Crowdfunding effort overwhelms Amsterdam student robbed on Christmas

A crowdfunding action started to help Amsterdam student Doeta Aartsma restart her business after her equipment was stolen from her home over Christmas, is gaining support. So far about a third of the 10 thousand euros she needs has been raised.

"I actually feel very rich", Aartsma said to Het Parool. "You could say that I should have lost faith in humanity after this nasty experience, but because so many known and unknown people support me, that is not the case."

Aartsma was celebrating Christmas with her parents in Egmond-Binnen when a housemate called with the news that their home had been robbed, according to the newspaper. As the young owner of a business specializing in making 360 degree videos, Aartsma had a lot of expensive equipment in her room, ranging from her laptop to equipment borrowed from a lector.

All in all the 19-year-old student lost about 10 thousand euros in equipment. Aartsma initially just gave her banking details to people who offered to help her. But so many offered to do so that she finally launched a crowdfunding campaign. "I find it very difficult to ask others for financial support, but I have invested a lot in my own business. The 10 thousand euros I need to replace my own property and to compensate the stolen equipment of a teacher, I just can not afford."