The neighborhood campsite that was to be organized this weekend in Oosterhout park in Alkmaar has been canceled due to storm damage. The park is closed due to danger from loose branches. The organizers are defeated, but support the decision of the municipality.
The neighborhood campsite in Alkmaar was supposed to open this afternoon, but storm Poly throws a spanner in the works. Someone from Stadwerk072 came to tell organizer Jaap van der Meulen, who was early in the Oosterpark, that they had better call it off. The municipality took the plunge later this morning. “Unfortunately”, Jaap says disappointed to NH. “I can only agree that there are still too many loose branches. Given the safety of the children, I understand very well.”
The neighborhood campsite is an initiative where residents can ‘get away’ for a weekend in their own neighbourhood. Activities are organized and residents can eat together. “It would be the first for Alkmaar,” explains organizer Diederik Dorbeck. “The neighborhood campsites are mainly set up for people with a small budget, who cannot go on holiday. It’s not just for people with a small budget, everyone can participate.” That mix is what makes it so special, according to Diederik.
About twenty tents would be set up in Oosterhout this weekend. The field where the tents would be placed seems pretty clean, but there are still many fallen trees and torn off branches around it. The park has been closed to the public since the storm.
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It therefore does not feel good for the organization at the moment to continue the neighborhood campsite. Diederik is sorry. “We have been preparing for it for months, but safety for the children and parents is paramount.”
Although there is little danger on that field, the organization foresees that people will still enter the park around the activities. “There are also extra day visitors from the area who come to us,” explains Diederik. “It has an attractive effect.”
He says that the neighborhood campsite can continue at another time anyway. “The plans are ready, so we can move it.” The organization does not yet know when, but they would like it to happen as soon as possible. “The script is there, the stuff is there. We are going to cancel the guests and rebook the artists.”