Official opening of the Haandeput business zone in Meulebeke
Ten years ago, the first plans for the SME zone caused strong headwinds from local residents. Initially, seven homes had to be moved, but it didn’t get that far in the end. A green buffer has now also been created. De Haandeput is home to 26 smaller and larger companies. They all open their doors on Sunday. A procedure is currently underway for an additional extension of a maximum of 5 hectares.
“I think we were right in 2010. There was no more room to expand to other industrial zones. We decided to keep our entrepreneurs in our own municipality. It took some time, with protests and objections. But it has been confirmed, within a year all plots were filled in,” says Mayor Dirk Verwilst.