“Spontaneous, enthusiastic, hardworking and with expressive twinkling eyes”, is how hundreds of customers, friends and other loved ones describe Richard Martens. On Friday, ‘Bakker Joost’, who lived in Ellertshaar, died completely unexpectedly at the age of 53.
Martens has been a household name in Southeast Drenthe for years. He has made a name for himself over the past thirty years with bakery shops in Odoorn, Emmen and Borger. And he, his family and employees managed to become one of the best-known names in the Drenthe baking world.
Martens grew up in a real baker’s family. His parents baked bread in Borger for many years. His sister took over the former Aole Ambacht from them and operated the bakery until 2022. Despite the difficult times that many entrepreneurs found themselves in as a result of the Covid pandemic and the sharply increased energy costs, Martens managed to open the Aole Ambacht in November of to take over from his sister that year. That business in the center of Borger was then renamed a third Bakker Joost.
Oringer entrepreneur Henk Zomers offered him a second chance and bought the bankrupt bakery in Odoorn. He then rented it back to Martens and his family. The business in Emmen center was closed, but reopened a few years later on Wilhelminastraat.
The business, with its head office in Odoorn, has now become a favorite among villagers and tourists. A full terrace in the summer, coupled with numerous extra activities because ‘you have to move with the times’. For example, the bakery organizes various walks and Martens regularly provides professional insight on TikTok. “I want to show what we do. And I really think this is the most beautiful profession there is,” he told DvhN at the time.
On the bakery’s Facebook page, the family announced the death of ‘Bakker Joost’ today: “It is with intense sadness that we have to let you know that our beloved husband, father, friend and passionate boss passed away unexpectedly from us on Friday, December 27. life has been snatched away.”