Jaap van der Borg (65) from Zuidlaren has to work hard on Saturday. In the evening he cooks a free four-course Christmas dinner for a hundred single people. “I start cutting in the morning.”
A Christmas dinner for a hundred people, why?
“There are people who are alone at Christmas. That is not nice. They are often older single people, we call them singles. I like to cook for them. I enjoy when other people enjoy too. That gives me a kick.”
But a hundred people, that’s a lot.
“We can accommodate a maximum of one hundred people, 75 have registered so far. Mainly people from Zuidlaren and surrounding villages such as Annen, Anloo, Vries and Zuidlaarderveen, aged 45 to 98. I get help with making the main course and cutting the vegetables. I start cutting on Saturday morning.”
Are you such a good cook?
“I have been cooking once a month for about 25 single people for thirteen years. Cooking is my hobby. I recently obtained my chef’s diploma and would like to work at a catering company. I have been a food sales representative for 21 years.”
What does the Christmas dinner consist of?
“We start with a glass of non-alcoholic champagne. The starter is a vegetable soup or forest mushroom soup. The main course consists of beef stew with mashed potatoes and red cabbage, or chicken with rice and curry sauce. Then there are two salads: a fish salad with three types of fish and a Greek salad. We end with a dessert with ice cream and a cup of coffee.”
And all that for free?
“Yes, the deacons of the Laarkerk and the village church in Zuidlaren and Magnuskerk in Annen pay for the food. Every year we cook for a group of people who are having a hard time. Last year for Ukrainian refugees and before that for status holders. But then the groups were not as large as this year. We will be raising a collection for the World Servants Zuidlaren, who will help with a project in Mali in 2025.”
Where’s dinner?
“In the De Meent district building next to the Laarkerk in Westlaren. This will be completely in the Christmas spirit on Saturday. People sit at tables and can talk quietly to each other. We arrange return transport for those who have difficulty walking.”