Various social organizations have reacted with shock to the death of René Karst. Karst was more than just a singer, as can be seen from those reactions. For example, he was active for the Reading and Writing Foundation, CliniClowns, and the Hoogeveen city center.
René Karst has been an ambassador for the Reading and Writing Foundation since 2019. The foundation is committed to combating low literacy. “As a foundation, we are extremely sad, and also speechless,” responds Jan-Willem Heijkoop of the Reading and Writing Foundation. “Our thoughts go out first to his wife, children and grandchildren.”
Karst has meant a lot to the Foundation, Heijkoop explains. “He managed to make our foundation and the subject of low literacy better known to the general public and all the people it concerns. They really felt seen by René. He was always very accessible and very human.”
His music played an important role in this, Heijkoop explains. “With this he managed to appeal to people who mainly use the Dutch language to express emotions. And what better way to do that than through a song? Even though they had difficulty reading and writing, such a song reached their hearts. It made them feel seen.”
The Reading and Writing Foundation is grateful for his efforts, says Heijkoop. “He always wanted to make time, and never skipped a beat. He playfully showed how much fun language can be if you are not very good at it. This ensured that people took the step to take a course, despite their fear and shame.”
The news also came as a shock to CliniClowns, the organization that is committed to entertaining sick children. Karst and his wife traveled with CliniClowns to France for the annual Alpine tour for several editions. “We were very shocked when we heard the news. During the Alpine tour he provided an unforgettable evening for all participants,” says Ilja van Alten of CliniClowns.
“He and his wife were very involved in the work of CliniClowns, and we are very grateful for that. We will not forget his enthusiasm and his purity.”
Hoogeveen also reacted with shock to the news. “The death of René Karst affects all of us in Hoogeveen,” Hoogeveen mayor Martijn Breukelman said. “René was a real pride of our city: a talented musician, a committed resident and someone who always showed his Hoogeveen heart. We will remember him for his music and his commitment to society. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones in this difficult time.”
Albert Jan Vos, board member at Binnenstad Hoogeveen, says it is “a sad day for everyone in Hoogeveen”. “It’s incomprehensible. Everything you have done with him over the past thirty years is now being reviewed.”
According to Vos, Karst was extremely creative. “Moreover, he has always remained normal and very approachable, he always wanted to help and was very comical.”
The news comes as a shock to photographer Kim Stellingwerf. “I know his wife and children well. I cannot imagine the sadness there now and I find that very sad.”
She has known him for a long time. “Because of my work as a photographer, I often saw him at concerts.” They even met each other so often that a conversation developed. “I once made the comment, ‘Are you stalking me again?’ From then on, we took a photo together wherever we met.”
Stellingwerf even had app contact with René Karst this week. “A kind of theater tour of his would start in Hoogeveen on Wednesday and I would be there for the photos. That’s when the next stalk photo arrived.”
His helpful nature was also evident from what he did for the events in the city of Hoogeveen. “He was always busy inventing things. He was the initiator of the Northern Lights Parade, which was later transformed into the City Light Festival,” says Vos.
“I have an office in the city center and he came by regularly. He always thought along with: ‘Wouldn’t this be nice, shouldn’t something be done with this?'”
In doing so, he has ‘put Hoogeveen in a positive light’. “He also upheld the Drenthe language. He added value to the whole of Drenthe. A huge loss. Of course for the immediate family, but for everyone in Hoogeveen.”
At RTV Drenthe, René Karst was also appreciated for his commitment to the broadcaster. Since 2022, he has presented his own program ‘Karstival’ on Saturday afternoons.
“René Karst was very involved and had a heart for radio,” says RTV Drenthe editor-in-chief Martin van der Veen. “He knew how to give Karstival his own voice, which he wanted to make every week sound like a small but nice party. He was also very involved in the broadcaster and was never missing from parties. He really belonged to the RTV Drenthe family and was an ambassador for the broadcaster.”