A village hall, schools, churches, a sports hall. It’s all there in Nijeveen. But the village is looking into whether all this can be combined in a yet to be built multifunctional centre. The plans for this were presented tonight.
The three churches in Nijeveen have been looking for some time to see if they can continue together. There are two primary schools in the village, which are somewhat outdated. Village house De Schalle is struggling with higher energy prices, partly because solar panels cannot be installed on the roof. The sports hall is also due for renewal and does not yet meet the wishes of the national korfball association for top sport korfball. Every winter Nijeveen has an inflatable hall for heated play in the winter. For example, there are issues that are happening or coming in the whole village.
To solve everything, all sports associations, the three church boards, the two school boards, Village Association Nijeveen and Entrepreneurs Nijeveen sat down together. They brainstorm about the future of the village. They can solve the problems individually, but they prefer to tackle everything together. The result: a multifunctional centre.
It must be located on a piece of land behind the current event site. The idea is to realize two sports halls, to accommodate the two schools, to provide space for the churches and to host the activities in De Schalle village hall. It will not be one large building, but will consist of several buildings that must together form a sustainable center.
It’s just an idea. But it is an idea for which an architect has already been asked to make a sketch. The municipality of Meppel has already been approached. “We have not yet received a commitment, but she is positive about it,” says Marc-Jan van der Linden, who is one of the initiators on behalf of the entrepreneurs’ association in Nijeveen.
“How nice would it be if not only the associations embrace this plan, but also all 4000 inhabitants. Then we can really make a strong fist and we keep control in our own hands. Then we already have 12.3 percent of the total population of the municipality, so the municipality cannot ignore Nijeveen.” He is surprised by the turnout in the village hall. Between 100 and 200 inhabitants of Nijeveen came to the presentation of the plans.
The idea is that with the arrival of such a multifunctional center other locations, such as old school buildings or the village hall, will become empty. These locations can be developed again, for housing, among other things. “And if the municipality has to spend millions on the schools in the coming years, it might as well put that money into the new building instead of the schools.”
The planned new building for the schools is slightly further from the road. “That is safer for the children who play outside,” adds Van der Linden.
“With the proceeds from the vacated locations, we can fund this multifunctional center again,” says architect Pieter Brink. “For the locations that become available, we take into account different target groups that could be interesting there.” He cites the sports hall as an example. “It is located near the center. You can imagine that it is a nice place for people who walk less well, the elderly for example. While the village hall is a bit further away. You can think of housing for young people there.”
The two monumental churches in Nijeveen will also remain so, assures the entire working group that has been considering the idea for six months. “We are very enthusiastic about the plans,” says Bert Winters on behalf of the Reformed Church Nijeveen and on behalf of the three churches of Nijeveen. They struggle with high maintenance costs and increasingly empty churches. The expectation is that the three churches together will once again attract a full church.
“None of this is new,” says Van der Linde. “Some problems have been going on for years. Only now the momentum is there.”
He emphasizes that nothing is set in stone yet and that these are just ideas. After the summer holidays, the initiators will sit down again with the municipality. Then there will be a look at the finances. There is no view on this at the moment, nor on a possible term.
“It is ambitious. But we think this is such a good plan, why should it not go ahead”, Van der Linde wonders aloud.