It’s a party in Nieuw-Buinen, because the village has existed for two hundred years. There is plenty to do for five days.
Two centuries ago, peat gave birth to Nieuw-Buinen. Or rather: the removal of peat. “Because in order to properly drain the peat, canals were dug. And at some point houses were built along those canals. This is how the village of Nieuw-Buinen gradually came into existence”, says amateur historian Jacco Pranger.
Eventually, the village became best known for its glass industry. Two glass factories moved into Nieuw-Buinen in the nineteenth century. “Many families earned their living with it. They also lived in a house belonging to the glass industry,” says Pranger. “It wasn’t always rosy, but you had shelter and a permanent job. Of course there was not only employment for the residents, but the middle class also came here.”
During the previous jubilee celebration, fifty years ago, a statue of a glass blower was placed as a thank you to the glass industry. “That is a lasting reminder of the glass industry of yesteryear in Nieuw-Buinen,” says Peter Zwiers of the party committee. A new statue is not yet in the making. “We first focused on making it a fantastic party,” said Zwiers.
The party committee hopes that everyone in Nieuw-Buinen will still be talking about it fifty years from now. “We have five days full of activities and tonight we kick off with the official opening. Two hundred years is really very special and Nieuw-Buinen is also ready to celebrate it in a big way,” says Zwiers. “You can see the energy arising everywhere. It will of course take another 50 years before you have such an anniversary again.”
Everyone is welcome to come along at the Nieuw-Buinen party. Zwiers: “We celebrate the party together with Buinerveen, who is even older. But anyone who wants to is welcome.”