Oldtimerdag Burgum. A gem in the north of the Netherlands

For months, the organizers have been advertising the Oldtimerdag in Burgum during many northern events. Anyone who visited a random old-timer day in the north of the Netherlands cannot possibly have forgotten September 10. And during the second Saturday of September, it turns out that the old-timer event in the main town of Tytsjerksteradiel has remained well. Participants drive back and forth, and the pleasant center of Burgum is full of visitors.

The organization of the Oldtimerdag Burgum, including the well-known Eelke van der Kooi, Henk Toonstra and Lex Miedema, did not only fly during events. She also called in the local media, which in turn enthused the regional Umfeld. On September 10, everything is ready for a beautiful old-timer day. The only thing nobody can control is the weather. Still there is reason for excitement, Henk sends me a message on Friday with the weather of the day, and that looks good.

The organization has prepared a goodie bag for the first hundred participants. Later in the day, the number of participants turns out to be almost twice as much. Upon arrival, it is already noticeable that the course is in good shape. Many a classic owner has found a place for his or her car, motorcycle or moped. Classic cars are by far in the majority. Recently I attended many events. But here, in Burgum, I see the necessary new lots for the northern classic strain.

The owner of a beautiful Pontiac Firebird is proud to park at one of the volunteer posts. And further on I enjoy, for example, Beetles, Fords, the beautiful Fiat 124 Spider 2000 from Piet Verhaag (with whom I drink a cup of coffee later in the day and chat), a great Volvo PV544 (I'll say it again: Vilken fantastic butt!) and two beautiful pre-war Fords.

The day before, I paid attention online to the sixtieth anniversary of the Opel Kadett A. One such car is parked in the main street, a fine example from the last year of construction. And not far from there I meet Tamme and Gepke. They came up with the Traction Avant about which we made a report in 2015. It's nice to meet them again, and it gets even nicer when the TA owners tell me that a Kadett A has also been added to the fleet. The Kadett A saga in Burgum is not over yet. Because further on is the - in my opinion - most beautiful car of the event: a jewel of a two-tone Kadett A Coupé, built in 1963, the first year that this version ran off the line. And: delivered new in the Netherlands, that's also a thingy.

It goes on like this for a while. One beautiful classic after another passes by, such as the special Vauxhall Victor 101 (built in the GM factory in Antwerp, with Powerglide automatic transmission), the incredibly beautiful Ford Escort RS 2000 Mk II, the DAF 66 SL Coupé (with sliding roof, wonderful ) and plenty of beautiful Americans. I will undoubtedly do the necessary owners short by not mentioning everything, but take it from me that it is really a feast. I do the same, for example, with two real patina Order Ducks, which bring a very pleasant French countryside atmosphere with them.

However, I still briefly consider two very special cars. Lex Miedema - one of the co-organisers - has a preference for very specific heritage. His Renault NN (we made a magazine report about it in 2016) is in the center, and on one of the event corners (let me call it that) is his unfinished Trojan. But now you already see where it's going. This is going to be a one hundred percent classic, and the example is parked in miniature on the beautifully cloth-covered rear seat. And next to the Renault mentioned, we find a LeZebre, from Gerrit Postmus from Blije. He came to Burgum with the wagon from 1906. Max 35 kilometers per hour, magneto ignition, two gears and delivered new in an era that no visitor consciously experienced.

For example, the Oldtimerdag Burgum is much more than a relaxed walk along classic cars. The organization created space in a ring shape, so that the course stays in it. The presence of numerous catering outlets and the live music also contribute a lot, and ensure that the atmosphere is even more relaxed than you would expect. Another detail: participants can enter and exit the center in one direction. And meanwhile - and that is nice in difficult financial times - the middle class also benefits from the pleasant bustle.

In short: this is an event that should be on the agenda every year. All the conditions are right, the infrastructure is good, the media are well involved and above all: the organizers are classic car enthusiasts and self-critical. Those responsible will not say so themselves. But then we'll say it. The Oldtimerdag Burgum marks the difference between good and excellent on a beautiful late summer Saturday, and is a gem on the northern oldtimer calendar.