The past few days they met up every morning on the platform of Baarn station to commute to their temporary employer in Zandvoort. Cosy. “The enormous sense of solidarity is really so beautiful. Even on the train. The people you meet. Everyone is enthusiastic, everyone is looking forward to it.”
Employment agency
The two are almost like professional volunteers. They know each other from Soestdijk Palace, where they both work. Voluntarily, of course. And through Eventmakers, a kind of employment agency for volunteers, they now go everywhere and nowhere. “That’s what it’s all about for me,” says Dorrestein. And in between work, they can also watch a bit of the Grand Prix every now and then, because there are still some tickets ready for the volunteers.
Formula 1 doesn’t really interest the Soester, he admits. “I’m not a fan, no. But I do really enjoy walking around at these kinds of events. The atmosphere is great. This is now the fourth year that I’ve been working here at Formula 1 in Zandvoort. The first time in particular, right after corona, was great. Everyone was so excited!” He has also seen Max Verstappen walk past once in the meantime. “Everyone was hysterical, haha.” The best event he has worked on? “The Invictus Games. Absolutely.”
Yvonne de Ruiter and Harrie Dorrestein at Baarn station. © Photo Caspar Huurdeman
For Yvonne de Ruiter it is the first time in Zandvoort, but she is also enjoying it to the fullest. “I do all sorts of things actually. Once I guided the VIPs, another time I was sitting on a lifeguard chair with a megaphone shouting things around. It’s all great fun.” She has been working at all sorts of events for a few years via Eventmakers. “It started with the Eurovision Song Contest actually, but I have also done the Vuelta for example.”