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Argos participates in 25th edition of the Varend Corso

08 april 2024

He may be retired, but going on holiday is out of the question at the moment, he told home. No, Sjaak van der Tak, former mayor of Westland, is visiting companies these days to get them excited about the Varend Corso. And he is succeeding brilliantly. One of the new participants Van der Tak has won over is director Frans van Alphen's Argos. Together, they talk about their passion for the colourful parade of boats.

For years, Westlander Frans van Alphen sat along the waterside carefully watching the boats of the Varend Corso one by one. Or he would drive his own boat along the long parade. Maybe he should do something more with it, he increasingly thought. When Sjaak van der Tak, whom he had known for years, rang the bell, he decided to say yes.

,,I had been hesitating to join for years and now decided to take the plunge after all," says Van Alphen, sitting at a large table in Argos' office on Nieuweweg in Honselersdijk. Next to him at the table, Sjaak van der Tak, who has brought two bright blue Varend Corso jumpers especially for the photo, hears with pleasure. 'I managed that nicely after all,' the ambassador seems to think.

And Van Alphen confirms the former Westland mayor's 'push'. ,,I think it's very nice that Sjaak now wants to give extra zest to the Varend Corso by bringing in new participants as ambassador," Van Alphen continues. "And it is also necessary, because we need to show the world that we have something unique here in Westland."

Van Alphen cannot understand why some people think the Varend Corso is old-fashioned. I really don't understand that," he shouts fiercely. It is unique, with our historical heritage. Beautiful Sailing Westlanders and beautiful Westland barges that are decorated in a certain theme and sail through the region, I really like that."

The boat with which Argos will participate in the 25th edition of the Varend Corso in June is therefore a real showpiece of more than 120 years old. ,,A boat from 1903 owned by Thijs van Waveren, who used to be on the Gantel. The rudder was broken, but that is now being restored completely to authentic condition. We should cherish that lineage and history."

Saying yes is one thing, but making up the boat is by no means a piece of cake, Van Alphen found out. ,,That is quite exciting. You need a good arranger and a good story. And then you have to get all those vegetables and flowers on the boat. We have been very busy making it all up. And once it's in June, we invite all employees and their family members to a location along the water to get together and look at the boats. Very fun to do because not everyone is from the region. I am proud of Westland and I want to show that to everyone."

The Varend Corso is a wonderful vehicle for that, the Westland entrepreneur believes. And he is happy that after a few seemingly difficult years, the parade is back in full swing. With about 50 boats participating, the parade has not been this long in years. ,,It weakened a bit, but since last year they have found the way up again. The organisation is tackling it very positively and full of energy."

The same goes for former mayor Sjaak van der Tak, who himself has lived in Honselersdijk for many years. When he announced becoming ambassador of the event, he said he was going to call at least 40 companies. That has already become many more and he is far from finished. Companies from outside Westland that are building homes here, for example, can also expect a call.

,,I also get talked to about it on the street," he confesses. ,,I used to drive through Westland by car, now I walk. People keep asking me: 'Come and see me too'. And I then do that with my sponsorship packages."

Van der Tak even managed to get supermarket Albert Heijn to sponsor water and other provisions. And that is quite a 'thing' for a thousand volunteers, the ambassador knows.

Participating boats are now more than enough, but sponsors are not easy to find. After all, the Varend Corso costs a pretty penny, especially this jubilee edition, in which the organisations want to go the extra mile. Some 500,000 euros are needed for this 25th edition, which is mainly raised by companies, municipalities and funds. Only one major sponsor is good for 60,000 euros.

That is why everyone can support the Varend Corso. Already for 1,000 euros you are a member of the club of 1,000. There are also bronze (2,500 euros), silver (5,000 euros) and gold sponsors (10,000 euros). ,,I still have 12 outstanding that I am still getting answers to. And I am still working with quite a few companies. At home, I said we can't go on holiday for a while in April."

Van der Tak likes the fact that in De Lier, where the Varend Corso once saw the light of day, there is a big party this year. All the people of Lier from all over the country come back to their village. The boats even pass there twice because they have to go back and forth. I therefore call on everyone to do something along the waterfront and make it something beautiful."

The Varend Corso is not an event for a company to attract more customers, but to support the region, adds Frans van Alphen. ,,It is a national event organised by Westland to raise the region to a higher level. You do this because you care about the region. This is positive energy. With that whole discussion about the spread law, we as Westland have had so much negative publicity thrown at us from all over the country, we really need this now."

Van der Tak fully agrees. "I note that people actually want to stand up now to show what we all do and are here together in Westland."

The boats of the Varend Corso will pass through regional waters on 21, 22 and 23 June.

Source: AD
Picture: Thierry Schut
www.schut.photo