Traveler residents of the camp in the Haagse Beemden in Breda are furious. With a huge banner they protest against the arrival of 24 apartments next to their camp. They wanted to expand there themselves. “This is so unfair! Why them and not us?” asks Bart Hülters.
You can’t ignore it: a demolished building on Gageldonksestraat is completely painted blue-green. “That is the flag of caravan residents,” Hülters declares proudly. A meters-wide banner sets the tone: ‘Municipality of Breda, we do not keep asking for a place for our caravan.’
No choice
Bart is forced to live in a house with his family. He has been waiting for decades for a position, but it is not there. “Living in a caravan is in your blood! We have no choice now.”
Next to the camp there is a piece of wasteland. According to the municipality, this belonged to a private individual, who sold it to the Alwel housing association. So it will build social rental apartments there. The residents of the camp see their dream pass: expansion for their family members. “We wanted a playground and nine pitches here,” Bart shows some sketches.
“This is unfair! We have been hidden away for years. We have been fighting for places for our children, aunts and uncles for years,” says caravan resident Herman Stuiver. “We’ve been begging for a long time. It’ll be over eventually.”
Another caravan resident adds: “We have been lagging behind for thirty years. Nothing has ever been arranged. We feel discriminated against.”
Extinction policy
For decades there was an extinction policy for caravan centers in the Netherlands. There were no new pitches for caravans. But after legal wrangling, this is no longer allowed since 2018. And so municipalities must offer places.
The municipality of Breda made this ‘turn’ in policy last summer. “I understand the impatience of residents very well,” says councilor Arjen van Drunen. “I want to realize 27 new places as quickly as possible. We are very busy with that. I can’t break an iron with my hands,” he says. The councilor also emphasizes the importance of the arrival of social rental housing in Breda.
Despite everything, the residents remain militant. “My hopes are fading, but we keep fighting!”, says Bart.