It took twenty years, but it will come. Holiday park Parc Sandur in Emmen is approaching its completion after almost a quarter of a century. A start is being made this year with the construction of the last 122 holiday villas.
The Emmer Holiday Park consists of more than 300 houses, built on peninsulas. The construction of the park started in 2000, but the economic crisis threw a spanner in the works shortly thereafter. The sale of the houses stopped and five islands remained undeveloped for years.
In recent years, the demand for holiday homes has been rising, so it was decided to finish the park.
The then new park director Jeroen van de Berg van Center Parcs (who rents out the houses on behalf of the owners) announced the plan in 2023 for another 92 homes on the islands. The permit has since been completed and a developer has also been recruited to build the houses, Van den Berg says.
The plan has been adjusted. Instead of 92 holiday homes, 122 are now being built. Together with the developer, the design of the area was examined. “The lots are now slightly smaller, so there is room for more,” Van den Berg explains. The villas do retain the previously conceived size.
“Only in Belgium there is a park with this type of accommodation. In the Netherlands, Emmen is the first. The type of stay distinguishes itself with its own sanitary facilities in every bedroom and luxury wellness, such as whirlpools and saunas.”
The sale is going well, although Van den Berg does not want to mention exact numbers. “But it is our expectation that construction can be made in April or May.
The Central Recreation Building also has a thorough makeover with regard to the hospitality offer and facilities. For example, an indoor play paradise and four padel courts have been added. The swimming paradise is also being tackled at a later stage. “The slides will be replaced this year and the idea is to renovate the pool. So that it fits better in terms of appearance to the luxury villas that are coming.”