By Lisanne Cheizoo
Business Manager
Everyone at UCR has visited De Drvkkery at least once. This popular bookshop/tourist shop/lunchroom does not only supply us with our textbooks but it also functions as a meeting place in Middelburg. Once upon a time, De Drvkkery was also home to the very first office of UCR, then called Roosevelt Academy. In the years before the official founding of RA, many things were discussed in and around De Drvkkery, and director Dick Anbeek has experienced all of this from up close.
Q: “Did you realize that it is UCR’s tenth anniversary this year?”
“Well, I did not realize time had passed so quickly, to be honest. But yes, I did know, I have read about it in the newspaper. It immediately reminded me of when it all started, more than ten years ago.”
Q: “Years ago, you were part of a committee of locals who were “brainstorming” about a new purpose for the town hall. Did the possibility of establishing a university immediately pop up?”
“Yes, in the beginning of this century it became clear that the municipality was moving to a new building, and thus we had to find a new purpose for the town hall. At first, the idea of Roosevelt Academy did not even exist yet – we discussed the possibilities of having a hotel, restaurant or new cultural center in the town hall. However, shortly after this brainstorm session, Hans Adriaansens came into the picture, who presented us the idea of Roosevelt Academy. It proved to be the perfect solution to a couple of problems that had arisen in Middelburg: vacant buildings (such as Koestraat) could be turned into campus locations whereas other areas (such as Bagijnhof) that really needed a renovation could be renovated and used as well. It was all done in a very short time – I think about two or three years, and it was possible because the municipality, Woongoed and others worked well together. Roosevelt Academy has been the solution to many problems in Middelburg.”
Q: “So even though Roosevelt Academy opened in 2004, a lot of work had already been done before that?”
“Yes, that is true. One of the people involved in founding Roosevelt was Koos Scherphuis (who is co-owner of the building in which De Drvkkery is situated), and back then the front part of the Drvkkery, which now serves as the office of Drvkkery Podium, was empty. We quickly realized that the people working on establishing RA could use this empty office. So from 2001 until 2003, Hans Adriaansens had his office here in this building. The first students had their interviews here, as well as some of the teachers who still teach at Roosevelt today.”
Q: “You mean that the front part of De Drvkkery basically served as the breeding place of Roosevelt?”
“Yes, before and during the process of establishing Roosevelt, everything was arranged from the offices in front of the building. We saw people come and go all the time, meetings were held in the lunchroom… Hans Adriaansens even lived here for a while as well.”
Q: “Is this also how De Drvkkery became the supplier of the study books for the Roosevelt?”
“Yes, one of the prerequisites for a university in Zeeland, was that it should have access to a good library – which is de Zeeuws Bibliotheek – and a good bookshop. So that is how we, as a bookshop, became involved as well.”
Q: “Did anything change over the years? Are the current students any different than the first ‘batch’?”
“Well, of course it was a novelty when the first students started here. But apart from the increased number of students, nothing has changed much. You are much more part of Middelburg now, more part of our everyday life.”
Q: “Some people claim that students live in their own bubble and do not try to be part of the local community. What do you think about that?”
“I think it makes sense that you stick together. You need a place to meet each other, like everyone. That is why it is good that you get a place of your own in the old post office. It would be very weird if you spend all day mingling with the locals. Apart from that, students are part of the community of Middelburg, and you notice it on the streets, in the stores.”
Q: “Is there anything you would like to see from Roosevelt in the future?”
“I think it could be nice if in the future Roosevelt and locals could collaborate more on projects, such as organizing lectures together.”
Lisanne Cheizoo, class of 2015, is a Literature and Theatre & Media Studies major from Uden, The Netherlands.
