While fruit trees were being examined in Frederiksoord, emotions were running high in Schoonoord, Drenthe received a new commissioner from the King, and it became clear in Roden that a swimming pool needed to be replaced. This was Drenthe’s week.
There are about 800 fruit trees in the Fruithof of Frederiksoord. Many of these are well-known species, but with countless specimens it is still questionable whether the sign on the tree is correct. Volunteers have therefore been working for years to identify the trees using DNA research.
After five years, half of the trees have been examined and the results are special, says pomologist Auke Kleefstra. “Very beautiful things come out of it. Some trees do not match the DNA in the European database. So they are unique to Frederiksoord. I didn’t know we had this.”
In Schoonoord, emotions ran high during a residents’ meeting about the housing plans for the village. Residents could view sketches for the areas Schoonoord-Noord, Schoonoord-Zuid and the old sports fields. But to the disappointment of many, the plans appeared to have hardly changed compared to previous versions.
“After five minutes I walked out angry,” said a resident. Another bursts into tears. “It’s war,” it sounds. “They play psychological games.” The municipality says that residents’ input will be taken into account in the further development of the plans.
The Drenthe Parliament has recommended Agnes Mulder as the new King’s Commissioner. The 52-year-old Assense is currently director of VNO-NCW MKB Noord and was previously a Member of Parliament on behalf of the CDA. She was also a member of parliament in Drenthe and a municipal councilor in Assen.
According to Jan Brouwer, chairman of the confidential committee, Mulder is “a connector with broad administrative experience and a big heart for Drenthe society”. She is appointed for a period of six years.
Skating on natural ice has become rare and since the closure of the artificial ice rink in Assen, Drenthe skating clubs are having a hard time. That is why De Scheuvelloper from Assen, Northeast Drenthe and De Hunen from Zuidoost Drenthe have decided to continue together as SV Drenthe.
“This is a necessity,” says chairman Christian van Wijhe. “Since the ice rink in Assen closed, we have had to rely on Kardinge in Groningen. That means more travel time and higher costs. Then you really have to have the motivation to continue.” Yet confidence in the future has returned.
Swimming pool De Hullen in Roden is in urgent need of replacement. Below the water surface, the concrete slowly rots away. “Concrete rot is an irreversible process,” explains sports and accommodations manager Albert Douwsma. “We continuously check whether the situation remains safe.”
In addition to wear and tear, high energy costs also mean that the almost fifty-year-old bath has had its day. On Monday, the Noordenveld municipal council will discuss three scenarios for new construction: from just a new competition pool to a complete reconstruction with a paddling pool.