Social housing, senior housing, luxury villas or caravans? The vacant Blekersveld site in Overveen still keeps people busy. After a information meeting it turned out that neighboring caravan residents would like to expand into this field because they were not allowed to build additional caravans for more than sixty years.
Caravan residents Domploodslaan – NH News
Due to the so-called ‘extinction policy’, caravan residents were not allowed to build new caravans for years. As a result, new generations are forced to stay with their parents or worse: with pain in their hearts, parents live in ‘normal’ houses to make room for their children.
Dora Vermanen (53) has a son and three daughters, who now also have children. Because of their caravan culture, Dora would prefer to live at the same camp as two of her daughters, especially now that she is a grandmother. But that’s not possible.
“I want to pass on our caravan culture to my children. I think that is important. That culture means that we live as a family. We help each other and are always busy with each other. This also includes living at a camp together,” she says.
Extinction policy
To live that way, she says, it is not possible to live in ‘normal’ houses. But due to years of government extinction policy, it was illegal to build new cars. Since 2014, the caravan culture has been cultural heritage and construction is allowed, but municipalities are struggling with the question of where they can provide space for additional caravans.
Next to the caravan camp on Domploodslaan is the vacant Blekersveld site. Enough space for the 16 caravans, you would think. But given the current housing crisis and the huge housing shortage, there are plans to build 80 social rental homes.
“I didn’t know the need was so great”
Nevertheless, councilors Attiya Gamri wanted to know exactly what the situation is with the caravan residents and their wishes. “I was stunned for a moment when I heard that they needed sixteen caravans,” she says after the visit. “I didn’t know the need was so great. I’m glad I listened to their story. I’m going to do my best to be able to do something for them.”
The question is whether there will actually be new caravans. But Dora was cautiously positive. “I have the feeling that the councilor is involved with us. So let’s hope that after sixty years, caravans can be built and that I can go back to my car.”