For the first time since 1935, a spring horse market is held in Roden again. Albert Ananias, owner of café ‘t Olle Posthoes, is the driving force behind the market. “The permit has already been completed.”
The already historic horse market will take place on Saturday 28 May. Only four times before – in 1912, 1922, 1923 and 1935 – a horse market has also taken place in the spring. “I had a look in Zuidlaren and thought: that’s nice in the spring, a horse market like that,” says Ananias. Kleintje Rodermarkt, the brother of the real Rodermarkt, is perfect for a spring horse market, according to Ananias.
‘t Olle Posthoes is the standard operating base of many horse traders during the Rodermarkt. From four o’clock in the morning everyone is welcome for coffee or something stronger. That was also the case in September 2021, when a ‘spontaneous horse market’ arose. Although no permit had been issued by the Noordenveld municipality, horse lovers around the Brink were well catered for.
“Last year it was very nice, we really missed that in those years before,” says Ananias. And so the innkeeper thinks: why not organize a market in the spring? “We actually wanted to do it on Ascension Day, but that was not possible. Now we do it on Saturday, which is just as beautiful. Then everyone is free, the roads are already closed to traffic and you still have a fair.”
The striking entrepreneur is already looking forward to the first spring horse market in almost 90 years. “We need to spend less time on the phone and more on the road, then you know what’s happening in the world,” he says. And yes, according to Ananias, a horse market helps with that. “I’m sure of that. Just look at people who have to rehabilitate, they often also have to ride a horse. That’s good for people.”
Entrepreneurs-own, Ananias closes with a nice one-liner. “You know what’s great about horse dealers? No plastic money, huh! I like that.”
The horse market will take place on Saturday 28 May from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm. Together with De Pompstee and Onder de Linden, Ananias arranges music, including an old-fashioned accordionist. Volksvermaken Roden is asked to facilitate material for the market.