Around seventy historical army vehicles are prepared for departure from Dalen. The bivouac of the Liberty Tour is exchanged for Westerbork after five days. For some participants, the tension increases. The more than eighty year old vehicles sometimes need some extra attention to start.
“This is 81 years old and sometimes something happens” confirms Koen Vermeer. With his jeep he came from Leusden to Drenthe to ride the Liberty Tour. “You also have the normal things that wear out and that sometimes happens at the wrong moments. Then it suddenly stops, you have to solve that again.”
Close to the entrance to the field, a ‘half-track’ is being tinkered with a truck with wheels at the front and crawler tires at the back. Early in the morning, the owner has already replaced the gas pump. “Normally I have all the time for an interview, but this really has to be canceled,” the driver says. The new petrol pump offers no relief, in the meantime the truck appears to no longer give a spark. The driver immediately jumps into his modern Fiat to get parts, a ride of more than an hour.
There are more tanks and jeeps where the hood is open and work is being done to get them talking. It indicates how much effort the participants are left to ride with the Liberty Tour.
Also sees participant Esther van Zonsbeek, from Dreumel. “The people on the side really appreciate it”. Van Zonsbeek drives around with a friend these days. She washes the car daily and dresses in the clothing of the 40s. “You have a vehicle from the 40s. I don’t think it’s appropriate to be in jeans.”
The participants drive along to keep the memory of the Allied liberators alive, Van Zonsbeek confirms. “We really appreciate what those people who liberated us did. My uncles were also in the resistance and it is also in honor of them, an ode to them.”