More than two hundred and fifty neighbors and entrepreneurs from the region came to Velsen Valley yesterday for a drink and a tour behind the scenes. The party was organized by the municipality and the LatinVillage festival, which will take place in the Valley this Saturday. “We show what we do, that’s how we get to know each other and if you know each other, problems are easier to solve and prevent,” says Mbarek Ben Addi of the festival.
The summer drink for the neighborhood is a tradition that has existed for a few years, but this year was held for the first time on the spectacular, large main stage. The drink was preceded by a DJ workshop for children from Velsen, given by DJ Pinta.
At first glance, the happening seems like a trick to prevent complaints about traffic or noise nuisance, but the organization sees it differently, says Mbarek Ben Addi of LatinVillage. “We believe that you solve it faster with each other if you know each other, then you know where a complaint comes from and my experience is that it’s not too bad,” says Mbarek Ben Addi.
Impressive
Most neighbors at the drink come out of curiosity. “I live near here in Velserbroek,” says one of them. “I was curious how it all works here, I find it very impressive.” A lady we spoke to was at Dutch Valley last weekend, a festival that was held in the same place. “I had to look very carefully where I was, without people you hardly recognize it,” she says. “And now I’m on the main stage, you don’t normally get there, very special.”
IJmuiden beach
New at the festival is a piece of IJmuiden Beach that has been recreated. City Marketing Velsen thus benefits from the massive attention and brings the dancing crowd into contact with the other recreational opportunities that Velsen offers.
Nuisance?
The festival organization does its best to prevent nuisance for the environment. The noise levels are monitored with measurements and the wind direction is also monitored. Traffic controllers are active in the neighborhoods around the site to prevent traffic nuisance. If there is any question of unacceptable nuisance, the festival organization can be reached all day on the telephone number 06-85723274. The area managers can be reached by e-mail: [email protected]. LatinVillage will start soon Saturday at 1 p.m.