Henk and Ginette Alssema and Deni and Marlous van Dalsem
De Oude Manege
Meet Henk, Ginette, Deni and Marlous from De Oude Manege. Three years ago, they transformed the riding school, on Netlaan just outside the centre of Winsum, into a multifunctional sports and leisure hub for young and old. For instance, there is an artificial turf pitch in the old indoor arena, various group rooms have been created, the horse stalls have been transformed into sports halls, and the outdoor arena has become a beach volleyball court for physical activities. At set times, children can also have a great time playing on the bouncy castles and trampoline whilst their parents enjoy a cup of coffee and a treat in the canteen overlooking the playground.
Four features make dreams come true
De Oude Manege – as the organisation is aptly named – comprises four distinct programmes. Wijsfit enables people to exercise and learn about a healthy lifestyle and mental wellbeing. At ‘Het Verschil’, children and young people can take part in sport-specific training. ‘Zorg bij Nous’ helps and inspires young people to build a future for themselves, thereby preventing them from leaving school early. And the spaces are available for group activities of all shapes and sizes, from children’s parties to team-building events. These four functions not only fit seamlessly into the building but also make the dreams of the four owners a reality.
“ “The old riding school has become a unique place. Young and old alike leave here in high spirits. It’s wonderful to see.” ”
A leisure destination for fun
It all began when Henk and Deni set up the football academy ‘Het Verschil’ in 2010. After a few years, it had become so successful that they began dreaming of having their own permanent premises. “I was cycling to work when I passed the old riding school. The premises had been standing empty for a while. I rang Henk and he was immediately enthusiastic too.” “I’d been dreaming for years of a leisure spot where people could come to have fun,” says Deni. It soon became clear that the riding school was also a dream location for Marlous. “Drawing on my experience in the care sector, I wanted to create a place where young people could simply take a breather and rediscover themselves, because the pressures of society are temporarily lifted,” says Marlous. And so, a plan for the old riding school slowly took shape.
Winsum hospitality
“People from Groningen are sometimes described as reserved, but there’s such a strong sense of community here and it’s very easy to make friends.” “We lived in the city for a short while but made a conscious decision to move to Winsum when Henk and I wanted to start a family,” says Ginette. “You notice Winsum’s hospitality straight away; I’m not originally from here, but I now feel like a proper Winsumer,” adds Marlous. All four of them are enthusiastic about the place and the beautiful, sweeping views. So happy, in fact, that they’ll soon be moving into the company premises too.
For Henk, Ginette, Deni and Marlous, the dream is still a work in progress. The various activities are now running smoothly, but they want to raise the profile of De Oude Manege even further amongst everyone in Winsum and the rest of the Hogeland. That way, even more people can develop their skills and have fun at De Oude Manege.
Contact
- Netlaan 1a
9951 GS, Winsum - 06-53146688
- www.manegewinsum.nl
