For more than a decade, Peter Vereijken is the figurehead of Dierenweide Stroomdal in Beilen. But that will come to an end after this week. He takes a step back to make room for a new generation.
It does not come from the sky that the 70-year-old Vereijken stops as chairman of the Dierenweide Stroomdal Foundation. “I already announced that in December. You could say that we have used an entire pregnancy period to transfer everything. It is not that I am done with it, but it is good to stop after eleven years so that new air will come again.”
“It is just like with the bushes. If you hit a tree, the new green will come up again,” Vereijken uses a metaphor. “In addition, there are new developments, because there are two new schools in the area. It is good to do such a new phase with new people. And not with old stuff, like me.”
Vereijken does not go completely, he will be found at the animal meadow for about three days a week. “I do that with love. The structure is good, we have 65 volunteers. Everyone knows their role and in that sense we are accepted in the village. We have received a very high gun factor. There is a thousand people a week, so there is a lot of stability.”
The young succession is already ready. Jolanda de Melker (54) becomes the new chairman, Lotte Oudman (21) Secretary and Youri Beugel (24) treasurer. Together they form the new board. “Lotte and Youri are young, but still experience. They have both been involved in the Dierenweide for ten years,” says Vereijken. “And Jolanda has also been there for five years. So that is 25 years of experience in the new board.”
The milker is happy that Vereijken continues to play a role in the background. “The animal meadow really owes a lot to Peter. He is very good to raise money, set up things, to inspire people, to guide especially.
“I will not force myself,” Vereijken hurry to say. “I have blind faith in these people. The routine has since been so dragged in so that it can be taken over by others. I am not going to give unsolicited advice, what some older board members do. But if there are any questions, I would like to think along.”
De Melker hopes to grow into a worthy successor to Vereijken. “But they are big shoes to fill,” she thinks. Vereijken reassures her: “Size 41, so that is not so bad.”