Els van Daal (65) and John Jansen (64) have been living in Linden for six years now, on the banks of the Kraaijenbergse Plassen. In that time they have only seen it become busier on the water. Now that the plans for Waterpark Dommelsvoort are taking shape, they fear the worst. There will probably be 550 holiday homes and 400 berths for boats in the area.
Els and John first lived in their own house in Nijmegen. Their original plan was to buy a house together in Nijmegen and a holiday home somewhere on the water. Els: “Then we came across this house, here in Linden. We were immediately sold.”
The detached house is on the edge of the village. The garden borders a piece of nature with the Kraaijenbergse Plassen behind it. From the living room, which is slightly higher than the garden, they have a beautiful view over the water.
They themselves can also regularly be found on the water of the lake. “In the evenings when we come back from work and there is not too much wind, we go sailing.” They also paddle on the water with their inflatable canoe. “But I only do that when it’s quiet.”
“In good weather, all those big boats sail onto the lake.”
But there are less and less quiet days on the water. If you ask Els and John what they all encounter on the Kraaijenbergse Plassen, you will get a whole list: sailors, kite surfers, suppers, fishing boats, rowers, divers, sloops and motor boats. They all want their place on the pond.
The nuisance only comes from motor boats, the couple says. “If the weather is nice, you can see all those big boats sailing into the lake. In groups of five or six they will be anchored on the lake all weekend. That’s not even allowed, but it’s not checked,” Els sighs.
“Are you sitting here in your garden with loud music.”
They have seen a lot of changes in the past six years. “When we just moved here, the water was still quiet. Sailors, surfers and hardly any motor boats. There was never any noise.”
Everything has changed since corona. They see groups of boats lying together on the weekends. “Then the speakers open. And then you’re sitting here in the garden with loud music. If you call the police, they say they can’t help it. It’s in the middle of the water and they can’t reach it.”
“It’s going to get busier.”
Els and John are afraid that it will only get worse if Waterpark Dommelsvoort comes along. Then a marina with 400 berths will be added. “But many houses will also have their own jetty,” says Els. “That means a lot more boats.”
“There is still a reasonable balance on the water, although it is already going in the wrong direction,” she says. “But with the holiday park it will only get worse.”
The two are not against recreation, but if the plans for the holiday park go ahead, it will simply be too much. “It is simply taken over by one insanely big plan,” says Els.
Do you want to share your story with us? Which can. From Monday 17 to Friday 21 July, editors from Omroep Brabant will be in De Burcht village hall at Kerkstraat 44 in Linden. You are welcome there to share your story with us. But you can also email us at [email protected] or call or app to 040-2949492.
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