Abbekerk loses ‘heart of the village’ due to closure of Het Nieuwe Bonte Paard

Last week, sisters Laura and Marjolein Verhart presented the farewell program for the coming weeks. After nine years, their adventure in the building where they grew up will finally come to an end on November 26. Literally, because from 1978 their parents Cor and Thea were the faces of the Bonte Paard.

The closure hits Abbekerk hard. As with regular customers Peter Groot and Jan Boeder. “I completely understand the family’s decision to sell the Bonte Paard, but it’s very sad for the village, especially because nothing comes back,” says Groot, sitting at his favorite bar. “It’s a drama,” says Boeder. “I’ll miss it terribly too.” And now? “Perhaps the village hall can still play a role in terms of catering. Otherwise we should just sit at home together.”

Abbekerk undressed

In Abbekerk there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the working method of the municipality of Medemblik. Boeder: “Abbekerk is simply being stripped down. The small cores can afford it all for Medemblik itself. Everything can happen there and we can whistle about everything here. You can see it in the housing construction and everywhere. Everything is declining here.”

The anger stems, among other things, from the years of discussion about the village hall. It was supposed to be renovated, but due to the shaky financial situation of the municipality, no decision has yet been taken. The plan was that the Nieuwe Bonte Paard would make a new start in the renovated village hall.

Laura Verhart: “That was a unique opportunity for us to start that process. Since 2017, we have had a lot of conversations with the municipality, but there was no more money for the new village hall. empty-handed business.” Because in the meantime, Het Nieuwe Bonte Paard had already been sold by Cor and Thea, and the construction of houses and apartments will soon be started on that spot.

Auction

In a few months, the social meeting place will be demolished. On November 26 – the last day – the complete furniture of the café/restaurant will be auctioned. “There are already customers who want to buy a piece of the bar. Those are nice things.”

But after that it’s really the end of the story. “Sad for the family that it will come to an end in such a way, while something else has been promised. But it is even sadder for the village. When some housing is finally built in Abbekerk, there will be no more catering facilities. the village is a bit unattractive for many people.”