It is 9.45 am when Harm Dijkstra receives a call from his son. Whether he wants to come to his house in Sleen to drag some things to the attic? Of course it is! And a little later he is stunned there in the back garden.
“I have not realized anything,” says Dijkstra grinning. “Zero. Nothing at all.” In addition to a large group of his friends and relatives, the garden also contains Renze Bergsma, mayor of the municipality of Coevorden.
And it doesn’t come empty -handed. He brought a ribbon for Dijkstra. And not just one. He receives an award with which he can call himself a knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau. That ribbon can get people who have done good things for society.
“It’s moving,” he says, after the ribbon is spelled on his chest. Dijkstra has to tear away a tear. “Yes sorry, but it’s just beautiful.”
The plashing is accompanied by beautiful words from the mayor. He praises the way Dijkstra has worked for others. Among other things, he was a conductor for decades, organized youth trips, is a director at the Ter Klinke foundation, board member of a singing association and is committed to the Drenthe regional language. At RTV Drenthe he is known as a presenter of programs such as Hemmeltied and Strunen.
“A connector. Unprecedented creative and almost a well -known Dutchman with the cabaret duo Harm and Roelof. But you always stay very close to yourself,” said Mayor Bergsma.
Dijkstra is almost quiet. “The idea that people have taken the initiative to get this done. It’s a huge honor,” he says. “They are all fun things I did. And I hope to continue with that for a long time.”