Dwingeloo sees the arrival of the live Easter event The Passion completely. “I live here in the parsonage on the Brink and they can film everything in the garden,” says Marian van den Brandhof, a resident of the village.
The Brink van Dwingeloo will be the backdrop for The Passion next year. That event is held every year on the Thursday before Easter and broadcast live at the public broadcaster by KRO-NCRV. In the show, the life of Jesus is re -played by famous Dutch people. Every year The Passion visits a different city, and for the first time a place in Drenthe is the host.
During an information meeting that was held last night, it appears that the village is pleasantly surprised. Both residents and entrepreneurs are positive. “It is fantastic that such a small municipality can organize this,” says Bart Dijkstra, owner of Holiday Park RCN de Noordster in Dwingeloo. “We really have quite a few requests. So quickly, I didn’t expect that.”
The first reservations have also been received at restaurant De Zaagkoele in Dwingeloo, says Kok Jesse Vijfonck. “Since the news from yesterday morning the reservations have come in. Normally the busiest day of the year is for our Ascension. But I think this will bring even more.”
At KRO-NCRV they can also get the first registrations so to speak. Karola Buschman also lives on the Brink in Dwingeloo. “I’m in the middle of the epicenter,” she says completely cheerful. She thinks it is great that her village will be in the spotlight. “I really want to participate in it to be a success.”
Yesterday morning the municipality of Westerveld and the broadcaster announced the arrival of The Passion to Drenthe. This was done by having the iconic white cross shine on the Brink at 6 a.m. Two hours later, that cross was removed again. “I had just slept in today. My daughter called if I had gotten what to see on the Brink,” says Aaldert Slot, who also lives on the Brink.
“They are pruning branches of the trees, I said.” His daughter does not mean that of course. “I missed that cross.” He does not find it so much that the event is coming to his village. “We are used to the Brink. The more souls, the more joy.”
Put Ruwan Berculo in return. He is chairman of Ondernemersvereniging Ondernemend Westerveld and of area promotion Zuidwest-Drenthe. “I came out of the town hall bouncing when we heard that The Passion is coming here. If you get the chance to show that unique decor of the event in the villages and the nature of Westerveld to such a large audience, that will bring us a lot for us.” Every year the event attracts more than 2 million viewers on TV.
In addition to seeing an enormous audience coming to the event – this year 5,000 visitors came to Terneuzen for The Passion – Berculo also expects an economic boost for Dwingeloo and the whole of the municipality. To add that extra power, the entrepreneurs want to make a program for the entire year. “So that not only people come during the recordings. In April there is almost no leaf on the tree here, even then it is very beautiful here. Then we can use some tourists.”
The reservations are not yet coming in for Dorpsbelangen Dwingeloo, but positive reactions are flowing in. “We’re looking forward to it,” responds Jan Bloemerts. “We will look at the quality of life in the village. It will cause nuisance, think of parking, for example. But at the same time we look together with entrepreneurs where there are opportunities and for which attention should be.”
There are still many questions for the residents, mainly about how things are going next year. Resident Karola Buschman: “I live in a top location. It is beautiful and must stay beautiful. We want to showcase that too. You must also be able to enjoy the event yourself.”
For Bart Dijkstra, from the De Noordster holiday park, enjoyment will happen. The question is only true. “We are big and it is busy then. So I really want to help at the holiday park. But it is also very nice to experience something like that up close. So I have to see where I am.”