The winner of the ‘Drents Village House of the Year 2023’ election was announced in the Yders Hoes in Yde. The jury unanimously declared the Over Entinghe village hall in Dwingeloo the winner.
“I had hoped so,” says an elated manager Jannie Dekker. “Everyone assured me in advance that we would win. And now it really is!”
The jury unanimously agreed. “We were out within five minutes. The enthusiasm, drive and support of the users of the village hall were the deciding factor,” jury chairman Ramon van der Sleen explains. “When we visited Over Entinghe, people came from all over the place. It was just really nice there.”
The village hall in Dwingeloo was in dire straits for a long time. “It was no longer a sparkling village hall,” board member Leo Kochen said earlier in a conversation with Harm Dijkstra. “Money had to be added again and again. We started talking to politicians and they gave us two years to get things in order. New initiatives were devised and, together with the residents of the village, the village hall was financially saved.”
But the input and enthusiasm of manager Janny Dekker also created more excitement. “You have to commit people to you. They have to have a good time and they have to see that you want to do well for them,” she says. This attitude ensured that Over Entinghe managed to attract a group of 80 volunteers. More than 500 people now visit every week.
The Dwingels village hall received a cash check worth €4,000 from deputy Yvonne Turenhout. “We are going to spend it in such a way that it benefits everyone who comes to us,” Dekker concludes.
The other participating village houses were ‘t Markehuus in Assen, village center Eexterveen, Ons Dörpshuus in 2e Exloërmond, ‘t Brinkenhoes in Emmen and De Weidehoek in Wijster. They receive €2,500 for their participation.
The village hall of the year election is an initiative of the BOKD and was made possible by RTV Drenthe, the Province of Drenthe and the Drenthe municipalities.