The municipality of Emmen buys the monumental Nabershof farm from 1681 and surrounding buildings in Emmen from the ailing folkloric association ‘t Volk van Grada. The plan is to sell the farm to the Het Drentse Landschap foundation, while the adjacent tea house with exhibition space will be sold publicly next year.
The step gives ‘t Volk van Grada financial breathing space. The association asked for help two years ago due to heavy mortgage costs on the Nabershof, theater shed, work shed, tea house and exhibition hall. A one-off contribution of 25,000 euros was requested to help the association out.
The municipality initially rejected this, but later offered financial support. Last year, councilor Dewy Keen (Wakker Emmen) agreed to investigate the purchase of the buildings. In the meantime, the association received 35,000 euros in support to keep its head above water.
According to councilor Dewy Keen, the property was like a “millstone around the neck” of the association. “They then offered us the properties and we are now going to buy them.” It is important that the Nabershof, one of the oldest buildings in Emmen, is preserved for the future. The intention is that ‘t Volk van Grada can continue to use the farm for its activities.
According to Keen, it is not yet known how the Drenthe Landscape will fill in the farm. Given the cultural-historical character, a museum function or a visitor center seems to be the best option. The Drenthe Landscape can take over the Nabershof for the symbolic amount of 1 euro. There is some deferred maintenance.
The association is happy with the solution, but ‘t Volk van Grada still has another problem. Due to an aging population, there is a declining membership base. Two years ago there were 70, but that number has now dropped to 55. The average age of the members is high and new recruits are virtually absent.
The association is struggling with an aging population and a declining membership and volunteer base, as a result of which the farm was not always open and income decreased. Previous investments, such as the exhibition space next to the tea house, proved financially difficult. “In retrospect, it was not a happy decision,” Braam admits.
A merger with ‘t Aol Volk was previously discussed, but that did not happen due to the costs of the real estate. Braam does not rule out renewed consultations, depending on the sale of the properties.
The municipality sold the buildings to the People of Grada for 45,000 guilders in the early 1990s. The agreement was that the municipality retained the right of first purchase as soon as the association wished to dispose of the properties. Now Emmen is allocating 150,000 euros to buy it back.
The intention is for the plots to be cut up. The part with the tea house and the exhibition space – both without monumental value – will be sold to a commercial party through a public sale. According to councilor Jan Bos (Wakker Emmen), the site and buildings must be split. “The Drenthe Landscape has an interest in heritage and not in catering,” he refers to the approximately 50-year-old tea house.
According to Bos, it is possible to make something beautiful out of it for any entrepreneur. “Beautiful location on the Noordeind, with the monumental farm and the long grave dolmen – the only one of its kind in Drenthe – right next to it. Anyone can get by with that.”
The proceeds were used to repay the debt of ‘t Volk van Grada and to cover the costs for the municipality. “One plus one equals three,” said Councilor Keen.