Gertjan's parents, Koos and Driena van Stam - van Eijk, visit the family, in their festive season. On 12 September 2011 it had been 50 years ago that their marriage took place in Bergambacht, Netherlands. Now, fifty years later, this was remembered at Livingstone, during a day of sight seeing at the Zambezi Gorges, and during a dinner on the mighty Zambesi itself. Gertjan published the book Placemark, as it is dedicated to his parents. They were the first ones to see the book, on Kindle, this day.

Further festivities during the visit are Koos' 74th birthday on 18 September, and the birthdays of Janneke and Gertjan, also both in September.