Ask couples from West Friesland where they met and the answer is often: at the fair. A first kiss in the whirligig, or the café as the starting point of a romantic adventure. The fair as a successful ‘marriage market’, in three stories.
60 years together: Jan Steltenpool and Toos Schuitemaker from Hoogkarspel
The mayor of Drechterland came to visit and the congratulatory card from the royal couple hangs proudly in the living room. Jan Steltenpool (84) and Toos Schuitemaker (81) from Hoogkarspel have been married for 60 years. The origin of love’s happiness? It is – of course – at the fair. Zwaagdijk’s, to be precise.
They had known each other for years, because they both lived in Andijk. “We always greeted each other, but at the Zwaagdijk fair we started talking to each other. I thought Jan was already dating, but that was not the case. And he apparently also thought I was a spicy. We danced together that evening, cycled home together and then it was ‘on’,” says Toos.
“The fair was the main event of the year,” Jan says. “That’s what you lived for all year round. The rest of the year we worked hard. There weren’t many other parties, except for a dance evening. So that’s where it had to happen. You met each other at the fair.”
8 years together: Lars Dol & Loraine Ooteman from Spierdijk
Actually, Lars Dol admits, he had no desire to go to the Wervershoof fair at all. We go back to the summer of 2017. “Two friends of mine were dating girls from Wervershoof, so we ‘had’ to go there.”
He had just seen her in café ‘t Fortuin: Loraine Ooteman. “We started talking and I ended up going to Wervershoof for four days. The last evening I stayed the night with her, because her father thought it was nonsense that I kept taking a taxi back home. By the way, I slept nicely on the couch.”
The couple now lives in Spierdijk, daughter Maud was born and the second child is on the way. The fair still plays a role in the couple’s lives. “We never skip those in Spierdijk and Wervershoof. I am personally involved in the organization of the Spierdijk fair. I think it is important for the solidarity of the village. Will many new loves arise there? Not much, to be honest. At most for a night. Who knows, next year.”
20 years together: Anja Roelands & Mark Mulder from Medemblik
She remembers the date exactly: August 1, 2005. On that Lappendag, the last day of the Medemblik fair, a spark flew between Anja Roelands and Mark Mulder. Mark took the first step, in the then Black & White discotheque. “It’s a little easier with a beer,” Mark says drily. “Then you’ll be a bit more relaxed. Making a lewd comment might help.”
Not much later a date followed, in the local cafeteria. “It was raining cats and dogs,” Anja remembers. “I thought: he must not be there. But he was there.”
After that, the relationship took shape. “My brother pushed me to call him. ‘Just do it now and everything will be fine,’ he said,” Anja remembers. The fair couple is now 20 years old and has two children. “I’m glad my brother said that.”