TRIBUTE

A woman of strength and character

With her natural authority and sharp tongue, Grandma Dread kept the coffeeshops under her care. Difficult customers were shown the door without hesitation. Whether you were big or intimidating, Ger Verriet feared no one. She held her ground in a world that was not always easy.

It was in the 1980s that Ger, through her son Victor, entered the coffeeshop world. Victor started at a young age with the coffeeshops Jet Set and later Dreadlock, and his parents decided to help him. Their transition from a grocery store to the soft drugs sector was remarkable at the time. After her husband's death in 1995, Ger, by then known as 'Grandma Dread', remained active in the shops.

She never smoked a joint herself - she preferred a cigarette. Even when smoking indoors was banned, she stubbornly lit up her cigarette. No one dared to say anything about it; that was just Grandma. Despite physical decline in her later years, she remained strong and steadfastly refused to go to a care facility. "I'm not going to live among all those old folks," she always said.

A big heart for everyone

In a male-dominated world, Grandma Dread became the face of calm and authority. She exuded a calm, yet resolute energy that everyone respected. Her granddaughter Rachelle remembers how her grandmother personally threw out many troublemakers. "Everyone had respect for her," she says.

But Grandma Dread was more than just strict. She was also a warm, caring woman who was always ready to listen. Customers entrusted her with their deepest secrets, and she often provided meals for them. On the street, she was known for her kindness and her involvement with the homeless.

Grandma Dread was a phenomenon, both within and outside Nijmegen. Her name was known far beyond the city, and even on vacation in Bonaire, she was recognized. She remained active in the coffeeshops until 2012, caring for her staff and customers until the very end.

Her legacy lives on

On Sunday, December 19th 2021, Ger Verriet passed away after a heart attack. Three years later, in 2024, we still honor the woman who left her mark on Nijmegen and far beyond. Her stories and memories live on in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. Grandma Dread may no longer be with us physically, but her legacy remains vibrant and inspiring, a lasting source of strength and respect in the community.