Company outing in a classic car: Team Vive la Vie tours UNESCO heritage Veenhuizen
29 March 2026 • Tonny's Classic Drive, Groningen
On Sunday 29 March 2026, Tonny's Classic Drive organised a company outing for the young team of Restaurant Vive la Vie from Groningen. A group of colleagues who see each other all week behind the bar and in the kitchen, but that day climbed together behind the wheel of a 2CV, a Mini and an MG. The result: plenty of laughter, an impressive stretch of northern Dutch countryside and a day that will be talked about for a long time.
Welcome at the showroom
At half past ten we welcomed the group in our showroom on Groningerweg 40 in Groningen. Coffee was ready, the pastries had been selected and the cars were polished and lined up. We took the time to get everyone up to speed: how does a classic gearbox work, what do you do when the 2CV leans into a bend, and which route are we taking today.
At exactly 11 o'clock the convoy pulled out of Groningerweg.
Driving through UNESCO heritage Veenhuizen
The route we put together for the team follows the Industrial Heritage Route: via the Onlanden, Peize and Roden to Veenhuizen. The former penal colony has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021. Wide avenues lined with poplars, characteristic red-brick buildings and a canal that mirrors the cars in the water. A setting that needs no filter.
Behind the wheel of a classic
Not everyone had driven a classic car before. You could see it in their faces at the start: a hint of nerves, quickly replaced by broad grins once the first few metres were behind them.
A special presence that day was Kai, our own Irish Setter, who rode along in the VW camper as the most relaxed passenger of the entire group.
Lunch at Bitter en Zoet
In the early afternoon the convoy parked at Bitter en Zoet in Veenhuizen for a leisurely lunch. Time to catch up, to relive the best moments on the road and to take a guided tour of the Prison Museum. The combination of good food, a remarkable location and the story behind Veenhuizen left a strong impression on the whole team.
At 15:00 the convoy headed back to Groningen. The first cars arrived at 17:00, the last at 17:30. Satisfied after a full day outside, and clearly happy.
What makes this company outing different
Driving together in a classic car is something different from a bowling afternoon or an escape room. You are responsible for your own route, you communicate with the other cars through the window or the intercom, and you experience things that simply don't happen on a normal working day. Small fumbles behind the wheel instantly become stories. That creates a bond that lasts long after the outing is over.
The team from Vive la Vie had a wonderful day. So did we.
Planning a company outing?
Tonny's Classic Drive organises classic car routes for groups of six or more, including a welcome at the showroom, route guidance and lunch on location. Find out more about our company outings with classic cars or read more in our article about group tours and company outings in Groningen.
Interested? Book directly via our booking page.
