The stables of the brothers Sander and Niels de Rooij in Heukelom near Oisterwijk are empty. They are the first peak loaders in Brabant to be bought out last year and their pigs had to be gone by next weekend. We succeeded, this week the last animals were removed.
It is quiet in the yard, only a dog barks and rages in his pen. Niels de Rooij drinks coffee in a small office: “It is very strange to walk through the stables now, there used to be 10,000 pigs and now they are completely empty.”
The pig farm on the Oisterwijksebaan is close to the nature reserves Kampina and the Oisterwijkse Vennen and also caused odor nuisance in an adjacent residential area. By making use of the ‘peak tax scheme’, the brothers were able to buy themselves out for 2.5 million euros, paid for by the municipality of Oisterwijk and the province.
This government regulation, which is implemented by the province, is intended to reduce nitrogen emissions in vulnerable nature areas.
Stink stays for a while
“I still support this decision,” says Niels de Rooij. “It’s the best for everyone.” There is still a sharp smell of ammonia from the pigs. “That’s not surprising, they’ve just left. We had a year to arrange that and we stuck to that. But we still have to clean, so that smell will stay for a while.”
The brothers have until September next year to break down the stables. “After that we will build a storage facility for our vehicles, we have another transport company and we will continue to do so from this place. Fortunately, that is possible, I grew up here and would like to stay here. Our parents set up the company, so it does you what.”
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