The sailing ban on the Dommel that will apply from Tuesday means another setback for boat rental company Rofra in Valkenswaard. “It doesn’t make me depressed, but I am disappointed,” says director Michel Geenen.
How much bad luck can you have as an entrepreneur? In 2019, about three hundred canoes went up in flames at boat rental company Rofra in Valkenswaard. The company was plagued by corona for the next two years. Furthermore, the sailing route was disrupted a number of times by trees that had fallen into the water as a result of the storm. And this week, the event organization is confronted for the second time in two years with a sailing ban on the Dommel.
“Just before the ban was announced, I told my staff that I hoped for a boring year,” says Geenen. It will be boring in the coming weeks when it comes to boat rental, but that is not what he had set his mind on. Geenen had quietly hoped for a year without any problems at last, without all kinds of obstacles.
“Corona has cost us up to sixty percent of turnover.”
“Corona, for example, has cost us fifty to sixty percent of our turnover,” he clarifies. Now it is again the ongoing drought that throws a spanner in the works. Various primary schools, but also private individuals, have had to abandon their plans to go canoeing on the Dommel. They have since been approached by Rofra.
The water in the river is too low and there is too little current. In addition, the plants do not want to grow there, which can damage the soil. This makes canoeing from the Belgian border to the Venberg watermill in Valkenswaard out of the question. The sailing ban applies until further notice water board De Dommel certain.
“I think the water level was acceptable.”
Geenen had already been informed of the impending doom before. “I saw it coming, so I took measurements to see how low the water level is. I think it was acceptable. The water board thinks otherwise. That’s allowed, but I would have liked to see it discussed with us. Then I could have asked again to get started on the construction of cribs. The water board announced this a few years ago, but it has not yet materialized. Those groynes would raise the water level.”
Geenen is not easy to catch. He has an alternative. According to him, it should be possible to allow canoeing if people board at a different place, near Borkel, where the water is a bit higher. “It is true that you have a shorter route as a canoeist, but then you can still go out on the water and enjoy the surroundings. It is not for nothing that the Dommel is also seen nationally as a river in a very attractive nature reserve.”
The director of the events company did not give up for another reason. He does not have to rely solely on the canoe rental, although this activity is very popular especially at this time of the year. He immediately contacted schools that had placed reservations. Geenen tries to get them to come to Valkenswaard, for example by pointing out forest or other outdoor activities. You have to do something to keep your head above water as an entrepreneur.
ALSO READ: Canoe rental companies are disappointed with the sailing ban due to the low water level in De Dommel: ‘I had 40 bookings’