Almost a year after his old hardware store with almost all its contents went up in flames, Hans Wever has a new home for his business. He toyed with the idea of quitting for good, but doesn’t think 62 is an age for a retiree. And so he will open a new location in Roden in mid-January 2024.
Wever points with brown-worked fingers to plastic bins full of scrap iron. “We had 50 of those bins at the previous location, but there can be about 17 here. We just don’t have enough space.”
Wever also notices this when he goes to the bank for a loan. “The bank won’t lend you anything, especially not in our industry. And it doesn’t help that I’m 62.” He believes that the stigma attached to the scrap metal trade is largely unjustified, according to Wever. “The entire profession is being condemned. You don’t want to know how many checks I have had over the years.”
Finding replacement space was not easy. In fact, Wever had almost given up hope. He could not get a loan. “The bank thinks you are too old for a loan,” he says. Renting in and around Roden also proved difficult. “And we have had no help from the municipality of Noordenveld.”
Shortly after the fire, the municipality indicated that it would enter into discussions with the entrepreneurs. “We went to the town hall and had our say, but after that we heard nothing more,” says Wever. “Two of the entrepreneurs have already moved to another municipality.”
Councilor Jos Darwinkel (Municipal Interests) confirms the latter. “But I think we have done what we could. We have indicated that we want to play a mediating role in the housing of companies, but it is not the case that we have a choice of places.”
On the other hand, according to Darwinkel, Noordenveld did help when it comes to paying property tax costs. “I think we have certainly met the entrepreneurs’ needs,” says Darwinkel.
Wever found a new home on his own, and with a lot of luck. He will build on the old ambulance station on Nijverheidsweg. “I was able to buy that through the Noordhuis family from Roden,” he says. “That happened quite quickly, we settled it yesterday.”
Wever is happy with his new home and hopes to be able to move in on January 15. “A part still needs to be paved, but there is already a shed. We are still working on a driveway, and the municipality wants to participate in that.” This is also what councilor Darwinkel says: “Hans is a social entrepreneur. He asked if he could realize an exit on the Nijverheidsweg and that was possible. We are happy to help with that.”
Friday, December 29 is the last day that Wever customers can bring scrap iron to Ceintuurbaan Noord. A day later there is a big party for customers and relations at the new location on Nijverheidsweg. Wever is looking forward to it. “As far as I’m concerned, all of Roden is coming. I just think it’s fun.”