In these times of housing shortage, just think about it: a completely new residential area that more than doubles the number of inhabitants of the village. It happens in Berkel-Enschot. More residents also means more facilities, such as the new shopping center that officially opened this weekend.
“In the past we never had a village heart in the village and now we have it,” says Harm Geerst. He proudly walks through the new shopping centre, which was opened on Saturday by Mayor Weterings. There are more than thirty new stores and one of them is from Harm.
“All shopping streets have a view of the former Koningsoord monastery, which has a central place in the entire project.” In 1955, 99 sisters lived in Koningsoord, the largest number in the history of the monastery.
“In recent years, 3,500 homes have already been built and another 2,500 are on the way.”
The building from 1933, where the nuns used to live, has been completely renovated, modernized and expanded with apartments. Helping each other is again central, just like in the past.
“If there is something wrong, we help each other,” says Jack Oprins, who was one of the first to live in the district. On the second floor of an apartment complex above the shops, his wife and his dog overlook the former monastery.
“Luckily we were able to rent this house, because we think this is the most beautiful place.” There are also young people who help the elderly and receive a discount on the rent they pay. Oprins, who has lived most of his life in Tilburg, hardly ever goes to the city anymore. “Just to browse in a bookshop sometimes, but otherwise everything is here in the new heart of Berkel-Enschot.”
Roy Verkuijl lives with his young family in one of the new neighborhoods around Koningsoord. “In recent years, 3,500 homes have already been built and another 2,500 will be added,” he says as we walk through the streets. “Every house is different and I like the ornament on our house that refers to the nuns who once lived here in the monastery.”
Roy thinks living is fantastic. “It is all very spacious for a new residential area, there is a lot of greenery and it is also great for our children. In the park in front of our house, sometimes sixty children are playing after school.”
“People come from everywhere.”
According to Jack Oprins, the neighborhood is popular with people from the distant surroundings of Berkel-Enschot. “People come from everywhere: from Oirschot, Udenhout, Oisterwijk, Diessen, Tilburg and sometimes even further. And also of all ages. It is really striking how everyone is ready for each other here.”
In addition to the extensive shopping center in the new heart of Berkel-Enschot, the former monastery now also houses a nursery, a cultural center, library and a restaurant. At a terrace are old oak trees, which the nuns probably planted themselves at the time.
