this be our wedding blessing; and know that Dick's and my door is always open to you!

Hilde and Dick,

Diemen, June 6, 2025