Recreational park Kniphorst in Anloo aims its arrows at the peace seeker

The problem with ‘the slow approach’ is that the park, which went bankrupt at the beginning of 2020 with a lot of misery and distraught residents, is still reaping the bitter fruits of the bad name that Camping Anloo had for years. “Yes, you sometimes notice that how people talk about the park, and the calls you get.” De Graaf also does not have the illusion that the negative image can be finally buried as soon as the new Recreation Park Kniphorst is fully operational and all the desired facilities are ready. “You are ten years later, do you want to have completely shaken off that bad past.”

In the meantime, 35 new chalets have been installed, partly by new owners and partly by the park owner himself. But newcomers from outside have been put on hold for the time being, despite daily phone calls from interested parties and still plenty of bald spots. There are now 120 chalets, from 65 different owners. “We can add a hundred more, because there is room for 220 houses on the site. But we will wait a little longer. We have special plans for this, and are still in consultation with project developers.”

Ideally, the park owner would like to fill the empty spaces himself. And when the time comes, there will be a field with tiny houses, as a test. “A tiny house like this appeals to people. And we don’t want to rent it out as an annual pitch, but for shorter periods. We can earn more from that. Because money has to be saved together for all the investments we make. want to do at the park.”

Placing more houses than 220, for more income, that is not possible. “We have bought pieces of land here and there, which used to belong to other house owners. They have left. And the rear part of the campsite, about one and a half hectares, is now in our possession. But due to fire safety requirements, a minimum distance of five meters must between the chalets, which is why 220 is really the maximum,” explains De Graaf.

House owners have now been informed about the new course of the park management. And that doesn’t suit everyone. Some park residents are happy with the announced improvements. But the service costs, which are now more than three hundred euros, will be tripled.

“These service costs were arranged years ago within the purchase contract for the chalets by the owner at the time. But we cannot provide service for that price. That should really increase in the future, and for that money it will certainly all get better. We have looked around at other parks, and then we are not crazy at all with 900 euros,” says De Graaf.

The Interest Association Recreatiepark Kniphorst, which includes all kinds of chalet and land owners, has now called in legal assistance. They want to discuss the higher service costs with the park owner, otherwise there will be a lawsuit.

Some residents still live permanently at the recreation park. About twenty in total, or so it is estimated. And that is contrary to the recreational destination. This illegal habitation must end, as it has been expressly agreed with the municipality of Aa en Hunze. The park therefore takes action against it, as far as it can.

“We call people to account that they are breaking the rules. And when they are in a chalet on land they rent from us, we have more power. Then we can evict them. But when it comes to For residents with a chalet on their own land, that is more difficult. For that, the enforcement team of the municipality, who then intervene. It is a recreation park here, and not a residential park. That time has passed,” De Graaf concludes.