For writer Frénk van der Linden, cars are synonymous with freedom, being able to come and go wherever you want. “I love them, but at the same time I hate them.”
Where does your twisted relationship with cars come from?
“The car used to be a sacred thing at home. When my father wasn’t out as a truck driver, he was at home working on his luxury car. My mother sometimes said: “You would rather lie under the truck than under me.” Cars were probably the reason they broke up, my father was more married to his twenty tonne than my mother. As a child you want your parents to stay together, which in my case has resulted in a love-hate relationship with cars. ”
Have you ever wanted to follow in your father’s footsteps?
“Absolutely. My happiest childhood memories are the ones in which I am sitting in the cabin of his Daf, on the way to Rotterdam, while he smoked a cigarette, was shifting gears and we sang ‘Back home’ by Golden Earring together or another hit from that time. I was so fond of trucks that I had the absolute intention to become a trucker myself. ”
Are you a good driver?
“No. My father was considered king of the road by his colleagues, that was also on his truck, but I drive sloppy. I’m busy with other things in my head. Fiddling with CDs, making phone calls on the go. I usually think it’s a huge waste of time, which is why I use public transport 99 percent. It is wonderful to sit on the train with a stack of pieces, a cup of coffee and a sandwich. ”
What was your first car?
“A Lancia Beta Spider, a kind of mini Ferrari. I then went with the daughter of a man who had 1950s Lancias as a hobby. Her brothers slept with Lancia flyers under their pillow. They lit me up with the Lancia virus, which never went away. I still love the Beta Spider and think about it every month: I have to withdraw money from my savings account and buy a beautifully restored one. ”
Why don’t you do it?
“If you hit something, you immediately have the engine on your lap, and it tempts Spider to tear. I remember having dinner with my then wife at Bocuse, a Michelin star restaurant near Lyon, and darting back at 183 km / h on roads where you are allowed to go 60. The next day I thought: a nice evening, but not such a good idea. A car like that brings out the worst in a man, and if you’re not such a great driver … I’m 63, I’d rather have it fun for a while. ”
Is the Lancia your dream car?
“I have loved the Fiat 500, the egg cup, all my life. I also like the modern version. When my wife Mylou and I go on vacation and we want to rent a car, I always ask if it could be a Fiat 500. But Mylou is a singer and cabaret performer, so she regularly has to travel to Roermond or Franeker with a car full of stuff. That’s why we have a large, classic Volvo 740 Estate. One with a catalytic converter. I prefer to drive as green as possible. ”
Frénk in short
Born October 14, 1957Education School for Journalism in UtrechtMarital status Married to Mylou Frenckenresidence HaarlemCareer During his career, Van der Linden has interviewed thousands of people for newspaper, television and radio. He has published several collections, including ‘Eerlijk zijn – conversations about soul and salvation’ (declared an interview bible), made the documentary ‘Verloren Band’ about the divorce of his parents and regularly presents the radio program ‘Kunststof’. This month his new book ‘En always but desire’ will be published, in which he asks questions to his deceased father and mother in letters that are as intimate as they are penetrating, which he – interviewer, please – never dared to ask.