The iconic images of Ellert and Brammert at the open-air museum in Schoonoord attract even more attention these days. The Drenthe giants are decked out in enormous Christmas sweaters and matching hats, made from pieces of red fabric delivered from all over the country.
Normally the meter-high figures of Ellert and Brammert look tough and unyielding, but especially for this weekend’s Christmas market they look remarkably soft and festive. “This is a huge success,” says chairman Saakje van Tellingen-Uiterwijk with satisfaction. “The success is actually even greater than we could have imagined.”
The plan started modestly, she says. “We thought: it would be nice if some people from the neighborhood wanted to participate. We could already see ourselves knitting. But that turned out not to be necessary at all. We received so many registrations: from nursing homes, schools and even people from outside Schoonoord. It poured in. That was really fantastic.”
The project has also been more than successful for many residents of Schoonoord. “How wonderful is it that the whole country has knitted along? It looks beautiful. Last year they already had a hat, now also a sweater. Maybe next year they can use socks, because they still have bare feet,” laughs a woman.
The question is whether the sturdy giants lose their cuddliness because of the Christmas sweaters. “I read the story of Ellert and Brammert here for years,” says the resident. “It’s about two fierce men. But now they look very happy and cuddly. That suddenly makes the story a lot less bloody.”
The crochet club from Schoonoord also enthusiastically participated in the project. “We crocheted the scarf,” says one of the members proudly. “Everyone made a piece in a different stitch. We are not really into knitting, but we can crochet. And the result is great.”
Dressing the statues turned out to be a chore. Van Tellingen-Uiterwijk laughs: “It was a bit of a puzzle. They are so big and they don’t cooperate; they don’t lend a hand. But we managed it, fortunately without any accidents.”
According to the chairman, the action is worth repeating, but with a new twist. “Next year we can have the same sweater again, but then we would like to come up with something extra. We have a whole year to come up with something.”