Smoking and prancing tractors on Trekkertrek: ‘Spectacle when something breaks’

The evening has just started, but according to Maurice Dhaene of Agrarisch Jongeren Kontakt (AJK), there are already about 2,500 visitors walking around the site. Just for comparison: during the previous edition, about 3,000 visitors came to the event, which will continue until 11 p.m. tonight.

AJK is the organizer of Trekkertrek, which has been officially called Trekkertrek Fun & Power Festival for four years now. That fun and power: that’s exactly the mix that entire families come for, according to Dhaene.

Fun & power

Arie came to Trekkertrek on the tractor. He doesn’t participate in the competitions, but thinks it’s great fun and beautiful to see. “I refurbished it last year,” he says of his tractor. “I will participate in the Elfstedentocht in Friesland. It is not such a strong tractor, it is one of 60 years old.”

Trekkertrek features lightweight tractors from the 1930s, but also modern models: impressive 15-ton tractors that attract a large audience.

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Since the organization moved the event to a new location, the number of visitors continues to grow. Dhaene: “There are more options now that we have more space. We used to need all the space to park the tractors, now there is room for attractions and stands, so that we can make something beautiful for young and old.”

Not only Haarlemmermeer residents come to Trekkertrek. Dhaene spotted visitors traveling from Groningen to Zierikzee to Nieuw-Vennep. According to the organizer, the attraction is mainly in the competition element on the track. “Tractors where plumes of smoke come out, wheels that go up. And sometimes something breaks with tuned-up tractors. The latter is not fun for the owner of the tractor, but it all makes for a spectacle.”