News item | 29-06-2023 | 10:04
Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning Hugo de Jonge announces a long-term approach for holiday parks. Transforming holiday parks into residential areas is part of this approach. An initial inventory shows that at least 60 parks are eligible for permanent residence. The minister appoints an administrative booster who thinks along with municipalities and provinces in this approach. In addition, the approach aims to combat crime at holiday parks, to provide better support to vulnerable residents of holiday parks and to revitalize holiday parks that do have prospects in the recreational sector.
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This is a follow-up to the Holiday Parks Action Agenda, which has been running since 2018. In addition, cooperation with other ministries, local authorities, the cooperating holiday parks and social parties will be continued. Whereas the Holiday Parks Action Agenda mainly focused on national actions that facilitate municipalities and provinces, now it is time to get to work more firmly on the parks themselves. That is why there is a focus on better registration and monitoring. When a clearer picture emerges of the situation in parks, municipalities and provinces can manage more effectively.
Transform into legal homes
Transforming holiday parks into residential areas can offer a solution for parks that no longer have an economic perspective and are seen by municipalities as a welcome addition to the existing housing stock. People are already staying permanently at some parks and municipalities tolerate this, often for a long time. Legalizing permanent residence contributes to solving the housing shortage in the Netherlands. This gives current residents certainty about their living situation. Sometimes they leave behind a ‘first home’ when they can live permanently in their holiday home. Vulnerable persons at parks can also receive better care and support that is needed.
Municipalities that wish to do so can receive support in transforming these parks. It is also being investigated whether new instruments, including a purchase fund and a preferential right to purchase parks that are offered for takeover, help to better manage the future of holiday parks and their surroundings. At the moment, the provinces have mapped out about 60 holiday parks where the transformation to housing is promising. This number is expected to increase when the view of parks increases.
Broad cooperation for future-proof holiday parks
In addition to transforming ‘non-vital’ holiday parks into housing or another function, a broad coalition of ministries, local authorities and social partners is committed to holiday parks that do have a recreational future. Combating and preventing (undermining) crime at holiday parks is part of this. Just like offering future prospects for parks, in which economic, social and ecological interests go hand in hand. Finally, attention is paid to vulnerable groups that have found a (temporary) home at a holiday park. Sufficient care and support close to these people is needed.
Follow-up
The ministries of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Justice and Security, Social Affairs and Employment, Social Affairs and Employment, and Health, Welfare and Sport are also involved in this approach. Minister De Jonge will inform the House of Representatives again in the fourth quarter of 2023 about the approach and progress.