Gerrie Enninga (69) and his wife Annie (64) from Klazienaveen received royal honors on Sunday. The driving forces behind the Kite Festival Emmen were appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Mayor Eric van Oosterhout presented the couple with the award during the closing day of the Kite Festival, which celebrated its 35th anniversary last weekend. Gerrie and Annie Enninga set up the kite festival with international participation. The event attracts 15,000 to 20,000 visitors annually, although those numbers were not reached last weekend due to the bad weather.
The Kite Festival started 35 years ago on the Es in Emmen, where Wildlands is now located. The festival has therefore been moved to the Grote Rietplas. Gerrie Enninga is also the organizer of Fable & Fantasy in the Rensenpark in Emmen. His wife supports him in this.