The plans for a library in the Grote of Mariakerk in Meppel are off the table. A disagreement has arisen between the Protestant Municipality and the Grote of Mariakerk Foundation about a different use for the building. The foundation threatens to dissolve itself.
Church services have not been held in the monumental church for years, so the Grote of Mariakerk Foundation was set up to give the building a new purpose. But precisely that foundation is thinking about calling it quits after an ‘unexpected turn’.
That turn came after plan A for the church was scrapped: a library. The college of mayor and aldermen of the municipality of Meppel announced that it was unable to cooperate in a move from the library to the church. It would not fit in with the policy and the financial risks would be too great.
That is why we switched to plan B. “No less plan, but a different plan,” says Bart van den Dolder, secretary of the Grote of Mariakerk Foundation.
Talks were held with Meppel entrepreneurs. “One of the entrepreneurs indicated that he wanted to take over the church and that he was thinking of organizing galas, festivals and other activities in the broadest sense,” the foundation reports. “The building would also be available for mourning and faithfulness where possible and the possibility of holding concerts would remain.”
An ideal scenario, but according to the foundation, the entrepreneur dropped out because the Board of Church Rentmeesters of the Protestant Municipality of Meppel had also started talks with another Meppel entrepreneur. The Protestant congregation still owns the church. “The foundation board thinks this is incorrect and feels surprised by the way in which consultations are also held with another party during ongoing talks. An additional consequence was that the first interested entrepreneur did not feel taken seriously and withdrew,” says the foundation.
The chairman of the church stewards, Berend Bossen, thinks it is too early to respond. The only thing he wants to say is that a new situation has arisen after the plan for the library was scrapped. “It has been contractually stipulated that the foundation would take over the property of the church if it were to be used differently. Now that that is not happening, it is a completely different situation. We as a board must reflect on such a situation.”
Although the various parties have a common goal – preserving the Grote Kerk – cooperation seems to be out of the question. The foundation feels passed over and is now considering closing it down. “In this situation, we do not see any work for the foundation,” says Van den Dolder. “It was agreed with the Protestant community that we would find a new use for the building. We do not see what we can add to the whole in this way.”