Jan Benjamins was surprised by mayor Renze Bergsma on Saturday evening during the so-called maestro concert of music association De Breibergers in Dalerpeel. The 63-year-old newcomer to Coevorde is now a member of the Order of Orange Nassau.
The ceremony was held in multifunctional accommodation the Spectrum. Benjamins has been making music on behalf of De Breibergers for years. The former resident of New Krim – located directly next to Dalerpeel, where Benjamins lived for many years – has been a voluntary active member of the board of De Breibergers since 1984. He was also president of the association until 2014.
According to daughter Sharon Hartman-Benjamins, the modest Benjamins is passionately committed to ‘his’ Breibergers. “He can’t let go,” she laughs. “Jan thinks it’s normal to be involved as a member of a club.” The award came ‘completely unexpected’. ,,My father was speechless and believe me: he is not easily. He thought the mayor was honoring the Spectrum with a visit to congratulate the anniversary association.” The Breibergers exists sixty years.
Benjamins was Sinterklaas in Dalerpeel and neighboring village Nieuwe Krim for no less than 25 years. As a saint, he visited schools, associations, children’s clubs and companies. Benjamins was also a youth trainer and supervisor of NKVV for four years. ,,This was in the time when I played football with the youth”, says Hartman.
The Guest of Honor
Benjamins has been committed to care farm De Eregast for ten years now, between Nieuwlande and De Krim in Overijssel. He provides transport to and from the daytime activities at the Guest of Honor and also guiding the residents and participants in the daytime activities (during a day out) is in good hands with the Coevordenaar. The care farm is officially located in Overijssel.
Jan Benjamins’ support and strength is his wife Ria Benjamins-Tangenberg. As Jan’s right hand (so he was the saint) she was black piet for years. Hartman: ,,Together they have organized many concerts and music evenings for the benefit of De Breibergers. The maestro concert was also organized by my parents. For the Dutch Reformed Church in Dalerpeel, my father helped organize Christmas Eve in and around the church for four years. In that context, he helped set up a walking tour and set up an occasional choir.”
Hartman: ,,They also took care of the care of children from Belarus in the 1990s and also after 2000 at our home – through the Russia Children’s Aid Foundation. To give them a carefree time here and to strengthen them because of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.”