It’s still quite a walk when Rob Sipma and Marja Keller show us the building where Ukrainian refugees will soon be housed. The residents of the Parkstraat in Zaandam ensured that the old school building of Et Buut will be used as a shelter. The property is currently being renovated.
Sipma shows that a lot still needs to be done. For example, people must be able to enter if they want to take a shower, which is why another wall has to be removed. In addition, there will be a room with washing machines, so that the classrooms can be used as living space.
The old school building is located in the middle of several houses. The resident was afraid that the building would be squatted and raised his idea with the municipality at an early stage. “Tears come to your eyes when you see the see camp beds are in the shelter in Wormer,” he says. The shelter where the refugees stay for a maximum of a few days is his specter, he wants to offer something better.
The process didn’t go too fast, says Sipma. “It is the way civil servants are used to working. Fast in municipal terms is always a different kind of fast than we are used to ourselves. It took eight weeks before the green light was given. Work started here on the 26th.”
New neighbours
During an information evening last week, the neighborhood was updated. There, Sipma heard a lot of support from local residents who also want to help. The layout is partly realized by the contractor and partly by the local residents themselves. “The idea behind it is that you get new neighbors. These people won’t be there for three weeks, but probably at least two years. In times like this you have to welcome people and not look away.”