Aad Vermeer is a tree grower and his future is threatened. Because 5,000 houses are being built on the east side of Tilburg, new nature must be created. And that is at the expense of tree growers like Vermeer: “I may be able to live it up for a while, but I don’t know whether there is a good future for my children.”
The area where the houses are to be built is larger than Tilburg. It extends from Biezenmortel to Moergestel and from Berkel-Enschot to Haaren. A plan has been drawn up: ‘East Flank’ with ambitions until 2040. Main goal: 5,000 affordable homes.
‘Versailles of the North’
In the middle of the eastern flank is what the tree growers themselves call the ‘Versailles of the North’: a large area in which trees are grown. Vermeer is proud: “This area has a very high quality when it comes to soil, water and climate.”
But tree growers are under pressure. Because houses have to be built on approximately 200 hectares on the east side of Tilburg, this also requires 500 hectares of new nature. An additional 1,000 hectares of area must also be created on which all kinds of restrictions apply to agriculture.
Half loss
And the tree growers do not agree with that. They have united in Treepoint and Jan Brenninkmeijer, former mayor of Waalre, is their leader: “All kinds of things are being piled up, which means that tree cultivation and other farmers in the area are finding it increasingly difficult to produce well. Regular agriculture, including tree cultivation, will lose half of the usable land in this plan.”
The growers feel passed over in the plan, not heard, says Brenninkmeijer: “While we have clearly extended a hand.” Vermeer: “And we have to supply the space. Then doesn’t it make sense that you involve us on an equal basis? But they missed us completely.”
‘Growth is not possible’
Tilburg councilor Rik Grashoff acknowledges that communication could have been better: “I understand the concerns. But tree cultivation is an important sector in this area and will remain so. We promise that the area for tree cultivation will remain the same in the future. But growth is not in. We want to keep the landscape in Brabant open.”
Yet Vermeer is still quite positive when it comes to the future of his profession: “Because tree nursery has a future. Our sector, with plants, solves many of the problems we currently have. Think of climate, water storage and biodiversity.”
But when it comes to his own company, in Haaren, he is less optimistic: “There is so much pressure on the rural area from outside. And if we are not heard in the beginning, it hurts very much.”
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5,000 houses must be built here before 2040