Friends of the Ferries sound the alarm for Gelderland ferry services: ‘We find all possible consequences of the loss of money unacceptable’ | Zutphen

In a motion, the Friends of the Ferries call on the Province of Gelderland, the Gelderland riverside municipalities and the operators/owners of the Gelderland ferry services to work together on a sustainable approach to support. “As a result, the Gelderse springs can continue to fulfill their important, connecting function in all respects from 2024 onwards,” the friends explain.

This concerns, for example, the ferry services between Gorssel and Wilp, in Deventer, Brummen, and the ferry services from Gelderland across the Veluwemeer towards Flevoland.

Because that’s it, they conclude. “The ferry services undeniably play an essential role in Gelderland and are an indispensable link when it comes to sustainable regional accessibility and mobility and the preservation and promotion of the liveability of the Gelderland regions.” profiling and strengthening recreation and tourism in Gelderland.

The discontinuation of financing from the ‘Ferry Fund’ means a significant deterioration in the financing by the Province for almost half of the 49 ferry crossings across the rivers in Gelderland. “These springs still offer commuters, students and other residents the shortest connection over water,” explain the petitioners of the motion.

“Environmentally friendly, good for quality of life and health.” And, they continue: “The ferries and ferries also provide an attractive recreational and tourist climate for cyclists and walkers.”

Chairman of the Friends of the Ferries, Eef Meijerman, concludes that it would be a shame if several ferries were forced to stop. ,,It was something very beautiful, that fund. The Province of Gelderland was also the only province that had such a structure. Gelderland includes all major rivers and therefore has many major ferry services, including car ferries.

Meijerman says that if the money from the fund disappears, the consequences could be that the rates go up, for example. ,,If you depend on holidaymakers, you will not survive that anyway.” In addition, it is possible that the timetables become much more limited. “All the consequences are unacceptable to us. And there is also an unexpected adverse effect: more environmentally unfriendly and unhealthy mobility after 2024.

The Friends of the Ferries will work hard in the coming months to maintain provincial support for the Gelderland ferries, he reports. They do this together with fellow organizations such as Fietsersbond and Wandelplatform, and also with the organizations of ferry operators and the municipalities on the banks.

With the Provincial Council elections in a few months’ time, the friends have already asked the Gelderland political parties to include the crucial importance of the ferries in their election programs. In addition, in the run-up to the elections for the Provincial Council in early 2023, a demonstration with debate will be held to convince the Gelderland politicians of the importance of sustainable provincial support for the ferries.

It was recently announced that the municipality of Lochem plans to set aside extra money next year for the Dommerholtsveer, the pedestrian and bicycle ferry between Gorssel and Wilp. As a ‘riverside municipality’, the municipality wants to throw the ferry service a lifeline.