The summer is fun and that means that many people seek out the fun and coolness of National Park De Biesbosch. On, around or in the water. The city council of Drimmelen has commissioned alderman Lieke Schuitmaker to make plans for the future. For example, extra beaches will be created to ensure a better spread of holidaymakers.
Tourists and holidaymakers are always welcome, but it must be kept within limits, according to the city council. In the busy months, the dark side of tourism also comes to the fore. A larger number of people usually causes more nuisance and more waste. Mass tourism will therefore be taboo in Drimmelen in the future.
“Mass tourism is going to pinch at some point.”
“I think an area has never been very happy with mass tourism,” says alderman Schuitmaker. “You see that in Amsterdam and you see that in Giethoorn. At a certain point it will become a problem.”
In the first corona year 2020, it became clear how urgent the issue is. “People couldn’t go abroad and often sought out the water. We have to manage that in the right direction, because we don’t want to go in the direction of mass tourism. Our city council has clearly indicated that.”
“There is more to do than just on the Biesbosch.”
The assignment for Schuitmaker is therefore to keep things under control. Together with the neighboring municipalities and Staatsbosbeheer, it monitors the balance between nature conservation and tourism. There is a lot of consultation, but steps are also being taken.
“For example, a tourist office has been set up in Drimmelen,” she says. “There they tell visitors that there is more to do than just on the Biesbosch. Tourists can, for example, go to Terheijden with its cultural history, visit the picturesque Hooge Zwaluwe or shop in Made.”
“If there is an urgency somewhere to close off a piece of Biesbosch, Staatsbosbeheer will do that.”
A great plan, but in warm weather most will choose to dive into the Biesbosch. That is why, and that sounds a bit contradictory, extra beaches are being built. They should ensure a better spread.
“There’s an idea behind that,” says Schuitmaker. “You have a very vulnerable nature core in the Biesbosch and we want to ensure that not all tourists go there on beautiful days. Extra beaches and facilities can provide this. For example, you should think of beaches on the Amer bank on the mainland. we don’t know yet.”
“If there is a reason to close off a part of the Biesbosch, that will happen.”
Thanks in part to the usual enforcement by the police and boas, everything seems to be going well with the crowds this summer. No outliers have been reported.
“If there is a reason to close off a part of the Biesbosch, such as at Whitsuntide 2020, the owner Staatsbosbeheer will do so. For example, if an osprey has nested near the creeks on a high-voltage pylon. But all users always get that neat and tidy. to be heard in time.”