The Koop family farmed on fields on the east side of Barger-Oosterveld for more than five generations. But that time is coming to an end. Harald and Mariette Koop (brother and sister) have a plan for 95 homes on the agricultural land around their homes.
From the rear of her house, Mariette Koop has a view of potato fields to the east and south. The land has been owned by the Koop family for decades. “My father used to farm here,” she says. The bins will be exchanged for neighbors in the future, brother and sister say. The two are working on a plan for 95 homes on the ten hectares of plots surrounding their two homes. In terms of surface area, this is slightly less than the current Rensenpark in Emmen.
In the armpit of the Splitting and Sint Gerardusstraat, they want to make room (behind the row of existing houses) for plots with room for 24 detached houses, 21 semi-detached houses and 29 semi-detached houses. The idea is to sell two-thirds of the plots (with a size of 350 to 650 square meters). The plan is to realize and rent out the rest.
At central locations in the new-build neighborhood, space has been cleared for greenery, a playground and an animal pasture. “Of course we could have gone for even more homes. But it has to remain a bit of fun.” The main access was designed at the intersection of the Splitting and the Dagpauwoog. A second access road from Sint Gerardusstraat has been designed for cyclists and pedestrians.
Brother and sister see the realization of the plan as the completion of the Vlinderbuurt on the other side of the Splitting. This expansion district was developed decades ago. Anyone who looks at a map of the neighborhood can see a butterfly’s wing. The second wing is actually Koop’s plan.
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