©Omrop FryslânThe images of the escape, captured by Nieuwhof, Krist and Bijlsma
In association with
Omrop Fryslân
NOS Nieuws•gisteren, 22:36
They knew they had a unique place where the NOS could not film the Elfstedentocht. On February 26, 1986, the trio Sander Nieuwhof, Oene Krist and Joop Bijlsma accidentally captured the first escape of two-time winner Evert van Benthem (1985 and 1986). Now, 38 years later, the images have been digitized and transferred to the Fries Film & Audio Archive.
The three were waiting for the leading group between Wier and Vrouwenparochie, a place where they knew the NOS could not reach. “The bridges were too low, so the motorcycle with the film camera could not pass under them,” says Krist Omrop Fryslân.
Exactly where Nieuwhof, Krist and Bijlsma were ready, the eventual winner Van Benthem broke away from the seven-man leading group. Until now, the images had been collecting dust in Nieuwhof’s archive. He has now transferred them to the film museum in Leeuwarden.
This escape by Van Benthem, filmed by Nieuwhof, Krist and Bijlsma:
NOS was unable to produce these unique Elfstedentocht images
The three had already arranged everything in advance. Nieuwhof: “We even had to apply for a permit to drive there, which is of course not possible.”
Bijlsma drove, Krist hung on the side of the car to keep an eye on everything and hobby filmmaker Nieuwhof hung out of the roof with the camera. “We had arranged a Jeep,” says Krist, laughing. “Because we had to have a car with an open roof.”
That happens once in your life, a moment like that. Oene, Joop and I recorded that.
Sander Nieuwhof
The men could not have imagined what happened next. Through his lens, cameraman Nieuwhof saw how Van Benthem increased his lead with every skating stroke. “That was a great moment for us. That happens once in your life, a moment like that. Oene, Joop and I captured that,” says Nieuwhof.
It was immediately clear to Krist that Van Benthem was in good shape that day: “He was the strongest. How easily he drove away. He still had a good battery left.”
©Omrop FryslânThe place where Van Benthem escaped from the leading group
The images were never shown on television. That could have been done, says Nieuwhof. “At the NOS they had seen from the helicopter that we were filming. They contacted us and wanted the images.”
The men could get a hundred guilders for it. A taxi would then take the images to Hilversum. “Then I said that a taxi was more expensive than what they wanted to pay. After careful consultation, we said ‘no’,” says Nieuwhof.
No less than 38 years later, the images have been digitized and updated. Coordinator Jurjen Enzing of the Fries Film & Audio Archive is happy with it: “It is very special. We want to preserve everything that has been recorded in Friesland for the future. This is a real gem,” concludes Enzing.
2024-02-26 21:36:41
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