Less than a month ago, the office building on Verlengde Lageweg in Hoorn was still being used by companies, but in a few weeks 150 Ukrainian refugees will be given temporary accommodation here.
Already longer time the building was seen as the ideal place for Ukrainian refugees. Still, it took a while before the municipality reached an agreement with the owner of the property and of course the companies that were located there at the time.
“The companies and people who were in the building had to be relocated, of course,” says project leader Jeroen van der Putten. “We had devised a strategy in advance and hoped to be able to use the building as a reception location sooner, but in reality this turned out to be more difficult. This caused us some delay.”
It is expected that the doors will still be opened for the Ukrainians on June 13.
No extra location for the time being
Currently, about 160 Ukrainian refugees are being received in the municipality of Hoorn. About 80 refugees have been sheltered at the old office building on the Koopvaarder and the other part is private. From 13 June, about 150 more Ukrainians will be added. Mayor Jan Nieuwenburg therefore expects that ‘no additional locations are needed for the time being’.
“We work with targets in the Netherlands,” explains Nieuwenburg. And with regard to the reception of Ukrainian refugees, we have also met the target.”
Two years
The intention is that the Hoorn reception locations – Verlengde Lageweg and Koopvaarder – will be used for approximately one to two years to receive Ukrainians. What will happen next is difficult to predict. “The building does not belong to the municipality,” concludes Nieuwenburg. “We rent it from the owner.”
Despite the delay, the project developer is proud of the result. “Four weeks ago, the employees were still working here behind a desk,” says Van der Putten. Laughing, walking past the newly installed showers. “It is also amazing that we were able to find suitable contractors so quickly. I think that is due to the social aspect.”