The former Scheringa Museum in Opmeer is finally getting a purpose after years of vacancy. Housing association De Woon Schakel has purchased two of the three blocks for 24 million euros, in which 99 social rental homes will be built. The first houses should be delivered in the second quarter of next year.
99 rental properties in the former Scheringa Museum – NH News
No paintings, but residents. Exactly fifteen years after the construction of the Scheringa Museum came to a standstill due to the bankruptcy of the DSB Bank, the building on Breestraat will actually be used. “We as a corporation are very happy with this,” says De Woon Schakel director Ab Gieling, as he walks through the building. “It is a really nice alternative to flexible housing, of which too few are still being built.”
23 to 80 years
The houses are probably rented by one or two-person households. “We aim for the target group from 23 to 80 years old, because seniors can also use it. Some of this is intended for starters between the ages of 23 and 29 and if it were up to us, this would also include a number of home seekers from Opmeer. .”
The purchase was completed within a few months and the prestigious project fits in with the ambition of De Woon Schakel, which wants to add around 100 homes to its own housing stock every year. “We are eager for homes in the region. We have looked at temporary homes, flexible homes. But that is and remains a difficult story.”
“We are eager for homes in the region”
Gieling has previously been critical of the lack of rental properties. “As De Woon Schakel, we have fifteen million euros available annually for the construction of new homes, but we are only delivering six homes this year. That should not be possible, because there are a lot of home seekers. That is why we are seizing this opportunity.”
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In the summer, the municipality of Opmeer pointed out to De Woon Schakel the possibility of purchasing one of the blocks from owner De Goede Steen BV from Huizen. Ultimately it led to the purchase of a second block. “We think it’s fantastic that we succeeded in such a short period of time,” says Gieling. A third block – intended for owner-occupied apartments – is not included in the purchase.
We are working hard to get the 99 homes ready quickly. The expectation is that the first houses can be rented in the second quarter of 2024. On January 16, 2024, De Woon Schakel will provide more clarity about the rental and rental prices on its website.
Municipality of Opmeer: ”This is fantastic news”
Councilor Herman ter Veen van Opmeer is happy that the former Scheringa Museum is finally getting a destination. “This is a fantastic solution, I think the best you can think of. It perfectly meets the housing needs that exist. It is also very good news for home seekers in Opmeer, who will live in some of the houses.”
Owner SVE Group planned to sell the homes and has already started renovations. In June, plans changed and they wanted to start renting out after all. “We looked with our own housing company to see if we could take it on, but it was too big for us. This is more something for an entrepreneur and we are not that.”
De WoonLink provided a solution and eventually bought the two blocks of the former Scheringa Museum, which will house 99 homes. “We are happy and have a lot of appreciation for De Woon Schakel for picking this up so quickly.”