The give-away shop Veur Noppes has exchanged its old written-off location for a chic building at Hoofdstraat 9 in Stadskanaal. This secures the store’s future for years to come.
,,I never thought this was possible”, says Eveline Dobber. She owns Veur Noppes, but don’t call her the big boss. She does it together with the volunteers. In her ‘shop’, residents with a small purse can get free stuff. “We have about 600 families as customers.”
Since Wednesday, the club has been in a stately building on the Hoofdstraat in the center of the village. It is quite a difference from the old and depreciated school building in which they were until recently. It was still a bit exciting if they could find a new place. Dobber had already seen the building on Funda, but that seemed too ambitious. “It’s beautiful.” Thanks to a subsidy from the municipality, they were able to rent it anyway.
It is one of those buildings with allure in which one expects a notary. White walls, high windows, and ornaments to decorate them. The floral wallpaper of the previous tenant is still hanging inside. Against the walls are industrial racks with piles of clothing. Veur Noppes looks fresh and modern.
Dobber sniffs through it. Blouses, T-shirts, trousers, but also shoes and boots. Further on, customers will find a plant cabinet, decoration items and board games. ,,We have everything,” says Dobber. “And it’s all of good quality.” The stuff only costs 10 cents, except for footwear, which costs one euro.
But actually the front of the store is not the heart of the matter at all. ,,These are the things that have been lying around for a while,” says Dobber, pointing around. It’s actually what’s left.
The collection is allowed to continue a bit so that everyone can dress according to the current fashion. “We are against waste. So everything that is left can also be taken by people with a thicker wallet. “We are against waste. It’s a shame if it stays down.”
She continues to the back of the store. Only people who can prove that they have a low income are allowed there. Everything is free for them here, customers can choose a maximum of five items of clothing per person per month. ,,That seems like a lot, but children grow quickly”, says Dobber.
There are even more clothes in warehouses, some with the price tags still on them. Thanks to the local middle class. But also furniture and white goods: “That’s for when people really need something new and can’t get it any other way.”
How can all this be given away for free? Thanks to a donation campaign, the subsidy from the municipalities and most importantly: residents and entrepreneurs who clean up and give their belongings to Veur Noppes for free. Dobber: ,,We hope that everyone will find us here too. It’s a wonderful place.”