It can be seen more and more in the area around Ruinen and Ansen: the so-called ‘Drenttimer’. An electric classic car with which the elderly can go out, as is happening today with a group from Sanniek. The initiators want to expand with more cars, but this requires support.
“It was a great ride,” says Leo van Teijlingen (83) from Wateren. He is one of the passengers riding today. “I don’t have to do anything, which is a shame. I prefer to sit in this seat,” he says, pointing to the driver’s seat.
Coba de Boer (75) sits in front of him. She is also positively surprised. “This is something special. You need something special every now and then, not always the same.”
The idea behind the Drenttimer is simple: elderly people can take a trip through the Drenthe landscape in a lookalike of the 1910 T-ford. “The emphasis is very much on people with a memory disorder or loneliness problems. The older person,” Pieter Goedhart explains.
In the car, the elderly hear music from the past. The idea is also that there is room for a conversation, listening to the birds and a coffee moment.
A year ago, Goedhart joined the initiative that had already been started by Pieter Albert. They met in the local pub after Goedhart moved with his wife from Hazeswoude to Ruinen due to his wife’s need for care.
“My wife was also involved in Sanniek’s day care, which is why there is a certain link between the activities of the Drentimer and the activities of day care,” Goedhart explains.
Goedhart’s wife died last year and was no longer able to see the result. “She would have really liked this,” he says. “I also give her a wink when we go for a ride in the cart. Girl, we do it for you.”
While the idea initially started as a commercial initiative, it has now evolved into a foundation. Goedhart: “We have canceled the commercial initiative. Now the emphasis is very much on driving people around in nature.”
The car is not a real classic car, but a replica from China, Albert confesses. But this means the car can drive electrically. The Chinese name has also been changed to Drenthe. “I couldn’t pronounce the Chinese name,” Albert laughs.
The elderly people of Sanniek in Ansen are enthusiastic today after their ride, just like the gentlemen themselves. They would like to expand and purchase more cars. They hope for financial support from the municipality of De Wolden.
“With two vehicles you can expand the service area,” says Goedhart. “We are part of the municipality of De Wolden and also rely on the municipality of De Wolden. If other villages in this municipality want to make use of this, this can be discussed.”
