Henny Bierens de Wit’s oliebollen stall would be located in the center of the Woensel district of Eindhoven for the 45th year in a row next winter. An anniversary that she looked forward to and pulled out all the stops for. But this year the municipality has given the location permit to someone else. Much to the chagrin of Henny (64) and her husband. “It gives me sleepless nights. To be discarded like this is inhuman.”
The couple has been baking oliebollen in Woensel for many years in November and December. Every year, Henny neatly applied for a permit by e-mail and was invariably granted one. But this year she had to register for the first time via a website. With the rule: first come, first served.
“I called to see if everything went well.”
On the day of registration, Henny was ready extra early. Because of the 45th anniversary that is coming up, she wanted to be sure of her place. “After I registered and transferred the money, I called to see if everything went well,” she says. “And then I was congratulated for having the place.”
A month later, Henny suddenly received an e-mail that the website had collapsed. There were double bookings. It was unclear whether this had consequences for Henny. Until a few weeks later she got a call from the municipality. Her place was forgiven.
“I hope I can see all those lovely customers again someday.”
“My world came crashing down,” says Henny. “I have to make way for someone who has never been there.” In the summer months she travels around with her stall, but in the winter months Woensel is her permanent home. you away. Others wouldn’t like it either if I took their place. Being discarded like that, I don’t think that’s human.”
In forty years, Henny has built up a large clientele, which she is now losing. She has been having sleepless nights for weeks now. “With most people I already knew what they wanted before it was their turn. I’ve been baking for the hospital for years. There are even people I already saw in the pram who now come with their own children. I hope I can see all those lovely customers again someday.”
“People who are not that digitally skilled fall by the wayside.”
The fact that she can no longer celebrate her 45th anniversary hurts Henny a lot. “We were changing the front and all the trim in the booth. We can now stop that too,” she says. According to Henny, the municipality has informed her that it will look for another location. “But it remains to be seen where,” she says. “This hurts. They take away a piece of your life’s work.”
Council member Remco van Dooren of the CDA finds it incomprehensible that the permit has just been granted. He has asked questions. Van Dooren thinks the new system is unfair. “People who are not that digitally skilled fall by the wayside,” he says. Then, as a municipality, you can simply issue a multi-year permit, right?”
