“Your house is being demolished.” The residents at the Citadelhofje in Den Bosch were told this final decision on Tuesday. Woonbedrijf BrabantWonen wants to build 150 to 200 new houses in the Citadelpoort, of which the courtyard is part. The decision came as a surprise not only to the residents, but also to the Den Bosch municipal council. “It was already in the newspaper when I didn’t know anything about it yet,” responds resident Cor Houet.
Demolition had been in the air since 2020, partly due to the new construction plans of the Design Museum and the construction of a residential tower on that site. Yet the message that the houses will be permanently demolished was harsh on the residents.
Cor Houet has lived at the Citadelhofje for thirty years. The residents of the more than century-old street have been a close-knit community for decades. “There are also many elderly people or people with disabilities living here. Everyone takes care of each other. If we have to move, that won’t be possible anymore.”
“You can’t find anything comparable for the same price.”
Cor is not happy with the news: “I am real pissed off. I thought BrabantWonen was on our side. Because all this time, the housing association indicated that it was also not happy with the municipality’s demolition plans. Then you get a letter from her saying that she is going to demolish your house. Incomprehensible.”
As far as BrabantWonen is concerned, the demolition decision has been made. Next week we will discuss a relocation arrangement with the residents. But most people don’t want that. “I have a house with three bedrooms, front and back garden and within walking distance of the center. There is nothing comparable for the same price in Den Bosch. I can only go backwards,” says Cor.
With this decision, BrabantWonen wants to put an end to the uncertainty among residents. “In 2020, we already informed residents that we were going to think about the future of their homes. This decision allows us to look ahead,” says a spokesperson. Cor doesn’t like that at all: “I don’t want to leave here. I am able to lie down in front of the bulldozer.”
“It was already in the newspaper, even though as a resident I didn’t know anything about it.”
Cor is not only angry about the sudden decision, but also about the way he heard the news. “I come home from vacation and there is a letter in my mailbox. It states that someone from BrabantWonen wanted to let us know that demolition was taking place and that I was not there,” says Cor. “It was already in the newspaper, even though as a resident I didn’t know anything about it.”
The demolition decision also came as a surprise to the Den Bosch municipal council. Bram Roovers, party leader of the SP, reacts disappointed: “I overestimated the municipal council. Due to the fierce discussion on this subject, B and W could have sensed that it would be useful to also send a letter to the municipal council.”
“The demolition permit can still be withdrawn.”
Moreover, the municipal council has already granted the demolition permit, while the municipal council still has to make a decision on the City Delta. Judith Hendrickx, group leader of the Bossche Groenen: “We are still investigating what exactly we want on the site of the Citadelhofje and whether that is financially possible. As far as we are concerned, there is no need to grant a demolition permit now.”
SP faction leader Roovers: “It will probably soon be said: ‘A demolition decision has already been taken, so we cannot go back.’ But as far as we are concerned, that permit can still be revoked. We are now going to focus on that.”
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