After sounding the alarm with the municipality and seeking legal advice, the Association Park interests Leekstermeer updated the Provincial Council this morning about the hassle surrounding camping Meerzicht. The holidaymakers have to leave the campsite in Matsloot at the end of this year.
EuroParcs bought the campsite from the Van den Dong family last year and plans to turn it into a large holiday park. The current holidaymakers have to give way to that. The fact that many residents have been coming here for years and some recently had their holiday home renovated for thousands of euros, does not alter this.
‘Nature does not respect borders’
During the meeting of the Provincial Council this morning, speaker Daniella van Gennep took the floor. She warned of the loss of nature if EuroParcs goes ahead with its plans. “The area around the Leekstermeer has been designated a Natura2000 area. Although the campsite is just outside this area, I would like to point out the environmental effects of intensification. Nature does not respect borders.”
Sustainable solution
According to the interest group, a large-scale camping site leads to more travel movements around the Leekstermeer and there is a chance of permanent residence. The latter is no longer an issue at camping Meerzicht.
According to the interest group, the association has contacted EuroParcs to help think about a sustainable solution, in which the holidaymakers can keep their current place. According to Van Gennep, this has not been heeded.
Harassment
Van Gennep was able to report that several parks in Drenthe run into such problems. “That is why we look for cooperation. Unfortunately, we see that people in the same situation as us are sometimes intimidated, so that they do not dare to work together. We have been hearing those stories lately.”
If it is up to the holidaymakers of the campsite in Matsloot, the province of Drenthe will once again consider whether a large holiday park is desirable on the edge of the Leekstermeer.