Henny Benak-Nijstad from Ruinerwold has been appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau. She has been committed to Museum Farm De Karstenhoeve in her hometown for years.
In the museum farm she was honored by mayor Inge Nieuwenhuizen. Benak-Nijstad was secretary of the management committee of the municipal museum farm in Ruinerwold until its privatization in 1998 and was co-founder of its successor: Stichting museumboerderij De Karstenhoeve. She is now stepping down as secretary there after 25 years.
In addition to the board activities, Benak-Nijstad is busy as a volunteer with many other things at the museum. For example, she managed the archive, she took care of the newsletter and arranged the ironing of all textiles in the museum. She was also always very involved in the auction days in the museum and the annual pear sale.
Benak-Nijstad is not only a familiar face in the museum. In the 1980s she was secretary at the local gymnastics club for 6 years. In addition, she was a judge and volunteer at the club and several other gym associations in the area.
For the Oosteinde Summer Festival, Benak-Nijstad has been providing flower arrangements for the party tent for 15 years, she also makes flower arrangements for the tractors of participants in the parade. For several years she has also been active as an obstacle inspector at the Havelter Survival Run.