The Cnossen family could not have chosen a better day for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of their holiday park on the Leekstermeer. A lovely sun, pleasant temperature and also enough wind to be able to sail.
“Look there in that last boat is my grandson Koen”, says Chris Cnossen (74) on Saturday afternoon. “He can sail well.” There are plenty of activities for young and old to celebrate the anniversary at the holiday park. From a tour with a skipper, a sailing instruction to a tasting at the Maallust beer bus, which has brewed its own beer for the family business: De Optimist Cnossen blond.
The proud grandfather, who handed over the company to his sons Jelle (42) and Cas (43) in 2010, has hidden himself in the pavilion of the holiday park. Sometimes it gets a little too busy for him. But he also enjoys the conviviality of the people on the terrace and certainly of the water recreationists.
Three generations
Surprising encounters and conversations with guests who come especially to congratulate the entrepreneurial family are also fun. “I spoke to a woman who is now a grandmother herself. She spent years at our park with her parents as a child. She said she will be returning to the campsite this summer. I really like that.”
It was his father Piet who took over the former pavilion, boathouse and land on the Leekstermeer in Nietap near Roden from the then owner in 1947. Over the years, residents of the city of Groningen in particular have enjoyed wonderful summers on and by the water. Chris Cnossen joined the company twenty years later and took it over in 1984 with his wife Tinie. During that period, the boat rental and the sailing and surfing school and catering were expanded considerably.
Peace and space
Later a restaurant with an extensive menu was added. In addition to overnight guests at the campsite on the water, more and more day trippers and groups came to the park. Their two sons, who grew up on the farm, have now been at the helm for twelve years. “My brother is walking further down the park,” says Jelle Cnossen, who is standing outside the pavilion on the water. The co-owner of the holiday park is constantly approached by enthusiastic guests and acquaintances.
According to him, the success of Holiday Park Cnossen lies in the peace and quiet and the personal attention for the guests. “That is also a form of luxury,” he says. “We have 140 spacious pitches on the water for caravans and tents, 55 of which are seasonal pitches. You will not see mobile homes with us. We want to be a holiday park for tourist camping with many activities in the field of water recreation. The fact that we have a restaurant with a large terrace is a great added value.”
Future: glamping but also basic tents between the reeds
Recreation giants such as Europarcs or Roompot have not yet knocked on the door of the Cnossen family to buy the park. “I don’t see that happening any time soon. We absolutely do not want that. Our aim is to maintain a sustainable company for the next generation. In the future I expect that there will be more glamping tents, without sanitary facilities, that are also fully equipped. But also tent spots between the reeds, which are very basic.”
Jelle Cnossen has no doubt that there will ever be successors within the family. “My children really enjoy working in the company,” he says. Daughter Noor (16) is in the kitchen today. Son Koen (14) gives sailing instructions and Saar (12) helps with the face painting of children. “There is enough staff, that is not the reason. They enjoy it. It is also very nice work.”