Just as Michael Eissens (37) from Hoorn is trying to get his life back on track after years of cannabis addiction, his bicycle was stolen. And he really needs it to get to his volunteer work addresses. Jan and Lida Kooijman, who hand out free bicycles to low-income earners, provided a solution. “I’m going to cycle into the new year!”
Michael was a frequent cannabis user for 23 years. “I already used cannabis in high school. And then before work, while working in construction, actually always. A gram a day was okay. I also used a lot of coke. As a result, I am now struggling with debts.”
He has been in a recovery program for 14 weeks to get rid of his addiction. “It’s going well,” Michael says cheerfully. “I’m also trying to quit smoking, but that’s a lot harder.”
Volunteer work
He lives in assisted living in Hoorn and is committed to society through volunteer work. For example, he can often be found at the De Zoets Inval animal pasture and he helps at the Christian community of De Hoorn. “Everyone is there with you. That gives good energy.” He is also training to become a social worker. “I want to help young people who have problems. From my own past I know many institutions and I have a nice network.”
“The saddle still needed to be adjusted properly, but I already wanted to cycle away. I was so happy with it.”
Having a bicycle is crucial for him. And the last one was stolen. “Just from the bicycle rack in front of the door. Then you will look strange.” For him, the two-wheeler is not just a means of transport. “I can’t do anything without a bike. I need a lot of structure and that is a lot more difficult without a bike. It’s a 45-minute walk to the animal meadow for me, and also to my girlfriend. It’s half an hour to my parents. That’s not a good time in this weather.” fun.”
New bike: “Very neat!”
Fortunately, there were Jan and Lida Kooijman, who with their action Bicycles for Minima have already made so many people happy with a different bicycle. “Very neat!”, he says. “The saddle still needed to be adjusted properly, but I already wanted to cycle away. I was that happy with it. Whether you have to cycle for ten minutes or walk for half an hour, that makes a big difference.”
A bicycle as a gateway to a bright future. “It’s all going really well, especially now that I have a new bike again. I’m a happy boy. Great things are coming in the new year. My own house, the training, I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to cycle into the new years in!”
Nearly 2,500 free bicycles have already been distributed
‘If you don’t see the smile of a child or adult, you don’t see the best part.’ With that slogan in mind, Jan and Lida Kooijman from Hoorn, together with a group of enthusiastic volunteers and sponsors, have been handing out free bicycles for several years. They fix them up for people who have little to spend. In the meantime, people from outside the region also know where to find Jan and Lida. “The requests come from the region, but also from Sneek and The Hague, for example,” Jan said last year.
In September of this year, Henny Huisman gave away the 2,000 free bicycles, and the counter is now almost at 2,500.
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