BODEMGEHEIMEN

The story of Cees, one of the six characters from Huis van Hilde who was featured in this experience:

Cees is a young father who lived in the stone age forests in the northern part of the Netherlands. He has a twelve-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter. In his tribe, he is known for his courage and hunting skills. He is considered the leader of his tribe. One day he was hunting with a group of men. Cees his son was allowed to join them for the first time and carried the arrows from his father's bow. Suddenly they came across a bear! Oh no! The bear attacked the men fiercely and stormed off toward ... Cees' son! Bravely, Cees jumped forward in an attempt to save him! 

"Ah, look at that! You found my axe! I always carried that on my hip. You never know when you might need it. I would have given it to my son on his sixteenth birthday. Unfortunately, I did not survive the attack by the bear that day. When he ran at us, I would not have hesitated for a moment to jump in front of it, and save my son's life!

I was seriously injured on my legs...the bear had a big grip on me with its mouth and with its claws. The others managed to chase the bear away. And to take me back to our village. But it was soon clear that I had already lost far too much blood... and was not going to survive.

I gave the axe to my son. Who not many years later would follow in my footsteps as leader of the tribe. He wore a bear tooth on a chain around his neck since small... And later my axe on his hip. I am glad it happened that way. I died to protect my tribe. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The only thing I wish I had remembered is who my real father was..."