The departure of Het Pauperparadijs from Veenhuizen causes understanding and disappointment among entrepreneurs. The theater production announced today that it will not be in Veenhuizen next summer, but in the AFAS Theater in Leusden. “It will certainly be a loss, because the extra experience that this place provided will be lost,” says museum director Friso Visser of the Prison Museum in Veenhuizen.
The courtyard of the museum has already been the setting for the theater play three times. Museum director Friso Visser thinks it is a shame that a different location has now been chosen. “It is a beautiful piece that fits very well in this location,” says Visser.
Mark ter Maat is with coffee roaster Koffielust near the Prison Museum. He takes a neutral view of the foundation’s departure, but does ask some critical questions. “I wonder whether this is a grateful signal to, for example, the province of Drenthe and the municipality of Noordenveld, who have invested a lot of energy and money in the corona period to bring Het Pauperparadijs back to Veenhuizen,” he says.
“And I have also made a very small contribution to this. Promises have been made and the question is whether they have been kept. Perhaps the government will have to draw up stricter rules for a subsidy next time.”
From a business point of view, Ter Maat understands the choice to no longer organize the performance in the open air. “That is quite expensive, but it is a shame. Veenhuizen and the surrounding area could possibly have earned several millions if you worked well together. That is no longer possible.”
Henk Timmerman provided the catering for the theater production with Maallust last year. “We really enjoyed that and would have liked to do it again this year,” he says. Although he also understands the reasons for Het Pauperparadijs to move to the AFAS Theater in Leusden. “I can still remember the first time we watched it in the pouring rain, and I was glad that it was a break,” he says, laughing.
The Prison Museum is disappointed, but on the other hand it is facing a busy period with an impending renovation. “And the theater piece makes quite a claim on our territory,” says the director. “Imagine we could start preparing for the renovation this summer, then it would double.”
Furthermore, Visser does not think that many museum visitors will be lost due to the departure of the theater spectacle. “Although Het Pauperparadijs Veenhuizen has generated a lot of brand awareness, I don’t think there is much overlap between theatergoers and people who go to our museum. I think only a handful of theatergoers have visited both.”
A number of local residents have objected to Het Pauperparadijs in recent years, because in their view the performances caused noise pollution. Those local residents reacted with relief to the news. Timmerman thinks it is a good thing that the theater production will not perform again in Veenhuizen. “You have to prevent it from becoming a Soldier of Orange. I fully understand that local residents do not like it because of all the nuisance. I have been here three times now, it was very beautiful.”
Ter Maat thinks there were still opportunities to continue. “I think that if they had perhaps been involved a little earlier at the front, it could have been quite possible. But yes, you are only calling me now that the decision has been definitively made. Furthermore, I am neutral about it, and wish the foundation the best Good luck and all the best in Leusden. Where one door closes, another opens. Who knows what is possible for Veenhuizen?”