Carpentry, carpentry and more carpentry in Abbekerk, but is there enough wood?

About 300 primary school students from Abbekerk, Lambertschaag, Oostwoud, Midwoud, Opperdoes, Twisk and Hauwert are having a great time in Abbekerk these days. With the aim of building the most beautiful hut possible in a group. As a reward for the hard work, an overnight stay in your own cabin awaits, from Saturday to Sunday.

Huttenbouw is at a different location than in previous years, because the ice rink in the village is making way for new construction. But also in the park next to De Spetter swimming pool there is ample opportunity for three days of carpentry, face painting and playing games.

Holiday week

On Friday morning – day two of three – chairman Ilse Blank is pleased to see how all the carpenters are doing. “It feels like a holiday week,” she enthuses. “You are outside all day, the weather is nice and everyone is happy.” When the children are waved goodbye at the end of the afternoon, an evening program follows for the approximately 80 volunteers. “It’s getting late sometimes,” she smiles. “But we’ll sleep again another time.”

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Still, these were exciting weeks for the organization. Because quite a lot of wood is needed for 300 children. And where the wood supply went smoothly in other years, the board of the organizing Kinder Spel en Bouw now experienced more problems. “We rely on free parties. But the price of wood is high and a lot is recycled and less wood is thrown away these days.”

And so there had to be an active search for everything that is made of wood. “Fortunately, we have many permanent addresses and have approached many construction companies. We managed to gather just enough pallets with many smaller batches. But no high-rise flats are being built this year, as has happened in previous years. We have not enough for.”

Tool box

Meanwhile, the ticking continues in Abbekerk. The youth is working hard on the huts. One of the most striking participants is Jouke, from Twisk. Where most participants are only armed with a hammer, the 11-year-old enters the terrain with a complete toolbox. Includes crowbar, clamp, saw and spirit level. “At home I have my own shed with my brother Sytse, in which we often do carpentry. Do I want to become a carpenter later on? No, farmer. Carpentry is my hobby.”