The municipality has decided that the De Marshoeve camping site in Loenen will close on December 31. However, half of the residents refuse to leave.
Anita Kerkhof-Klein Gotink, who has lived there with her husband for nearly a decade, told Omroep Gelderland, “Where should we go? We have nowhere else to go.” This situation is part of a broader trend in the Netherlands, where municipalities historically tolerated permanent residency in holiday parks but now seek to prohibit it.
Housing Minister Mona Keijzer recently expressed that municipalities should not complicate the issue, citing the housing crisis as a reason to utilize existing structures. The municipality of Loenen, having purchased De Marshoeve, plans to develop the area into housing and nature spaces.
Residents received eviction notices, with half already leaving and others facing legal proceedings. Some tenants face financial losses, as their chalets remain unsold.
Wil Hagen, from the residents’ association, criticized the forced eviction. Meanwhile, councilor Wenzkowski stated that development plans will be proposed in February, with construction expected to begin by the end of next year.
Despite the closure, residents will retain access to utilities during ongoing legal processes.
Source: NOS