Riel will definitely receive 366 more migrant workers, against the wishes of the villagers. The municipality of Tilburg has given the green light to build a large apartment for migrant workers on the border with Riel. This received a cynical applause from the residents of Rielen who left the Tilburg council chamber.
The public gallery was full again, just like the previous times when it was about the migrant worker hotel at Rielseweg 875. The plan was already approved by the municipal council in 2024. There were 182 objections, which meant that the plan had to be adjusted. This has now passed in the council with 27 votes in favor and 17 against.
In the public gallery sat Bram Groothuis and Ton Huijbregts from the Riel Interest Association. “It was pushed through. The disappointment is enormous. We shared concerns, gave arguments and offered assistance. They ignored it all,” says Groothuis, shaking his head outside the council chamber.
No arguments were made
Huijbregts also feels not heard. “There are parties that have done their best for Riel. They understand that a large-scale shelter with 366 migrant workers is far too many, but they have done nothing with it.” For example, the interest group proposed allowing only 110 people to live at the location. “We find that acceptable. We already have 150 and we are already having a lot of problems with them. We are quite put off by it.”
According to project developer Demir Onroerende Zaken and employment agency Carrière, it is not financially feasible if fewer migrants enter the House of Europe building. Huijbregts: “It was not feasible, but I don’t know whether that should be the motivation. Isn’t the safety of the residents and village life more important than the profit motive of the entrepreneurs?”
Next steps at the province
It is now ready for Riel at the municipality of Tilburg. “The environmental permit has been granted. The nature permit is still pending with the province,” says Huijbregts. “The hotel will be close to the Regte Heide nature reserve. How can you build a 15-meter hotel in an ecological connection zone? That is still an issue we have to look at. We will certainly introduce the province to this.”
Groothuis adds: “We will investigate this week what we can do against that nature permit. We are not done yet.” The interest group itself already spoke with Brabants Landschap. “Martens, owls and bats live in the area. How do they view this at the province?”
Disappointed, but as combative as ever, the men return to Riel on their bicycles. The municipality has not been able to stop the plans, but it has not stopped yet. Now they are pinning their hopes on the province.
Migrant workers in Brabant
About 100,000 migrant workers live in Brabant. This group of people needs a place to live. One of the intended locations is Rielseweg 875 in Tilburg. There would be room for 366 people who would come to the Netherlands to work here.
The large migrant labor complex is just being built on Tilburg territory, but it is much closer to the village of Riel than to the city. According to opponents of the plans, the migrant workers would therefore be focused on the village and not on Tilburg. The migrant worker hotel would therefore detract from the quality of life in the village.