Opkikker Day

On Saturday, May 9, my father and I had a very special drive planned. The alarm went off early in the morning, as we had signed up to participate in the Opkikker Day event. Around 7:00 AM, I left with my NEKAF M38A1 heading towards Limburg. My father joined with his impressive GMC CCKW 353. It promised to be a beautiful day, and fortunately the weather cooperated perfectly.

From Rosmalen, we took the smaller back roads towards Limburg. With old military vehicles, that is always much more enjoyable than taking the motorway. Along the way, we enjoyed the quiet roads and the scenery while both vehicles covered the miles without any issues. Halfway through the journey, we stopped briefly to refuel before continuing to Center Parcs Limburgse Peel, where the day would begin. Despite the early start, we arrived exactly on time.

Upon arrival, we received a warm welcome from the organization of Stichting Opkikker. Inside the Business Center, coffee, tea, and snacks were ready for all drivers, volunteers, and participants. Everything was exceptionally well organized, and there was an enthusiastic and positive atmosphere everywhere from the very beginning.

Outside on the grounds, many remarkable vehicles had already lined up. Several members of Wheels were also present with their vehicles. It is always great to see so many enthusiasts of historic vehicles gathered together, especially when it is for a good cause. Besides the military vehicles, the convoy included an enormous variety of special transportation. In total, nearly one hundred vehicles participated. There were motorcycles, Ferraris, Porsches, Land Rovers, fire trucks, and many other extraordinary vehicles. For the families, it must have been an impressive sight.

After the opening speech and the welcome of the families, the event truly got underway. The families received a festive welcome and were then guided to the vehicles. The purpose of the day was to give families facing illness or difficult circumstances a carefree and memorable experience. That gave this drive an even deeper meaning. It was not about the vehicles themselves, but about the smiles on the faces of the children and parents who could forget their worries for a while.

At around 10:15 AM, the convoy departed for Toverland. The route was not very long, but it was a wonderful drive. Along the way, the families enthusiastically waved from the vehicles, and the special convoy attracted a great deal of attention from people along the route as well. The military vehicles in particular drew a lot of interest. The NEKAF performed flawlessly, and it remains special to actively participate in events like this with a vehicle of such age.

Upon arrival at Toverland, the vehicles were lined up so the families could take a closer look, take photographs, and even sit inside some of the vehicles. Once again, everything was excellently organized, and coffee and tea were available for the drivers. It was wonderful to see how much enjoyment the children had while exploring all the vehicles. From classic sports cars to old military trucks, everything stood side by side and created a truly unique atmosphere.

Around 11:45 AM, our part of the day came to an end. While the families continued enjoying their day at Toverland, we started our journey back home. Once again, we avoided the motorway and drove back towards Rosmalen through places such as Boekel, Uden, Nistelrode, and Heesch. Along the way, we made a quiet stop for a small lunch before driving the final miles home. It was a nice opportunity to reflect on the morning and talk about all the remarkable vehicles that had been present.

Looking back, it was a highly successful day. Not only because of the beautiful drive and the incredible variety of vehicles, but especially because you could truly see the impact such an event has on the participating families. It was an honor to contribute to that with our vehicles. For both my father and me, it was definitely a day worth repeating.