The Alkmaar caravan dwellers who had to leave the meadow on which they temporarily camped have now set up camp at the Olympiapark, next to the ring road. “We are not leaving,” said caravan resident Bertus Schlamilch. “If necessary, we will go to nineteen different places.”
At the moment there are two caravans and two motorhomes on the field. Three families are having a nice cup of coffee and a sympathizer already brought vegetables from her allotment garden around the corner. The caravan families expect even more people to join them.
Ukrainians
They are also in talks with Ukrainian refugees. “They are still in Rotterdam, but will probably join us after August 24,” says Bertus Schlamilch. “Then we might be protected. They see them as people, us as animals.”
“We will not leave and stay here as long as we can,” says caravan resident Bertus. He wants the municipality to create new parking spaces as soon as possible and has nineteen different locations in mind where this could be done. “If necessary, we will go to all those places.”
According to Schlamilch, this is a good way to show the municipality which places are available to make possible caravan places: “Certainly when we have five or six locations. Think of it as a portfolio for the municipality.”
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Yesterday it became clear that the activists had to leave the pasture in the Alkmaar part of Sint Pancras. Owner Jan Bruin allowed the group there on his pasture after they had to leave chalets that they last month ‘cracked’ at sports complex ‘t Lood in Alkmaar.
Because camping is not allowed on the meadow according to the zoning plan, Bruin received a letter from the municipality stating that the activists had to leave before August 15. Otherwise, he faced a penalty of 50,000 euros.
Van der Valk
That is why they have now moved to a grassland on the Olympiaweg. The activists suspect that the field they are on now – with a ‘for sale’ sign on it – is next to the location where a Van der Valk Hotel is coming. “The toucan has already settled down,” says an activist with a laugh. He refers to a fully painted camper on which a toucan is depicted.
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