The municipality and several residents of the parks have been clashing for a long time. The conflict revolves around the permanent habitation of the parks. In many cases, the municipality wants to end this habitation, but people who, for whatever reason, do not want or cannot find housing elsewhere, consciously choose the park.
Frits van Dijk* is one of them. He lived in the center of Coevorden for a long time, but after a period of a lot of stress he moved in with his mother. In October 2024 he decided to rent a holiday home on Ermerstrand to retire to. Owning his own home was not an option: he lived off his last savings. The Coevorde resident was setting up his own business and could not yet pay himself.
According to him, it was never the intention to live in the park permanently. “I wanted to find a solution together with the municipality. I don’t want to break the rules.” Nevertheless, the municipality of Coevorden imposed a penalty of 15,000 euros on him. His objection to this was rejected.
The Jongeneel family has lived in a chalet on Ermerstrand for eighteen years and officially registered. “We thought we would spend our last years here quietly,” says Maria Jongeneel.
There was a tolerance policy in the first few years, but in 2023 they received a letter announcing a penalty of up to 15,000 euros if they did not leave the home before November.
According to Jongeneel, they would not have given up their previous home if it had been clear that the chalet was not allowed to be an official residential address. Although they spend large parts of the year in the holiday home, they also winter three to four months a year in Spain and Portugal. Recreational stay is allowed, but according to them, it has never been made clear exactly how many days or months that means.
Jongeneel says that her husband passed away last year and is sorry that he has had so much stress in his last years.
