Children playing between business units, tenants who interact with each other in a friendly manner and an owner who comes to look at it every day. It is the atmosphere that prevailed at the business park in Schellinkhout, where someone died in a major fire in the night from Saturday to Sunday. And it was no big secret that some units were inhabited.
From conversations with various tenants, a picture emerges that quite a few people were aware of the fact that people were staying in the business units. Tenants knew it, but so did the owner, according to them. “One hundred percent. He comes here literally every day. Then you really know what is happening and who is there.”
The business park where the fatal fire took place on Saturday night is located at the beginning of the village. The tenants are diverse. For example, Kevin previously told his story against NH News and told all his old american cars lost in the destructive flames. Other tenants use the units for storage or as a workshop.
Comfortable atmosphere
The tenants know each other. The atmosphere is friendly, says a tenant, who does not want to be mentioned by name. “We know each other and keep an eye on each other.” When asked whether they also knew that people lived there, a hesitant answer follows.
“I know the rumours.” And a little later: “Actually, you know.” An example follows of a woman who was often seen on the business park, who spoke poor Dutch and greeted shyly. “But where else are these people supposed to go? There is no housing available. It’s terrible that things went so wrong.”
“A company box does not seem like an ideal place for children”
Another tenant fills in. “I had the idea that people lived there. You saw them in the morning, in the evening. That was not just for work. I think there were at least two, but maybe more. Children often played in between the units. They then stayed with their father, who was divorced. What do I think of that? A company box does not seem to me to be an ideal place for children.”
It certainly isn’t. “The problem is not just the size of those units. They only have one entrance and exit. And the quality of the material is not very strong. It is not for nothing that it is cheaper to build a warehouse than a house.”
Not a bad person
The owner who lives a little further away can often be found on site. Daily. To have a chat, or to do some maintenance. Not a bad person, says one. “If he has already looked the other way, it is because he gave those people shelter. Because he can easily rent those units to someone else.”
A strange man, who comes across as intimidating, says the other. And someone who chases you with harassment when something has happened. “Almost everyone has a fight with him.” The owner himself does not want to respond to this.
If last year several anonymous tips entering the municipality of Drechterland over the business park, checks are carried out. Both during the day and in the evening. “But we have not been able to establish that the units were inhabited”, mayor Michiel Pijl previously told NH Nieuws/WEEFF. One of the tenants has his doubts about the state of affairs. “Go post three days in a row and you know enough.”
The identity of the victim of the fire is not yet known
In the fatal fire on Dorpsweg in Schellinkhout, one fatality occurred in the night from Saturday to Sunday. DNA testing must establish the identity. Today the police announced that the technical investigation into the fatal fire in Schellinkhout has been completed. Due to the intensity of the fire, it is not possible to determine where the fire started. However, further investigations are underway to determine whether criminal offenses have been committed. This could indicate illegal occupation in the business units. So far, the police have not arrested anyone.