Opweg in Het Hogeland and Opweg Busreizen

The growth of tourism in Winsum came as a surprise to Erwin and Lianne. "We regularly cycle across the Bow Bridge, and suddenly the whole bridge was full of tourists. That got us thinking." Erwin is the initiator of Opweg. "I think of something and then just implement it," he says soberly. Lianne adds: "And I go along nicely with it."

Erwin had been toying with the idea of providing bus tours after retirement for some time, but later became now. "At first, the plan was to teach on the bus, but once I started going out with people, I knew for sure: I'll go on the bus myself." What particularly appeals to him is the contact with people. "People look forward to a fun day, and you get to be part of that as driver and host," he says. Lianne laughs: "I always jokingly said: then I will be the hostess. And now it has become a reality." Besides being a hostess, Lianne is also the first point of contact.

Lianne and Erwin have alternated for years, with one keeping everything running at home while the other worked and vice versa. "Now it feels like time for each other. It's nice to build something together," says Lianne. A highlight was their first Christmas trip to Bremen. "That was exciting because you don't know if people are going to sign up. Fortunately, the bus was booked up at lightning speed."

What Lianne and Erwin love about Winsum is the togetherness. "The atmosphere, the people, the small scale - it just feels right here." They show how love for their village, entrepreneurship and hospitality come together. With their small-scale bus tours, they get people moving and connect stories - always with personal attention and an eye for detail. Opweg in Het Hogeland is much more than a transport service - it is an invitation to really experience Het Hogeland.

• Opweg in Het Hogeland and Opweg Busreizen
• C F van Sytzamastraat 2
• 9951 AK Winsum
• www.opweginhethogeland.nl and www.opwegbusreizen.nl