Three years passed since the Spitak earthquake - the summer holiday of 1991 was the third that children of Leninakan spent without former happiness and carelessness.

However, for some of them that holiday became unforgettable. The Kingdom of the Netherlands decided to help out Armenians and return some joy, buried under the ruins of the town, to the children.

13-year-old Artur Hayrapetyan was one of the Leninakan children who spent the summer holiday with Dutch families.

25 years later Moscow-based Artur Hayrapetyan, now a 38-year-old man, told Mediamax about his Dutch holiday and the unusual return home.

The earthquake took Artur’s mother from him. He lived in Leninakan with his father, brother, and relatives. Artur stayed at the Sloekers family’s house with another kid from Leninakan.

Nic is playing with Artur

Photo: from Artur Hayrapetyan’s archive

“They were very kind to us and gave us lots of presents. It was a small town. They were an elderly couple. Their 25-year-old son Nic lived with them in the two-storey house,” Artur recalled.

“We didn’t really care about the language barrier as kids. We found common ground very quickly. We spoke English we learned at school in Leninakan. We even tried to translate Armenian jokes into English. They would always pray before the meal and sleep. For us, Soviet children, it was very unusual, but we did not violate the traditions of the house and closed our eyes too, waiting for the meal at the table. We were asked many questions about Armenia, and I found my history teacher grandmother’s stories very useful. I also told them stories I heard from my great grandmother, who survived the Armenian Genocide,” Artur told.

The Leninakan children met with Queen Beatrix in the Netherlands. This event was covered in a newspaper, but unfortunately, Artur didn’t keep the copy.

In the Armenian church in Amsterdam

Photo: from Artur Hayrapetyan’s archive

In two months they found new friends, visited plenty of tourist attractions and recreation centers, played games. Every Saturday they were taken to an Armenian or Catholic church.

The Leninakan children at a game center

Photo: from Artur Hayrapetyan’s archive

However, the return to Armenia wasn’t as easy.

“We went to the Netherlands from the Soviet Union, and came after the August coup attempt and the USSR was on the verge of collapse. It was late August or early September. Our plane landed in Sheremetyevo Airport, and they refused to send us to Armenia. They said that Armenia should send an airplane or fuel to take us home,” Artur told.

The children reached Moscow at night. They were denied a shelter in the airport and had to sleep at the entrance. They had nowhere to go, so they decided to sleep right on their suitcases. They were just settling when shots fired at the airport entrance. The children found themselves in the middle of a shoot-out between the police and some thugs.

Policemen noticed the kids, surrounded them and shielded from the bullets. One of them ordered to lie down and hide behind the luggage. Another policeman went to the airport managers and demanded to let the children in.

“I am grateful to the policemen from Sheremetyevo Airport, who protected us, risking their lives, and the officer who interfered in that difficult moment,” Artur said.

The Leninakan children in the Netherlands

Photo: from Artur Hayrapetyan’s archive

They spent two days at the airport, sleeping wherever they found a place. Finally, Armenia organized their return.

Artur came back to Leninakan, to his family, bringing happy memories of two calm months and his gratitude to the Dutch family and people.

He told that he became very close with the Sloekers, and they exchanged letters when Artur returned to Armenia. However, troubled times arrived in the country, and that connection was lost. But Artur says he still hopes to find the people who gave him two months of happiness a quarter-century ago.

Marie Taryan

Photos from Artur Hayrapetyan’s archive