Angèle and Marcel van Riel live in a historic farm in Oisterwijk which they have called ‘Monument Van Riel’. Hundreds of people come every year for a tour of the surprising house. Last season, ‘Farmer is looking for a woman’ even came to make recordings there. The council is less impressed and wants the couple to tear down a nine-meter chimney they built themselves.
Angèle and Marcel have been collecting antiques and curios for decades. Their farm is full of the most bizarre finds.
There was also a nine-meter high steel fence in their garden. That is not allowed according to the zoning plan and that is why it was demolished at the end of last year. They did everything they could to keep the fence, but because the neighborhood also protested, they finally had to tear it down.
The chimney in the garden is still in full regalia and according to the municipality that is not the intention. This building must also be demolished.
The chimney has been standing in the middle of the country estate near the farm for at least twelve years. It is the flue of a patio fireplace. The Van Riel family built it themselves, with a statue on the back that comes from the Belgian palace of King Leopold.
Marcel: ”The chimney is built of antique round clinker bricks. He is now broad below and slender above. If we have to bring him to four and a half meters, it’s going to be a clumsy case. And the smoke blows in.”
Angèle doesn’t quite understand why the chimney should not be left standing: ”No one sees it. The zoning plan states that chimneys are excluded, so no one knows why he has to go down.”
The couple would like the municipality of Oisterwijk to be a little happier with their ‘Monument Van Riel’. Angèle: ”We cherish the cultural heritage of Oisterwijk. We have built an old grocery store from Oisterwijk here. And a 100-year-old tile tableau of John the Baptist has been preserved here. The shop or tile panel would otherwise have gone to the dump. They just have to come and have a look, then they see how beautiful it is.”
The municipality of Oisterwijk was unable to respond on Friday.
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