Dozens of West Frisian trucks thunder over the roads with texts from De Dijk

“I think the sound of the big band is beautiful and the lyrics of Huub van der Lubbe are great,” says truck driver Willem Breedijk. In 2008 Willem’s company went bankrupt. Fortunately, friend Marcel Vlaar, who took over the company, continues the tradition.

Willem Breedijk remembers well when he first saw De Dijk perform. “That was in the Vriendschap room in Wadway,” says Willem. “I was immediately sold. I loved the sound of that band with those horns. And of course Huub’s lyrics.” After that, Willem De Dijk would see very often. First in cafes and halls in Westfriesland, later in Paradiso and now in the Ziggodome. “When they performed here in West Friesland, you could also just drink a beer with them afterwards. Ordinary guys.”

For the sparkle when you smile

Willem does not have photos of concerts or meetings with band members of De Dijk. He’s not that much of a fan. Willem expressed his admiration for his favorite band by writing sentences from songs by De Dijk on the front of his trucks. From the 90s on, texts such as: ‘For the crack of the moment’ and ‘For the sparkle when you smile’ appeared on the trucks. “

Willem had a company with 40 trucks. In 2008 he went bankrupt. A good friend of Willem, Marcel Vlaar, took over the company. Fortunately, he was also a fan of De Dijk. Marcel continues the tradition by putting a sentence from a number from the Dijk on all new trucks. “Unstoppable, unsteerable,” reads one of these cars. That fits well with the driver who used to be in livestock transport and who always wants to continue working,” laughs Marcel. “I also love De Dijk myself and thought it was a great tradition that Willem started.”