Car enthusiasts from all over the Netherlands come to Lelystad especially for the so-called “car shelter”. According to the shelter of the brothers Gijs and Joost van Asselt, they adopt cars that “deserve a third, fourth, fifth or sixth life”.
The guys inherited their love of old technology and private and old cars. Grandfather also worked in the trade and father Van Asselt also had the virus. As children, the brothers played with scooters, and later also with broken-down cars. They fixed them with some skill and effort so that they could drive them.
Years ago they started their shelter as a hobby. Now Jost has said goodbye to his teaching job and has made the shelter his job. Brother Gyges is still in the classroom, but he is always busy with cars in his spare time.
They repair and maintain old cars, after which they can be returned to the owner. They are either scrapped or completely worn out, but classic examples can also be found in Lelystad. These cars are given a place in one of their barns.
dirty old dog
Joost and Gijs compare cars to a dirty old dog, or a sad kitten that needs to be cared for. The shelter rescues these types of animals, and the brothers rescue these types of cars so they don’t end up being vandalized. “We often see something in the car that other people don’t see anymore,” says Gijs van Asselt.
They understand that this approach doesn’t necessarily yield the best financial results, but that’s not what men care about. They enjoy fixing things up and interacting with more diverse owners. There’s no need to make a big profit. Jost: “If you’re happy… I think that’s the most important thing. Money is only one thing, isn’t it.”
