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How this area couple found a second chance at love through an online game

Owners of Dutch Treats Rob and Tina Bots share their love story that started out as a long distance, online relationship
Feb12robandtinabots
Dutch Treats owners, Rob and Tina Bots met online 10 years ago, and have been happily married since 2012. Natasha Philpott/BradfordToday

Rob and Tina Bots are the owners of the well known shop, Dutch Treats in Bradford’s downtown core. They took over the business in 2016, after Rob had been bookkeeping for the previous owners for a few years. 

The couple have been married since 2012, and their love story began online. But not on a dating website, as one might assume.

In 2009, The two were recently divorced, and would frequently go online to play the war game, Evony to destress and escape reality for a bit.

Rob was playing all the way from his home in The Netherlands, while Tina played from her home in Bradford. 

Tina started playing the game after seeing an advertisement for it on another website.

“I just went online and I was bored,” she said. “The people (gamers) gave me an outlet to offload, because they don’t know me (personally).” 

The game room which they both frequented had about 40 members in it from all over the world, including people from Denmark, Norway, the U.K., the U.S, and Canada.

In the game, players can communicate using online messaging or video messaging with headsets and Skype. The pair would see each other online, but didn't actually speak to one another until 2010. 

“I never really talked to her (Tina), I left that group and went to play somewhere else,” remembers Rob.

But months later, closer to the end of 2010, he decided to come back and play with the original group again. 

When he returned, the group’s administrator made a comment to Rob, "Tina will be happy to have you back,” which left Rob wondering why Tina, a player all the way in Canada, would be pleased to have him back in the group, when they never even spoke before.

Tina also had no idea why the administrator made the comment, but is happy she did. 

“We still have no idea why she said that,” reflects Rob, but it did get them talking in the first place.  

“Maybe she knew something?” guessed Tina, indicating it was maybe a sign or a prediction of the future. 

After the comment, the pair got to talking, not only via online message, but through Skype. 

“I told my friend, you should hear his voice, he’s got a great accent! Because I’ve got a thing for accents,” Tina remembers. 

Their first conversations between the two were mainly about the game and different playing techniques, but slowly transitioned to more personal conversation. 

During one of their conversations, Tina mentioned to Rob that she and a friend were planning to visit Denmark in June 2011 and that they would be making a stop in Amsterdam along the way. It was then Rob suggested he meet them there, then travel to Denmark together. 

Tina agreed. 

It was during these travel plans, that feelings started to develop between the two. 

Rob couldn’t wait until June to meet up with Tina, so he planned a visit to come visit Tina in Canada in March.

“I think you could say that’s when a couple began,” Tina smiled. 

The pair continued a long distance relationship for a few months, and shortly after the big trip to Amsterdam and Denmark in June, Rob came to Canada. 

“Two weeks after she left, I followed her,” said Rob. 

The pair were happy as could be, living together in Bradford and were married the following year in March 2012. 

“It was a small wedding,” said Rob. 

Friends and family joined in their celebration at a “quaint little place” in Etobicoke called, The Applewood House, followed by a catered dinner at their home. 

“It was nice,” said Tina. 

Rob eventually went on to study bookkeeping at Everest College, which is how he ended up working for the owner’s of Dutch Treats in 2014. 

Then in 2016, the owners of Dutch Treats approached Rob about taking over the business, and the pair have been running it together ever since. 

“Most days are great,” explained Tina. “We do have some times where we butt heads, but usually we just talk it out.”

“It’s taken us a while, but I think we have a plan for the store, more than we ever did before. We have a vision, whereas before we were going with the flow,” Tina noted about their venture in business together. 

“Communication, and trying to understand the otherside,” noted Rob about his advice for a successful relationship. 

For Valentine’s Day this year, the couple will be working, but have yet to figure out their evening plans. 

“We spend everyday together, so it’s like Valentine’s Day everyday,” smiled Tina. 


Natasha Philpott

About the Author: Natasha Philpott

Natasha is the Editor for BradfordToday and InnisfilToday. She graduated from the Media Studies program at The University of Guelph-Humber. She lives in Bradford with her husband, two boys and two cats.
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