Now the Oosterduinen in Norg is still a recreational area, but it is gradually being transformed into a residential area. And street name signs belong to a residential area. Today the first board was driven into the ground.
Findability has been a major problem in the wooded Oosterduinen for years. “The Oosterduinen are divided into sections: A, B, C and more,” says Jan Kruize. He rents out a holiday home in the woods and is a member of the Oosterduinen Findability Workgroup. “These courses were originally reasonably ordered, but many houses have been added over the years. That has not benefited the findability.”
This is especially difficult for emergency services such as the ambulance and the fire brigade, says alderman Robert Meijer (VVD) of the Noordenveld municipality. “The fire brigade in Norg knows the Oosterduinen like the back of their hand, but it sometimes happens that there is less occupation and colleagues from Vries have to come. They must also be able to find the homes here.”
The Oosterduinen will be an area where permanent living will soon be allowed. “It is still tolerated at the moment, but soon it should really be a residential area,” says Meijer. “Then good findability is very important.”
Kruize still receives monthly calls from guests who cannot find his holiday home. “And recently there had to be an ambulance at another holiday home, but the ambulance was not able to find it at first.”
That has to change, according to the people from the Oosterduinen and the Noordenveld municipality. With ‘Karrepad’ a first street name sign has now been placed. “The municipality does not come up with those street names,” says alderman Meijer. “Usually it is street names that are already called that by the people here. There is a Beukenlaan, but also the Eurekalaan. This is named after the house that bears the name ‘Eureka!’ wear.”
Kruize says that there is quite a bit of discussion about the correct street name. “Take the Peizerpad. A name with history, because it is a fairly well-known name for people from Norg. But holidaymakers who do not come from here have nothing to do with that name. They prefer to live on Lindelaan or something.”
The Oosterduinen Findability Workgroup wants to name streets after people from the past. “We therefore conduct historical research, so that nothing sticks to those names. Not that it later turns out that someone was wrong in the war, for example,” says Kruize.
Kruize’s colleague Willem Gieling has been mapping the streets and naming them for years. “He has been doing that for five years, you can verify. He checks all the houses and addresses. It will take you a while.”