He likes a compliment to his address, but André Hateboer thinks the rescue and therefore the continued existence of MFC De Hardenberg in Finsterwolde is mainly the success of the collective. ,,Me the new Fré Meis 2.0? Oh well, I can’t stand injustice either.”
Thirteen months ago, André Hateboer started a battle with many like-minded people and volunteers against the, in his view, nonsensical decision by the Oldambt city council to close MFC De Hardenberg. The kick-off of the ‘resistance’ was in the village hall of Ganzedijk.
On Wednesday evening, confetti was shot into the air, there was cheering from the public gallery and an open cloth from the entire council. All expressions of joy once the decision was made to financially support the foundation, of which Hateboer is the figurehead. Champagne was not flowing. Inappropriate in the council chamber, Hateboer believes.
Abandoned by the city council
The honor of success belongs to the many volunteers, he emphasizes every time. “A fantastic group of people. They must share in this collective victory.” He just wants to say; the council of Oldambt does not deserve to celebrate. Because, the people in Beerta and Finsterwolde feel abandoned by the municipal council. And that’s just putting it mildly. “The city council just thought it could waltz over the population. That is not fair, you are doing an injustice to the people. I would almost say, it is criminal to waste a twenty-year-old complex. When I heard of the impending closure, I immediately dug in my heels. I almost went through the ceiling. Beerta and Finsterwolde are always the losers. I absolutely cannot stand injustice. Yes, just call it Fré Meis 2.0”
Hateboer is in the car with his wife Anita – ‘my support and rock’. The couple is on their way to North Holland to embrace their fourth grandchild for the first time. “Yes, this is a memorable day. Becoming grandpa and grandma for the fourth time, De Hardenberg saved and it’s our treasurer’s birthday. What a historic day. But this is not only André Hateboer’s party, but of the collective.”
There is a jubilant mood in the car. The adrenaline is shooting through the roof, so to speak. That is why he sometimes goes off the rails verbally when the input of the city council is discussed. But it is sincere and sincere. “The city council has not made any effort to save De Hardenberg. They just wanted to cut costs. They should have turned it around and focused on increasing revenue. As we as a foundation are going to do now. Our focus is on the restart. Members of associations and volunteers will meet on Thursday to brainstorm. Because the swimming pool will open again on September 4th. That’s what we’re focusing on now. The intention is to reopen the complex on 7 and 8 October.”
Unconditional belief in a mission
Hateboer constantly calls it a mission to keep De Hardenberg going. ,, Alderman Engelkens (PvdA), once a fellow villager in Beerta, told me that the council never thought that we would last so long. Well then you do not realize what is going on and what lives in the villages.”
Hateboer recalls what a neighbor once said to him: ‘You have to believe unconditionally in a mission, whatever direction it takes.’ In fact, we felt that way from the beginning. Together we have demonstrated the power of the citizens’ initiative. We did that with a lot of energy, mostly on intuition, because no one has learned for this. It touches me deeply what we have achieved.” His wife: “André, you will also cry when the time comes.”