Anyone who thinks that playing marbles was really something from the past is wrong. A 24 meter long marble track has been available since Wednesday at the De Elzenhoek petting zoo in Oss. And it seems to be very popular. “This is really a marble track like you build at home, but XXL.”
A long line of enthusiastic children forms. In their hand they have a wooden ball that can roll across the track. Ties (7) is also at the petting zoo and is bursting with energy. He demonstrates how to use the court, for example when launching the ball. “You pull on the rope. When it can’t go any further, you step forward with your feet and let go hard. Then the ball rolls under the roof and eventually starts to spin and comes out at the bottom.”
Dewi (9) has already completed a few laps with her ball and has now mastered how the track works. “With the animals, you put the ball in. Then it falls out and you go all the way down the path. You then have to try not to let the ball lie still. If you succeed, it is pure luck,” and that will be fine on Wednesday afternoon, she says.
When Talitha Visser from the petting zoo looks around, she only has a smile on her face. There was still a spot left on the farm. The idea for a marble track was copied from the Alpine countries. “In Austria we saw that this was a great success. The children are very active and outdoors. It really is something from the mountains because of the height differences. That was the challenge here, but it turned out well.”
Youth Mayor Julia van Hoek was also present. She performed the opening together with youth councilor Vera Bongers and councilor Dolf Warris. “I like that it is accessible to everyone. So even children in wheelchairs and other children can do it.”
According to Visser, playing marbles is certainly not something that only belongs to the past. “I think that the magic of playing marbles in the past translates into a slightly different version. But the magic remains and you never forget it. I’m going to go soon,” she says, after which Visser also takes out her wooden marble ball and lets it slide down.
