Two cranes step jauntily back and forth and politely circle around each other. They keep their impressive beaks tidy this morning. According to camping guest William Dielemans from Tilburg, his wife was sitting upright in bed four hours earlier due to a cacophony of shrill trumpeting. Dorpscamping Gemert is adjacent to an accommodation with two cranes that make themselves heard at the most impossible times.
At one o’clock in the morning, at four o’clock in the morning and then again at six thirty. According to campsite owner Hans Crooijmans, it is often impossible to measure the level.
Five years ago he started the campsite with thirty camping spots. His neighbor’s cranes were already there by then. “We have been suffering for a long time. The neighbor used to have three couples. Now he has one couple left, but it drives you crazy.”
Crooijmans fears that his guests are regularly awakened by the nightly screeching. One of the guests describes it as ‘like someone being murdered’. William Dielemans: “I think it sounds really loud. Much louder than a peacock. The sound is really overwhelming.” But William doesn’t think his camping trip is now spoiled. “I would come here again.”
“I don’t want a fight with the neighbor, but I want to get rid of the nuisance”
Hans Crooijmans has now built up a considerable customer base. The fact that his campsite is highly regarded is evident from the prize he has just won. “The best small campsite in the Netherlands according to Campercontact”, he says proudly, pointing to a bunch of flowers at the reception. “The alderman has just been.”
William Dielemans saw the message about the price and immediately decided to book a weekend with the camper. “We wanted to come and see. It’s a nice place.”
Hans’ guests are standing in the pasture where his hobby cows used to be. Everyone has a green sheltered spot with a view of the green outskirts of Gemert. The sanitary facilities are state-of-the-art and spotlessly clean. But yes, those cranes from the neighbor throw a spanner in the works. “I don’t want a fight with the neighbor at all, but I want to get rid of that nuisance. Cranes can live to be 60 years old, so that won’t happen for a while.”
“I don’t understand why he has to keep cranes so necessary”
Hans says that he has tried to talk to the neighbor and the municipality about the nuisance. According to him, the neighbor then walks away angrily. “He then says that my dogs bark too. But I don’t understand why he needs to keep cranes. What moves him.” The neighbor does not want to respond to Omroep Brabant.
According to Hans, a boa from the municipality visited a month ago. “He stood here listening, but he said he couldn’t help it. But you are not allowed to cause noise nuisance, are you?” The municipality of Gemert-Bakel has not yet been able to respond.
For the time being, the cranes will therefore still be heard. A difficult situation, says Hans. He would like to keep the peace with the neighbour, but he also wants to be a good host for the people who come camping. The cranes made themselves briefly heard for two hours this morning. “Sometimes it is indeed only short,” says Hans. “But often they quickly go on a rampage again.”