Part of the boardwalk at Boxtel was destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening. A lot of smoke was released. The path has been closed off with ribbons, meaning that hikers can no longer cross the bridge into nature for the time being. The boardwalk is normally used a lot by people who want to walk in the area.
When the rain has subsided, many people go out on Thursday afternoon to take a walk along the Dommel near Boxtel. Some with the dog, others alone. However, they will have to adjust their route. The boardwalk that runs straight through a swamp area has been destroyed over at least twenty meters by the fire.
“It is a beautiful bridge for walking in nature between Boxtel and Liempde. Due to vandalism, this is no longer possible,” says Gerrit de Jong, who is walking his dog. “It’s actually a shame, because right at the bridge the dog is allowed to run free for a bit. Pointless and a waste of money. But also a shame for the people who cross it every day,” says a lady who lives nearby and walks around with her dog.
“It was a spectacular sight, but not in a nice way.”
The fire had a major impact, because the grass around the bridge was scorched away. Godfried van den Braak lives on the Dommel and was warned by friends that there was a fire in his neighborhood. “Then I went outside and saw it burning heavily through the forest. It was a huge fire that the fire brigade had their hands full with. It was a spectacular sight, but not in a nice way,” he reflects.
The remains of a burned-out scooter lie among the blackened bridge parts and debris. The steering wheel is still visible and the exhaust is still there. Local residents suspect that it was used in the fire. “I think that moped was stolen and used for something and that they wanted to get rid of it. Then here on the other side of the Dommel, where almost no people live, is a great place to light it,” says Van den Braak.
Another local resident, who does not want to be named, saw a car without a license plate near the bridge at the end of the evening on Tuesday. Young people were sitting on the bridge and he saw how they shined through the nature reserve with flashlights. He thinks they were involved in the fire.
The remains of a scooter lie between the blackened bridge parts. Local residents suspect that it was used in the fire (photo: Wilco Zonneveld).
According to De Jong, there has been nuisance in the neighborhood for some time. “Since the turn of the year we have had quite a problem with fireworks, especially under the tunnels under the A2. Perhaps it is a joke that has gotten out of hand. But these are no longer jokes. This is sad,” he says. The local lady with her dog also says that young people often hang around the bridge.
Local residents hope that the boardwalk will be repaired quickly. An employee of the De Dommel water board, which owns the bridge, came to take some measurements on Thursday with a ruler. “Hopefully we can move the step and put down wood chips so that people can use the bridge again. I built it six years ago and it is used a lot, especially now that summer is coming.”
Until then, local residents take a different walk with their four-legged friend. “Luckily it’s nice enough around here.”
