More than 500 participants in the pub quiz, thousands of people along the road during the parade of decorated wagons and a sold-out night walk. ,,We had a fantastic Oostermoer party in Zuidlaren.”
You can hear smiling faces and somewhat hoarse voices in Zuidlaren. While the fire brigade sprays hoses on children and parents in inflatable swimming pools, rubber boats and on surfboards in the Havenkanaal on Saturday afternoon, chairman Hilma Broekveldt of the Oostermoer Zuidlaren foundation looks on with satisfaction. ‘All of Zuidlaren Drift’ has erupted in full force in front of her. “How beautiful, what a color spectacle. Fortunately, we have a port in Zuidlaren.”
Lucky with weather
The boat festival is one of the last parts of the Oostermoer festival that held the brinkendorp in its grip for five days. Hilma Broekveldt looks back on the last holiday with great satisfaction. “In a word, it was fantastic. And we were lucky with the weather. The Midnightwalk was fully booked with 450 participants, more than 500 people participated in the pub quiz on Friday evening. They sat at long tables outside on the green and afterwards it was a big party. Fifteen decorated wagons took part in the parade, five of which were from Eexterveen. Broekveldt: ,,There had just been a party there and they asked if they could ride along in Zuidlaren. Naturally.”
Agricultural Exhibition
The Oostermoerfeest originates from the agricultural exhibition Oostermoer, which is held once every five years in the villages of the former municipalities of Anloo, Borger, Gasselte, Gieten and Zuidlaren. This year it was Zuidlaren’s turn and next year Borger can organize it. The local foundation works closely with the umbrella exhibition association Oostermoer.
Chairman Gert Everts (74) from Bronneger has been on the board of the exhibition association for 43 years. He has just come out of the party tent on the green in Zuidlaren. “It’s not like it used to be, but times are changing. You shouldn’t do outdated things anymore, you should be open to new ideas and gather young people around you. Today was the first Ride, Run & Bike, where a runner or cyclist completes a course together with rider and horse.”
Southfield
Oostermoer, together with Zuidenveld, is the only agricultural exhibition in Drenthe that is still being held. Noordenveld has long since ceased to exist and Middenveld has recently stopped. Everts: ,,You have to have the village and the municipality on board. That went well in Zuidlaren.”