There is no immediate money coming from Aa and Hunze for the preservation of the Homanshof in Anloo. Most parties in the municipal council are positive about a contribution to purchase the monumental farm, but think it is still too early to open their wallets.
The farm has been for sale for some time. Owner Staatsbosbeheer wants to get rid of it, but a group of residents fear that the social facilities in the Homanshof will disappear.
Buying and making the Homanshof more sustainable costs around €500,000. This is what residents of the village who are committed to preserving the monumental farm have calculated.
In the new plans, the residents present ideas to make the farm more profitable. For example, an entrance fee could be charged for the exhibition space and the current tea room would have to be expanded. The Homanshof could also be rented out as a wedding and meeting location.
The Drentse Landschap Foundation wants to provide 169,000 euros of the required five thousand euros: a third of the total costs. But only if the municipality of Aa and Hunze and the province of Drenthe also do so.
GroenLinks and D66 are happy with this and would prefer to pledge that amount during last night’s council meeting. But for all other parties this is still a bit too early. First there must be more clarity about the future financial picture of the Homanshof.
Councilor Ivo Berghuis (Municipal Interests) does not want to make a hasty decision. First, discussions are needed with residents, the province and Het Drentse Landschap about the new plan.
Because the Homanshof is still for sale, Berghuis says he feels some urgency to come up with a proposal about contributing to the Homanshof. “But we do want to be well prepared and not be faced with any surprises.”