The Gorp en Roovert estate between Tilburg and the Belgian border is the largest forest area owned by a family. Owner Harrie van Puijenbroek cherishes ‘his’ forest. “I remember my father saying: ‘Gorp en Roovert is ours.’ That I asked: ‘Which piece then?’ And my father responded with: ‘No, the whole forest is ours’.”
Brabant consists of 74,641 hectares of forest. The family that owns the most forest in Brabant is the Van Puijenbroek family from Goirle, known for the textile factory. The family owns about 830 hectares of Brabant forest. As a little boy, 45-year-old Harrie didn’t understand it. Because how can you own a forest as a family?
“Management of an estate is quite a responsibility.”
He took over management from his father in 2015. “I really like it. I have the best job in the Netherlands. I’m convinced of that. There can only be one manager here in the forest and luckily that’s me. The rest of the family wasn’t very interested in that .”
“Management of an estate is very nice, but it is also a responsibility. As a forest manager, you only make decisions that affect the long term.” For example, Harrie now has to deal with the decisions of his uncles, his father and his grandfather and great-grandfather. And so he in turn is busy with the future. “So all the decisions I make now, my children and grandchildren will soon have to deal with them.”
The Gorp en Roovert estate is freely accessible. “That is why we also employ a number of people who guide the visitors in the right direction.” Harrie is mainly concerned with the production forest, natural forest management and applying for subsidies.
About eighty percent of the Van Puijenbroek family’s forest is used for wood production. “But we don’t do plain clearing where large plots are cleared. No, trees are really selectively removed so that other trees benefit.”
“Above all, the forest must remain there for everyone: for myself, my family and for all the people who come here to enjoy it.
In addition, about 70 to 80 hectares of the Gorp en Roovert estate is natural forest: “A piece of forest where you let all natural processes take their course.” Tree species are planted here that are no longer there, but used to be there. “There are, among other things, fluttering elms, winter limes, maples and sweet cherry trees.” The rest of this area is completely left alone.
Harrie wants to continue with his ‘noble task’ until his retirement. “The forest must remain there for everyone: for myself, my family and for all the people who come here to enjoy it. It is a very beautiful place and we would like to maintain it.”
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