A monumental, thatched Oldambtster farm on the Oudebosch estate in Onderdendam was largely destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning.
The fire broke out on the thatched roof of the farmhouse. Lolke Weegenaar looked through the window this morning and saw thick fog around the farm. “It can’t be foggy, I thought.” He opened the barn doors. “It turned out that the ridge was on fire from front to back. I immediately called 911,” he says dejectedly. According to local residents, the first plumes of smoke were observed about an hour and a half earlier.
‘Don’t panic, just be sad’
The shed was full of a collection of vintage cars and various machines. “For twenty years I have devoted all my free time to the farm. I renovated everything during that time,” says Weegenaar.
When the fire brigade arrived it quickly became clear that the barn could not be saved. Weegenaar concludes: “There was no panic, but it is very sad.”
In the village, streets were littered with pieces of burnt reeds from the roof of the farm. Local residents were advised to close windows and doors and turn off any mechanical ventilation.
The nearby area was cordoned off with ribbons. On Tuesday evening the fire brigade was still busy extinguishing the fire.