Just a few months ago, Ria Bakker-Bijman swam every month in the De Zeehoek swimming pool in Wervershoof. Good for exercise and social contacts. After the pool closed earlier this year, Ria takes one last look. It will be a visit full of melancholy. “I only see emptiness and in my mind I see all these happy people floundering.”
Homesick for the De Zeehoek swimming pool – NH News
De Zeehoek swimming pool is empty. To leave. The end of the slide allows drops of water to enter the already large pool. And there is also a layer of water at the starting blocks, caused by a leak in the outdoor area. The hot tub is dirty, the hoses at the paddling pool have been cut.
De Zeehoek had to closing earlier this year because there were insufficient financial resources to keep the swimming pool open in a safe manner. For years there were arguments about new construction or renovation of the swimming pool, after which the municipality of Medemblik, together with the swimming pool board, finally decided to pull the plug last December. Medemblik is now aiming for a new pool at De Westrand in Wervershoof.
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West Friesland
The swimming pool has now been closed for five months. One of the loyal visitors was Ria Bakker-Bijman. For about 25 years she swam in the pool every week with a group of women. To stay in shape and to stay informed. “Afterwards we will have a nice coffee together. It will be a great loss for the entire village,” Ria said during one of the last swimming lessons.
Just under six months after the final closure, Ria walks into her favorite swimming pool one more time. Immediately after entering, hands go over your mouth. “It’s very bad. I’ve been here for 25 years, and now it’s an empty mess.”
“I’ve been here for 25 years, and now it’s an empty mess”
She takes a few steps forward and looks at the part of the pool where her group always did the exercises. “I only see emptiness and in my mind I see all kinds of happy people floundering. This hurts me more than I thought. I am a down-to-earth West Frisian, but this hurts a bit.”
Starting entrepreneur in De Zeehoek
Wervershoof’s beloved swimming pool closed its doors for the last time on July 31 and the building has since been managed by a real estate company. “To ensure that no unpleasant things happen to the building,” says Pim Hendriks, owner of FIM Vastgoed. “Think of anti-squatting, vandalism, burglary or theft of copper. A starting entrepreneur will soon come here, who will work in the offices of the swimming pool. This means that it is still used. The swimming pool itself remains closed.”
The group of women has now found shelter in the De Kloet swimming pool in Grootebroek. With a trusting teacher. “So he already knows us. That is very nice, but the loss of De Zeehoek remains great. I miss the conviviality, drinking coffee, the familiar. It is a great pity that this is no longer there.”
Ria still can’t understand it: “If this had been properly maintained, it could continue to exist. I don’t see any leaking windows, no mold, nothing. And then it will simply be demolished. I find that very sad.”
10 x 2023: looking back on the past year
In 10 x 2023, the West Frisian editorial staff looks back on 10 remarkable stories from the past year between December 22 and 31. Which people stood out in 2023? What were the intense events in our region? And what about the main characters? Today: the closure of the De Zeehoek swimming pool in Wervershoof.
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West Friesland