1/5 Eefke Visser in front of the entrance of Stella Maris in Steenbergen. (photo: Raoul Cartens)
There is an increasing need for large residential facilities for migrant workers in Brabant. But in many cases this is met with resistance because local residents are afraid of nuisance. “But that fear is not always justified,” says director Eefke Visser of employment agency Goodmorning. “The key is that you seek each other out and keep talking to each other.” The company has been successfully running Stella Maris in Steenbergen since 2009; a hotel for 400 migrant workers.
Companies and institutions are becoming increasingly dependent on foreign workers due to staff shortages and this will probably remain the case. In industry, logistics, agriculture and horticulture. But also increasingly in healthcare and in the catering industry. And those employees also have the right to good housing.
But plans for larger residential locations are met with resistance almost everywhere. Residents in Wernhout, Bergen op Zoom, Moerdijk, Veghel, Liempde and Riel are taking action. But there are also examples of residential facilities for migrant workers that exist in harmony with the environment. The term ‘Poland hotel’ is outdated, because the foreign employees come from Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and – yes – also Poland.
“They tend to keep to themselves, but that doesn’t bother us.”
Employment agency Goodmorning has many years of experience. In the 1990s, for example, it provided housing for Poles at the former Patersven holiday park near Wernhout, then still under the name Exotic Green. And in 2009 the company bought the former Stella Maris monastery in Steenbergen, where 300 migrant workers were already living close together. Since 2013, a major expansion with new construction, including a fitness room, has provided considerably more peace and space for the current 400 residents.
It is important that you not only take, but also add something, says Visser. Since 2013, Stella Maris has also had a brasserie where people from all over the area come to eat. “It was completely full here on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” But clear house rules for the residents are also important, according to Visser. “We have a permanently manned information desk. For our guests, but certainly also for local residents if they have questions,” she says.
And a tour of the neighborhood in Welberg confirms that the area has no major complaints about the residents of Stella Maris. They tend to keep to themselves, but that doesn’t bother us,” says local resident Marian Nuijten. “In the summer you sometimes see them in groups drinking beer, with those half-liter cans that they then leave empty lying around, but that’s also everything,” says another local resident.
“Of course something happens sometimes, but then it is important how you deal with it as a location.”
Visser is strict about control and enforcement: “Drunkenness, drugs or violence are absolutely not tolerated here. And the guests know that very well. We have very good monthly contact with the local police officer and the entrepreneurs in the area. Of course, things happen sometimes.” something, but then it is important how you deal with it as a location. And I think that is going well here.”
In Wernhout, emotions were still high last month during a public information evening by project developer Sabes. It wants to build a residential facility for migrant workers in the vacant former party palace Jaiselings Royal Palace. Although there are only a handful of local residents there, more than 200 interested parties came to the meeting. The tone was set by a few noisy attendees who set the atmosphere.
“And always keep in touch with each other.”
Visser sees where things go wrong: a public information evening. “If you present your plans there, people from further away will also come. People who have no direct interest, but do have a strong opinion. That is disastrous for the support in the neighborhood.”
Her advice: “Only talk to those living directly within a mile and delegations of other stakeholders. Keep it small. The neighbors want to know what is coming. So explain clearly what kind of migrant workers it concerns, how the group is composed and how the are rules. And always keep in touch with each other.”
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