Joeri Cools, a 53-year-old former taxi driver from Ghent, Belgium, has inherited a property valued at 500,000 euros from a long-term customer.
The bequest follows an eighteen-year professional relationship with a woman named Annie, who consistently chose Cools’ taxi during her weekly travels from Brussels to Ghent.
The inheritance, confirmed by a notary’s letter received by Cools in September 2026, stems from a testament established in 2011. According to the Dutch public broadcaster NOS, Annie passed away in June 2025 at the age of 81. While three of her close friends were also named as beneficiaries of separate apartments, the house left to Cools increases his wealth, despite the substantial tax obligations attached to the transfer.
Cools, who left the taxi industry in 2023, reflected on the bond that developed during their frequent trips. “In all those years I have transported thousands of people,” Cools stated to the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. “For me, it never mattered who got in; everyone deserved the same care, attention, and respect.”
Their conversations often spanned personal histories. Cools shared details of a difficult upbringing characterized by foster care and family hardship, while Annie recounted her life as a sociology student, her youth, and her lifelong commitment to social engagement. “Because she had no family of her own, she apparently wanted to determine very consciously where her assets went, to avoid them being lost,” Cools explained.
The financial reality of the inheritance is tempered by Belgian tax law. Calculations by the Flemish public broadcaster VRT indicate that Cools faces a tax liability of 358,750 euros on the property. Should he choose to sell the house, he would retain approximately 140,000 euros from the transaction.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Tax Liability | 358,750 EUR |
| Potential Net Proceeds | 140,000 EUR |
| Testament Date | 2011 |
| Benefactor Death | June 2025 |
The relationship was defined by a consistent routine. Upon arriving in Ghent by train, Annie would actively seek out Cools’ vehicle. “You I know, you I trust,” she would tell him upon entering the taxi. This level of trust remained constant until their final professional interaction in 2021.
As of November 10, 2026, the administrative processing of the estate is still underway.
