Ribbon ceremony in Opsterland

Reinder Haakma (1955) from Beetsterzwaag

"Volunteering is part of me. It's so much fun to do and organize things. Especially when the public comes and appreciates it." This time the thanks come from a different quarter. Reinder Haakma from Beetsterzwaag has been a Member in the Order of Orange Nassau since Friday. 

Thinking he had an appointment with an artist in connection with the next edition of the Art Weekend Beetsterzwaag, Haakma cycled to the Tropical Greenhouse. But an entirely different company was waiting there. Moreover, his wife instructed him to put on a jacket already present there. 

And when he then caught sight of the company of the mayor and aldermen, the message was clear. A shower of compliments awaited Haakma under an orange sun. 

Over the years, Haakma held many volunteer positions. At the church congregation as a driver for churchgoers, but he also had both literally and figuratively the steering wheel of the PlusBus. When his sons became more enthusiastic about cycling than the boys' choir, their father became treasurer of the cycling association. And so he also helped organize the Cycling Tour of Beetsterzwaag five times.  

A true art lover, Haakma has been closely involved with the local Art Weekend for many years. And now there is something new again: the Tour d'Odense. In August, Haakma is co-organizing an event to raise money for a full-fledged Odensehuis in Beetsterzwaag. "A three-day bicycle tour of 600 kilometers from Odense to Beetsterzwaag and a walking tour of 25 kilometers. That will be a special event."

Mayor Bouwman described Haakma as an incisive personality. An administrator who thinks in solutions, takes advice seriously and knows how to connect people. "You are a connecting factor that makes processes run more smoothly."

Reinder Haakma (1955) from Beetsterzwaag
Haakma dedicates himself with heart and soul to the cultural life in Beetsterzwaag. Since 2010 he has been a volunteer at the Kunstweekend Beetsterzwaag. He is a member of the organizing committee and contributes to setting up the exhibitions and outdoor shows. As a volunteer with the Stichting Cultuur Beetsterzwaag, Haakma is involved in the annual Art Market. In addition, Haakma is chairman of the Stichting Sociaal Cultureel Vervoer Opsterland (Plusbus). In the past, Haakma was chairman and organizer of the Beetsterzwaag cycling race and treasurer of a cycling club in Drachten. He was also vas chairman of CBS De Paedwizer, chairman of a boys' choir and chairman of Stichting Recovery. 

Jan Wind (1961) from Woudrichem

Jan Wind does not know what he sees when he opens the door of 't Sweltsje, the soos above the church hall of De Levensbron on De Feart in Ureterp. A small party awaits him there, including the mayor and his entourage. "Wy soenen mei de famylje in dei fuort, but this is heel wat oars."

Immediately he is handed a neater jacket by his partner than he is wearing when he enters. This must be neat. Mayor Bouwman immediately makes it clear what is going on. Wind receives a royal decoration. He will be a member of the Order of Orange Nassau.

Jan Wind takes a seat on a bar stool and listens to the words of praise being showered upon him. The born and raised Ureterper now lives partly in the village and partly in Woudrichem in Brabant. But despite this, he is still active in the village. Just a day earlier there was a cash audit of the Tipster. 

Bouwman also describes Wind as the village's walking encyclopedia. He also rang the bells more than four hundred times at a villager's funeral. "That takes feeling and skill," Bouwman said. "But that's in the genes, your father did it too." Wind calls bell ringing a special activity. "It's very nice that at someone's farewell you can still mean something to someone else."

The surprise for Wind was great, but according to his partner, it was quite difficult to keep it a secret from him for so long. "He wol sa graach alles witte. Mar it is slagge!"

And the appreciation came in. "Very special, very special. I feel honored." And right after the kofje, he toasted this special day with an acquaintance with a romer Berenburg in hand.

Jan Wind (1961) from Woudrichem
Since1989 Wind has been a volunteer with funeral society De Laatste Eer in Ureterp, he was also a board member for many years. Hi is coordinator of bell ringing and responsible for the maintenance of the belfry. Wind has been ringing the bells during funerals and special events in Ureterp for many years. In addition, Wind has been involved in the business and cultural information magazine De Tipgever for more than 25 years. As treasurer and as manager of the website and advertisements.

Renze de Wagt (1943) from Nij Beets

A meeting of the boat committee brought Renze de Wagt to the reception room of It Damshûs in Nij Beets on Friday morning. However, the meeting was disrupted by mayor Andries Bouwman and an entourage of some fifty family members and acquaintances. Then Renze knew what time it was. 

With arms crossed, he looks around and recognizes more and more acquaintances. Renze de Wagt (81) is impressed, but is also quick to return to his role. He complements Mayor Bouwman's words where he thinks they are needed. 

In the morning when he heard on the radio about the ribbon-cutting ceremony, he thought back to last year. Then Sietske Dijkstra, co-volunteer at It Damshûs, was surprised with a royal decoration. "I did have the idea that there was some spile, but furthermore I did not stop to think that it was now my turn." 

It Damshûs has long played a role in Renze de Wagt's life. For three generations, the De Wagt family ran a SPAR store right next to the cottage that became the base of the elm loft museum. Since 1998, De Wagt has been involved as a volunteer with the museum's boat committee. 

And earlier he was also active in sports for many years. Together with his wife Anneke, for example, he was an honorary member of the now defunct korfball club Hermes. Anneke and Renze, who died eight years ago, were inseparable. "Wy hienen in winkel en alles wat wy yn it doarp dienen, koe allinnich omdat wy dat beiden graach woenen." 

For Andries Bouwman, It Damshûs is also a special place. A year and a half ago he was officially welcomed here as the new mayor of the municipality of Opsterland. Bouwman called De Wagt reliable, involved, punctual, critical and also an encourager. "But you can also be impatient. Sometimes you start activities earlier than agreed upon. You like to ask questions, but also like to hand out compliments." 

De Wagt now received the compliments of the mienskip. In the name of the King, he was appointed a member in the Order of Orange Nassau.

Renze de Wagt (1943) from Nij Beets
De Wagt has been a volunteer at It Damshûs in Nij Beets since 1998. He was active at the open-air museum as a guide, skipper and member of the boat committee, of which he was chairman for 25 years. He was co-organizer and responsible for various activities of the museum. De Wagt was also a board member of Plaatselijk Belang Nij Beets from 1997 to 2005. In a further past, between 1964 and 1979, he was a board member, chairman volunteer, youth coach and field counselor at korfball club Hermes.

Jan Quarré (1949) from Hemrik

"I would like another person to feel good about what I do. I appreciate this very much." Jan Quarré from Hemrik is impressed by Mayor Bouwman's enumeration of his good sides. And of the presentation of the medal belonging to membership in the Order of Orange Nassau.

As soon as he, in Hemrik's so familiar White Church, gets the microphone, he immediately involves others in the tribute, as so many ribbon recipients do. "I would not have been able to do all these activities without the support of my wife," he says. And his family members know that, too. A bunch of flowers was already waiting for the proud partner, but a bunch of flowers was also laid at the grave of Quarré's first wife. That gesture visibly moved him. 

Quarré had been lured to the White Church in Hemrik because a group photo was to be taken of the volunteers involved in ART Super, the art exhibition he was involved in as treasurer for many years. "That fûn ik al wat fjemd op dizze dei. And I hie oars ek al in pear dinkjes sjoen dy't frjemd wienen. Mar de ferrassing is grut." 

Mayor Andries Bouwman praised Quarré's inexhaustible energy, his eye for detail and his always positive outlook. "You are an inspiration and a connector. And you are always very committed to your fellow man, especially those who could use an extra helping hand. At your farewell to the Village Support Center, you said that the world was getting tougher and that people were in danger of losing each other. Unfortunately, you were right. But you were always the omtinker, the man who came up with new ideas." 

Among other things, Quarré was the initiator of the diaconal house in Lippenhuizen Hemrik, which can serve as a shelter. Currently, displaced persons from Ukraine are being received there. "At the beginning of the war, you yourself also received displaced persons from Ukraine at home. That typifies you; you are an example for many." 

Jan Quarré (1949) from Hemrik
Quarré has been committed to various organizations in Hemrik and its surroundings for 25 years. As a board member of the Protestant Congregation Lippenhuizen Hemrik he was also involved in the transfer of the church building to the Foundation Alde Fryske Tsjerken. He was a delegate of the Council of Churches Gorredijk e/o. Was booster, chairman and treasurer of the Village Support Center Hemrik. For the Foundation for Culture in the White Church in Hemrik, Quarré was active as treasurer, he was involved in cultural events and point of contact for new volunteers. For ten years he was driver for the foundation Sociaal Cultureel Vervoer Opsterland (Plusbus) and he was active for the Foundation Wereldwinkel Opsterland.