Fifty years ago it was no more than a bare sand plain. Today, Bungalowpark Ermerzand is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A moment to look back and look ahead to the future of the park. “We have everything to live here.”
A mop orchestra, a cover band and a fair full of stalls: the party committee of the Ermerzand has unpacked a lot. The golden jubilee of the park should not go unnoticed. Roelie Heuving, living in the park since 2011, is one of the driving forces behind the anniversary party.
Since 2011 she has been living in one of the 195 bungalows in the park, in the woods on the edge of the Hondsrug. Still with great pleasure. “For me this is the most beautiful place in Drenthe. In the middle of nature, it is an oasis of peace. I will never have to leave here.”
In the meantime, Heuving is not the only one who has discovered the good of Drenthe’s life in the park. “We notice that the park is in demand, also at Westerners. Rest, space and a pleasant atmosphere. You can really get Drentenieren here. What more does a person want?”
Yet Drentenieren has not always been the starting point of the park. The Ermerzand flourished in the last century thanks to families who celebrated their vacation there. From all corners of the Netherlands, holidaymakers came to Erm, ready to spend their days off in the park.
It yielded money for the realization of numerous facilities: an indoor swimming pool, a jeu de boulesbaan, mini golf. The swimming lake – created by sand extraction for the construction of the N34 – was the attraction centrally located in the park.
But the trees did not grow to heaven. In recent years it has become quieter in the park. Almost all facilities have disappeared. Holidaymakers are no longer there, the park is less interesting for entrepreneurs than before.
Yet Heuving is not worried. According to her, the recovered activities at the park do not come due to a lack of future perspective, but because it has been given a different destination. “We are in a transition, from a holiday park to residential park,” she explains. “For decades, the park focused on holidaymakers. Nowadays almost everyone who still comes here wants to continue to live.”
But that is not possible. In the Netherlands, permanent residence on holiday parks is officially prohibited, but some municipalities tolerate it.
That is, luckily for Heuving, the case with the Ermerzand. In fact, Heuving regularly consults with the province of Drenthe and the municipality of Coevorden to investigate how the park can best be made future -proof. Last year the municipality even indicated that the park may be stuck to the village of Erm as a kind of bonus district.
A scenario that does see Heuving. “It would be nice if we were recognized as a residential park. You can live very pleasantly here.”
But first it’s time for a party. All visitors are welcome at the park from 1 p.m. With music, food, old acquaintances and memories of fifty years of Ermerzand, the park sets course for the future – as a residential park, that is.