In the Dagblad van het Noorden: Anton Drives Seniors Through Groningen!

The vintage Volkswagen van full of seniors chugs along in all directions. Not via the highway, but along scenic dikes.

Every Tuesday this summer, an oldtimer filled with elderly passengers drives along the narrow winding roads of the province of Groningen. Anton Daleman (54) is behind the wheel of a blue Volkswagen van. For the enthusiasts: a 1978 T2. He takes different seniors on an afternoon drive through the province – at his own expense.

This week, it was the Westerkwartier's turn.

In the back, folded walkers are neatly stacked, and a handy step stool stands ready by the van – everything to make getting in and out smooth. The bench seats are still wonderfully soft, and thanks to the old-fashioned oil suspension, the van gently glides over bumps, shoulders, and dikes.

Out of curiosity, 78-year-old Gerda van Linschoten signed up. With pen and paper on her lap, she eagerly notes down village names, fun facts, and spotted animals. She’s enthusiastic: “Normally we take a big coach to a destination. Then you don’t see anything. This way, you see so much more. Look there! A heron sitting in the grass!”

This is already the fourth time Anton has taken the trip. The idea was born in May 2025 while mapping out routes for his new company Tonny’s Classic Drive, where he rents out classic cars, organizes tours, and offers team outings. “I thought: why not do the test drives with seniors? Most clubs and groups take a break in the summer. This way, I give them a nice afternoon and get to hear stories about the region too.”

He bought his first oldtimer – a red Citroën DS – through an auction site. Today, he owns an impressive collection of twenty vehicles, ranging from Beetles and Fiats to a very special Renault. He imported the blue Volkswagen T2 bus especially for these senior tours from Belgium.

Anton: “I plan to keep going for the rest of the summer, every Tuesday afternoon. And there’s still plenty of space for new sign-ups.”

We’re proud of this beautiful feature in Dagblad van het Noorden and hope to give many more seniors a memorable afternoon! Want to book a ride or join a tour? Get in touch with us!

📅 Published in Dagblad van het Noorden on August 6, 2025, written by Geanne Beimers, photography by Peter Wassing.