The artisan bakery De Pelikaan in Assen-East will close its doors for good on Saturday. After 25 years Bart (50) and Linda (52) Daleman exchange entrepreneurship for a ‘normal’ job with a boss. Entrepreneurship, the couple says, is wonderful. After all, you can do everything at your own discretion. “But if that lust becomes more of a burden, it’s time for something else.”
A large chunk of history will disappear on the corner of Steendijk/Pelicanstraat after Saturday. In 1935 the Dorgelo family opened the ‘Ambachtsbakker De Pelikaan’ there, which was taken over by the Kiers family in 1974. And in May 1997 the business came into the hands of Bart and Linda Daleman. Bart: ‘I started working as an apprentice baker at Kiers in 1988 and yes, when Linda and I were able to take over together 9 years later, we did.’
Concept
Bart already got to know all the ins and outs in the bakery under Kiers, where he later, as owner, prepared the bread and other delicacies in the oven with two other bakers. Linda ran the store with two employees. In all those years, De Pelikaan has grown into a household name in Assen-East and the surrounding area. The customers not only came for the loaves cut into 14 millimeter slices (normally 12 millimeters), but also the famous cherry points were appreciated. Linda: ‘They are still made according to a unique Kiers recipe.’
From gas to electric
Bart and Linda say no complaints about patronage. A regular clientele of about 80 percent, supplemented by 20 percent ‘passers-by’. Then why stop? Linda and Bart: ‘First of all, we had to get off the gas here and switch to electric. That would mean an investment of 60,70,000 euros. Lots of money. In addition, baking bread on gas works better for us than electric. With gas you can time better, play more with temperature and that makes the bread tastier. In addition, our three daughters have other ambitions than taking over the business. Yes, we did consider passing the bakery on to another baker, so that at least one bakery would remain at this location. But that too would be difficult. The growth of artisan bakers is in fact declining considerably.’ ( read on after the photo )
Finally, Bart and Linda will also feel the years, in combination with modern entrepreneurship. . ‘It’s nice to have your own business, but there’s a lot involved these days. In fact, entrepreneurship takes so much time that baking bread has almost become an afterthought. All this takes a lot of energy and we notice that we are no longer as resilient as we were twenty years ago.’
After carefully weighing all the pros and cons, the couple tied the knot in December. Close. “It was good that way.”
‘Ordinary job’ also nice
After Saturday, a new chapter in their lives begins. Bart and Linda first allow themselves some time to give everything a place and then each look for an employer. Bart, laughing: ‘We also think it would be nice, a ‘normal job’. Close the door behind you after working hours, no more obligations and therefore more time for ourselves.’
However, according to Linda, some customers don’t like it when their regular baker stops. “We’re getting mixed reactions. Most customers understand our choice, others think it’s ‘stupid’ that we stop. ‘Where should we get our sausage rolls and cherry wedges now? Our tasty bread?’ But yes, you keep that anyway.’
From the wall
Of course, the pair conclude, they will often think back to De Pelikaan. Bart: ‘It is linked to us forever. If only because of the beautiful ‘bread from the wall’ concept that we have developed here. For years, customers could pull bread, sandwiches and goodies from the wall 24 hours a day. That was especially popular with people on night shifts, surveillance officers and the youth, for example.’
Linda: ‘And I will surely miss the contact with our customers. Because people didn’t just come here to buy bread, there were also stories. Joys and sorrows were shared in the store, even things that I don’t think were spoken at home. Yes, I felt like a social worker at times, haha. But I’ve always loved doing it. It’s just part of it, especially in a community like Assen-Oost.’
From bakery to homes
If the De Pelikaan bakery is closed on July 30, the company must be cleared out immediately. The property has been sold to Noordelijk Vastgoed BV, which will convert the water tower in Assen into a residential tower, among other things. The municipal monumental building where De Pelikaan was located will house homes with commercial space.