“It has been nice,” says Albert Jonk. After forty years, the doors of his souvenir shop on the Dijk are closing and it is time for a well-deserved retirement. In addition to wooden tulips and slippers in the shape of clogs, Albert and his family sell fireworks every year. Now that they are stopping, the whole family is rolling up their sleeves for one last time.
Albert enjoyed his time in the store and selling fireworks. “The nice thing is that you know everyone. I’ve seen them come into that store as little boys and now they’re adults and they take their children with them to pick out fireworks.”
Albert’s children have also been working in the store for years. “I especially like a bit of rottenness, those Stinger Bees, that you don’t know which way they are going,” daughter Margriet laughs.
Although fireworks fly off the shelves on the first day of sales, the family has seen a decline in souvenir sales. It has therefore been decided that the store will not be taken over and will close for good next year.
“It’s a shame, because everyone participates,” says Albert. Margriet herself cannot yet fully realize that it will really be over in the new year. He doesn’t know yet whether Albert will miss it. “You’ll find out then, maybe I’ll miss it in six months.”