Should Haarlem’s Prins Bernhardlaan be given a new name? The Action Party thinks so, after the news about the Nazi party membership card, which was found in the prince’s archives. Tonight the future of the important access road will be discussed in the city council.
The Management Committee of the Haarlem city council will tonight consider the plans to drastically tackle the Prins Bernhardlaan. The main road between the Amsterdamsevaart and Schalkwijk is an important part of the ring around Haarlem.
Many of the lanes are very outdated and need to be replaced. The municipality takes this opportunity to make the road much greener. A system will be installed in the central reservation to properly collect rainwater. In addition, pedestrians and cyclists must be able to cross safely in more places.
The plans state that the northern part of the avenue – between the Zomervaart and the Amsterdamsevaart – should be designed as a green city boulevard. Major maintenance is being carried out on the part south of the Zomervaart.
NSDAP membership card
The Action Party – the smallest coalition party in the Haarlem council – is using the discussion of the plans for Prins Bernhardlaan to ask questions about the street name. Party chairman Danny van Leeuwen: “Yesterday the news came out that Prince Bernhard did indeed have a membership card for the NSDAP, Hitler’s German Nazi party. The prince has always denied this, but these are not the first reports about Bernhard. a confirmation of what we already knew.”
“It’s about not naming streets after someone with such a past”
“I wonder whether you should still honor such a person with a street name,” Van Leeuwen continues. “We are not a party that immediately asks questions after every news item. I think we should wait until Bernhard’s archives are public, next year. This could show that he was forced at the time, but it does not seem that way. “If it is indisputably established, the street names committee in Haarlem should come up with advice. The redevelopment of Prins Bernhardlaan will not be completed until 2025. That would be a good time for a different street name. We do not come up with a suggestion ourselves.”
According to the Action Party, the question about the street name is not a matter of political color. Van Leeuwen: “It’s not about being for or against the monarchy. It’s about not naming streets after someone with such a past. Let’s do ourselves that favor.”