There will be no shelter for Ukrainians in the former hotel-restaurant Little Switzerland, which now houses a pop-up gallery. The negotiations between the municipality and the owner have come to nothing, so the characteristic building will be demolished after the departure of the artists. “The demolition permit will expire soon, so we have to press ahead now.”
The striking building on Duinweg in Schoorl is currently occupied by artists who ‘protect’ the building against squatters. After 3.5 years, that lease has ended and they have to leave at the end of this month.
“We were only allowed to stay for half a year, in the end it turned out to be three and a half years,” says artist Harold van Geerestein. “Now we are looking for a new place for the pop-up gallery. Preferably in the Bergen area.”
For a moment, the artists seemed to have to make way for Ukrainian refugees, but those plans have been shelved, says the municipality. “We couldn’t agree on the price,” says a spokesman for the BUCH.
More than three years ago, the building was bought by SVE Group BV from Loosdrecht. The idea was to realize care homes for the elderly there. But with a refugee crisis that never ends, asylum reception seemed like a logical choice, explains Dirk Simons of SVE Group.
Viscous process
But talking to the municipality of Bergen turned out to be no easy task, says Simons. “We have to do something for our fellow human beings, but despite the high urgency, it was a slow process. When we indicated that we wanted to make the building available, it took months for a response,” says Simons. “It can be arranged within a few weeks, we also see that in other municipalities. We have good contacts within COA, but in the end the voice of the municipality is decisive.”
The building will be empty in two weeks. If the municipality of Bergen does not come up with a new proposal within that time, the wrecking ball will go in. After that, a new construction permit will be applied for for an elderly care institution. “We remain within the current destination and are in talks with a number of healthcare providers.”
Other locations
Simons does not know why action was not taken more quickly. “We could have done something for a long time, but it has been at a standstill for months now,” he responds. “No investment has been made to just leave it there. The door was wide open for us, but it has led to nothing.”
“At the moment we give priority to other locations,” the spokesperson responds. The municipality of Bergen does not yet want to share which locations these are.