Former hotel-restaurant De Wolfshoeve in Schoonebeek may become the temporary living place for 45 status holders. New owner Jorgen Kruit (Saxum & Firmum) confirms the rumor doing the rounds in the oil village.
“But absolutely nothing has been said yet,” says owner Kruit from Zandpol, who recently acquired the well-known former hotel. “The ultimate goal at this location is new contemporary apartments. In the meantime, we are looking for a good destination. We were indeed approached by an intermediary for the reception of status holders for this purpose. I now have to weigh that request.”
Reactions not nice
Kruit is shocked by the reactions to the online rumor flow about the arrival of asylum seekers to the oil village. They started on Sunday evening after a message on the local Facebook page, which has since been deleted Schoonebeek News . It stated that the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) would house asylum seekers at this location. Kruit: “I have no idea how this got out into the world, but the reactions were not good. Let me be clear: no decision has been made yet.”
Kruit says he was approached by a real estate company on behalf of a Christian foundation. This most likely concerns the Inlia Foundation, which previously looked for suitable shelters in the region for the COA. When asked, Inlia does not want to say anything about plans in Schoonebeek. “I know something about it, but I can’t say anything about it now. Certainly not until the end of the week. I’m sorry,” says director John van Tilborg.
Not always smooth
Village interests Schoonebeek and the municipality of Emmen appear to be surprised by the news today: “We suddenly received all kinds of questions about this. We have a meeting on Wednesday evening, hopefully there will be clarity about what is and is not correct about the messages,” says Jos van Hees of Dorpsbelangen.
They were also surprised at the town hall by the online commotion from Schoonebeek. It is clear that the municipality of Emmen is not interested in receiving asylum in this location. “We have recently seen more and more rumors circulating around vacant buildings. The municipality has no plans for this location when it comes to the reception of asylum seekers,” says the spokesperson for Mayor Eric van Oosterhout.
This summer, the municipality also received a request for reception of asylum seekers at this location. That request did not come from COA. “We don’t think it is desirable. We only do business with COA and there has been no contact with them about this location.”
Those involved do not know whether the municipality of Emmen can thwart the plans if the owner and another party do come to terms.
Rich history
That consultation between the municipality of Emmen, COA and Inlia does not always run smoothly was evident earlier this year at a shelter in Nieuw-Weerdinge. There, three asylum families were hosted by a local dairy farmer through the foundation. Emmen knew nothing about this beforehand and felt pissed off afterwards. At the request of the municipality, this shelter in Nieuw-Weerdinge was stopped.
The possible location for 45 status holders on Europaweg has a rich history. In 1954 the village’s only hotel was opened. Overnight staff from the NAM ensured a flourishing company for decades.
The building has had different owners since 2006. In the spring of 2019, catering entrepreneur Jan Braam took over De Wolfshoeve to operate a catering company under the name De Witte Olifant.
Last spring, Braam announced that the temporary closure due to a lack of staff ultimately meant a definitive end to the catering industry at this location. This summer he sold the building to Kruit. So he wants to have new apartments built there. Whether the former Wolfshoeve will become a shelter for asylum seekers until then remains to be seen.