Now the Prinsenplein is the domain of bicycles, pedestrians and terraces. Emad Sharobim, from grill room Pyramiden, is reaping the benefits. His terrace is now surrounded by greenery, instead of between parked cars. “The green is particularly beautiful to see,” he says. But he also has a caveat. There are several restaurants around the square. Extra space for terraces has only been created on his side of the green.
He points to the other side. “They look at us with envy.” Across the street, Alexander Kisjes, among others, has his Proefsalon Kisjes business. Just opened today. He is also happy with the way it looks, but he would have preferred to see the cycle path in front of his business moved along something. “I don’t need a large terrace at all. But it could have been distributed a little more fairly.”
Inside Herberg ‘t Plein, the business of Jaap de Boer, there is a photo of a situation from the past. When a busy road just passed in front of his cafe. “I have now experienced four or five major renovations here. And I am also very happy this time.” He notes that the approach to the city has now completely changed. “This invites more people into the city.”
Prinsenplein has existed since 1919. In that year the canal that was there – De Wetering – was filled in. Sterk Meppel, the largest party in Meppel, argued for the return of the canal. The party managed to get an independent investigation into this. The conclusion was not good. It would cost more than 9 million euros to bring back the canal, while it would yield less than a ton. So the moat did not come.
However, elements have returned that refer to the history of Meppel, and especially to the water. Meppeler prams have been brought into the street scene. At least a replica of it. The pram is an old East Dutch ship from the early 1900s, which was often seen in Meppel transporting peat. Now they are benches and flower boxes. “In the past they were not made of concrete as they are now,” says alderman Robin van Ulzen. “Then they would have sunk before.”