It took six years, but finally on Sunday the second edition of the Recreational Zaanbocht Run will be run in Wormerveer and Wormer. The course was held for the first time in 2019, but after that, for all sorts of reasons, a stop was always put for the next edition.
The Zaanbocht Run runs along the shores of the Zaan and over the Claus and Zaanbrug. There is a route of five and ten kilometers. It is a recreational run: Jan and everyone is participating. There will be no Kenyans, “laughs co-organizer Kees Klinkenberg.
Corona, the placement of the Nieuwe Zaanbrug and then road works on the Zaanweg stopped the second edition for a long time. Oh yes, and then there was also hassle with papers and permits. No wonder that the three organizers give it up after this edition.
“But luckily we have found a successor in the Sportsgen company,” says Klinkenberg. Ed Kuijper, co-owner of Sportsgen, is more careful. Yes, there is certainly the intention to continue with it. But it is not entirely certain yet. “We are still in the last part to take over. That is always about money.”
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It seems very nice to him to organize. “We are located in Wormer, I was born on Kerkstraat in Wormerveer. I thought:” It is because of my for and back garden, how nice is that. “So there is some sentiment.” This weekend he will probably look at how the current organizers are doing.
Regulatory pressure
Events organizers throughout the country experience regulatory pressure. Here too, says Kuijper. “That doesn’t make us happier. That is why I keep a blow to our arm. We have spoken with Zaanstad and they are enthusiastic, they want it to continue. If they were to be reluctant, I think” well, I don’t know if I feel like it. Then it will be pushing and pulling. “
Klinkenberg confirms that it has not all become more fun. “Of course it discourages people who want to organize something. Applying for the event permit, that should be simple. But you have to go through a huge book of paper.”
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It is not yet ready: “Then you have to wait and see if the official or body that is going to go into it. First you get Pietje, then you get Jopie and then an office manager will be added. You name it. That should all be simpler. But we will let part two start with fresh courage, and hopefully we can enjoy the zaandbocht from the Zaank.”
More participants need
To keep the event viable soon, more participants must be added, Kuijper thinks. This edition there are 600 to 700 participants, that must be at least 2,000, he says. Anyway something has to change: first the event was organized by three volunteers, his company must earn it. “But a beautiful foundation has been laid. There is already some fame.”