A Leap of Faith Fueled by Swedish Steel
Some stories unfold on highways, others in quiet workshops scented with oil and history. In the small Dutch village of Slochteren, one such story is being written by Ronald Kleinstra, a 56-year-old former manager at Holland Casino who traded his corporate badge for a wrench – and a fleet of Saabs.
For twenty-five years, Kleinstra built a solid career under the bright lights of roulette tables, managing the VIP program of one of the most prestigious casinos in the Netherlands. His was a life of constant motion, deadlines, and late-night diplomacy with high-stakes clients. But then came the pandemic—a pause long enough to make him question what it meant to be “successful.”
When the casino doors stayed shut for ten months, silence replaced the sound of chips and laughter. “What a serene peace,” Ronald thought. And in that silence, the hum of a turbocharged Swedish engine began to sound much more appealing than the chatter of a gaming floor.
As reported by Dutch daily DVHN, that realization marked the beginning of one of the most unexpected Saab stories in recent Dutch memory.
From Roulette Tables to Torque Wrenches
“I thought: I’m not technical – so why not start a Saab garage?” Ronald says with a laugh. It sounds absurd, even reckless. But Saab owners have always understood that logic and emotion often share the same engine bay.
Before the pandemic, he had never planned to leave his job. But as reorganizations drained his passion, and with his son grown up and the family dog gone, he made a decision that felt radical yet deeply right: to spend the next decade doing something meaningful – and fun.
A tip from his landlord pointed him to a property for sale in Slochteren: a small building with living space upstairs and a workshop below. Enough room, Ronald realized, to turn his modest Saab hobby into something real. Within months, the sign went up. Orphyum Garage was born – clever nod to his casino years.
In roulette, there’s a group of eight numbers that don’t belong to any main series. They’re called orphans – the “orphelins.” The name stuck. “It’s symbolic,” Ronald explains. “These cars are like orphans too – Saab stopped making them in 2011, but they still deserve love and care.”
Building Orphyum: The Saab Slochteren Spirit
Four years later, stepping into Ronald’s garage feels like walking into a time capsule of Trollhättan’s golden era. Around twenty Saabs stand in various stages of revival—from dust-covered 9-3 Aeros to battle-worn 900s and a handful of rare 9-5s waiting for new owners.
The workshop floor tells its own story. Rows of alloy wheels, spare seats, steering wheels, and even old headlight clusters neatly line the shelves. In the back, a corner is dedicated to the “Saab Wall” – a visual tribute to his growing inventory and the friendships that have come from it.
Initially, Kleinstra planned to keep the operation small, a kind of semi-retirement hobby. But that idea evaporated quickly. “Then I was offered a full warehouse of parts from a closing Saab garage in Belgium,” he recalls. “After that, I had no choice but to expand.” He now rents an additional warehouse behind his main building, storing rare items and discontinued parts that are increasingly difficult to find.
When the Parts Become the Real Jackpot
Saabs are no longer produced, yet the demand for quality examples remains strong. “They’re incredibly solid cars if you maintain them properly,” Ronald explains. But the challenge lies elsewhere: parts scarcity.
“Some components have become extremely expensive. When something rare appears on the market, the price can double overnight.” He points at an oil cooler on the workbench. “This one? We had it re-engineered ourselves. It’s our own design, and it works perfectly.”
That spirit—of adapting, re-making, and refusing to let the brand fade—defines not just Orphyum, but the wider Dutch Saab community. Over the years, enthusiasts in the Netherlands have quietly built a network of workshops, suppliers, and restorers dedicated to keeping the brand alive.
From Etienne Boumans’ Saab Specials Meppel, known for its exceptional restorations, to the ever-growing Saab Treffen gatherings that draw cars from across Europe, the movement thrives on independence and craftsmanship. Kleinstra’s workshop fits perfectly into that landscape – a living reminder that passion can be engineered, one turbo at a time.
Managing Freedom: The Casino Skills That Never Left
Despite the grease and gears, Ronald’s management roots still show. “I thought I’d learn to do everything myself,” he admits. “But I soon realized I’m better at talking than fixing.” He now employs a skilled mechanic to handle repairs while he focuses on sourcing cars, parts, and customers.
On Saturdays, the garage transforms into a small community hub. The mechanic works, the staff helps customers, and by 10:07 a.m. – as Ronald jokes – everyone seems to arrive at once. “I always say we’re open from nine to five, but somehow, everyone shows up just after ten. That’s fine – there’s always coffee.”
He laughs at his own schedule: “I work three times harder for a third of the money, but I’m free.” That freedom comes with a different kind of reward. He can drive to Germany to pick up a car and stay overnight if he wants. There’s no corporate pressure, no endless meetings. Just him, his customers, and the steady rhythm of Swedish machinery.
The Cost and Joy of Doing It Your Own Way
Running a Saab garage isn’t a goldmine – it’s a calling. “I don’t need the highest hourly rate,” Ronald says. “If customers leave happy, that’s worth something.” Still, he’s realistic. Rent, energy costs, and salaries must be covered. “It’s no longer just a romantic hobby,” he adds. “It’s a real business now.”
Yet every car that leaves his shop carries a story – a family heirloom restored, a classic 900 rescued, a 9-3 kept on the road despite corporate extinction. “That’s what keeps me going,” he says. “Each car is part of Saab history.”
As the day ends, Ronald often browses online listings, scanning for the next project. The serenity of the pandemic years is gone; in its place stands a workshop alive with noise and purpose.
Holland’s Quiet Saab Renaissance
The Netherlands has quietly become one of Europe’s most active Saab nations. From Saab Meppel and RawSaab UK collaborations, to gatherings like IntSaab 2025 in Switzerland where Dutch enthusiasts arrived in convoys, the community keeps proving that Saab never truly died – it simply evolved.
In that sense, Ronald’s Orphyum Garage is more than a business – it’s part of a cultural ecosystem that values design integrity, safety, and individuality. His story resonates deeply with those who see Saab not merely as a car, but as a philosophy: intelligent, understated, and defiantly independent.
Somewhere between the click of roulette chips and the whir of a turbo spool, Ronald Kleinstra found his own winning number.
When Passion Becomes a Profession
Four years after leaving the casino, Ronald’s bet has paid off in the most human way possible. He may not have the steady paycheck or the title anymore, but he has something rarer: a life that aligns with his values.
When asked if he misses the casino, he smiles. “Not for a moment,” he says. “Well… maybe in May, when vacation pay used to come in.”
The rest of the time, he’s too busy living the dream – helping keep a brand alive that meant so much to so many. In Slochteren, the lights might be dimmer than in the casino, but the satisfaction shines brighter than ever.
SAAB is like an old tree-strong,mature,still with many branches,AND strong roots.
I would love to see some more angles of that five door 9-3 in the 2nd photo. Very few cars have these wheels & this is only the 3rd picture I’ve ever come across with these wheels on a car.