Residents of Eext are once again in charge of all seven village greens. Today the local farmer bought the village green between the Hoofdweg and the Schaapstreek from the municipality of Aa en Hunze for one euro after seventy years.
The village greens in Eext were the property of the local farmer’s market from the 14th century onwards. This association of free farmers has traditionally been responsible for the maintenance of a village green and could decide who could use the land.
“For example, residents of Eext used to pay an amount for the maintenance of the trees on the village green,” says Boermarke chairman Jan Albert Dekker. “If people wanted to build a barn or a farm, they could use the wood from those trees.”
In 1952, one village green changed hands. Dekker: “The residents wanted a paved road in the village and the municipality would maintain it, but wanted something in return. The farmer then exchanged the village green with the municipality.”
Boermarke Eext ideally wanted the village green back and this year a new means of exchange was found. Parking spaces have been created on one of the other village greens in the village, which is owned by the Boermarke, and the municipality would like them to remain.
New homes will be built near these parking spaces and, as far as the municipality is concerned, future residents will be able to park their cars on the village green. But what’s the price, the farmer thought.
“We have been in discussions with the farmer for some time about the ownership of the village green. We want to meet the wishes of the village and that is why we are now giving this village green back,” says councilor Ivo Berghuis (Municipal Interests).
For the symbolic amount of one euro, the village green changes hands in the opposite direction and the boermarke is in charge again. The villagers and the councilor seal the deal over glasses of gin and Berenburg.
“The Drenthe village greens should be the property of the Boermarke, that has been the case for centuries,” says Dekker, after signing the deed of transfer. “We don’t plan to do much with it, other than maintaining the trees. It’s just nice to have them all in our possession again.”
See below how the villagers were called together for the special land transfer