The 275 inhabitants of Linden consider a holiday park with 550 houses and 400 berths for boats to be too crowded. The village is located on a peninsula in the middle of the Kraaijenbergse Plassen and is already experiencing a lot of nuisance due to tourism. The residents are afraid that this will only get worse with the arrival of the new holiday park.
Han Ribberink is a member of the village council and has been working on the arrival of the new holiday park for quite some time. He built his house in Linden in 2012 and gives a tour of the village.
“Linden is a wonderful village,” says Han as he walks through Kerkstraat. “We are 275 people. We do a lot of things together. There are thirteen associations. It really knows us.” But Linden also has a downside. It is beautifully situated with all the water and nature around it and that attracts many tourists. “Yes, that’s Linden’s downside,” he says. “All those scooters, solexes, racing bikes, campers and boats all come through the street here.”
“Park will be five times the size of Linden.”
Many of the boats go on trailers to the boat ramp just outside the village next to the campground. It is the only place where people can leave their boat in the water for a day of sailing on the lakes. “It’s quiet now,” says Han. “But on hot summer days it is completely full here. Then there are waiting times of more than two hours for the ramp. And all those boat trailers go through the village.”
There are already several holiday parks around Linden. Camping ‘t Loo is located on the edge of the village with a marina and Europarcs is further on. There are 120 holiday homes. Topparken’s new holiday park will be called Dommelsvoort. There will be 550 holiday homes and a marina for 400 boats. “If you consider that Linden has 105 houses, that park will be five times the size of the village. That is huge,” says Han.
“Do everything possible to keep Linden livable.”
Not far outside the village, near a narrow drawbridge, the center of the park holiday park is to be built. For example, there will be the supermarket, but also catering. “It’s way too close to our village,” says Han.
“According to the plans, there will also be two residential towers of 19 meters high here. And there will be a large terrace. Events can be held there 156 days of the year. We get all the light and sound over our village.”
The chance that the village council can stop the holiday park is small. “It has been in the zoning plan since 2012. So it’s allowed,” says the village councilor. “But we want to do everything we can to keep it as livable as possible for Linden. I hope that we can adjust the holiday park in such a way that it remains pleasant to live here.”
Do you want to share your story with us. Which can. From Monday 17 to Friday 21 July, editors from Omroep Brabant will be in De Burcht village hall at Kerkstraat 44 in Linden. You are welcome there to share your story with us. But you can also email us at [email protected] or call or app to 040-2949492.
READ ALSO: Mega holiday park near two small villages
