The former town hall in Wedde could be viewed by prospective buyers on Friday. Dozens took advantage of that opportunity.
The old town hall in Wedde has been empty for quite some time and there is no activity anymore. But on this Friday morning, that activity is back for a while. The parking lot is full of cars, the door is open, people are walking through the hallways and through the large and small rooms.
Viewing morning from Westerwolde
All those people came to the ‘viewing morning’, set up by the municipality of Westerwolde. He is the owner of the large building but no longer needs it and wants to sell it. Interested parties are welcome to come and have a look this morning.
Sonja and Tanja Wouters are two of those interested parties. Twin sisters from the city of Groningen, one of whom works in education and the other has her own business. “But we would really like to set something up together, for example something in the tourism sector,” says Sonja. “That’s why we’re here, we’re seeing if that’s possible here.”
Enthusiastic twin sisters
They are located in the former council chamber from which you can see the Westerwoldse Aa through a winter landscape. “The environment here is beautiful,” says Tanja. They are enthusiastic about the fact that the building is not as remote as they had thought.
As they continue their exploration, a man walks with long strides back and forth through the hallway near the entrance. He is trying on and measuring, counting the steps in a half-loud voice and being watched by two companions. It’s cold in the hallway, as it is in the entire building. Logically, the heating has not been on fully here for a long time.
Living in Westerwolde
The Living in Westerwolde Foundation is present with a large delegation. She wants to realize new housing in this area, where the housing market is tight, and has her eye on this property. The foundation would like apartments with other facilities. “We already have a plan and we also have an architect with us,” says director Reina Boels. “We work together with the Zo Willen Wij Wonen Foundation, which is active throughout the province.”
Wouter van de Kolk is present on behalf of that foundation. He explores the building, is enthusiastic about the possibilities and has Ingrid Boelen with him. She works for the PUK day center that accommodates people with disabilities in Veelerveen. “We’re looking at whether we can move here,” says Boelen. “This place in itself is very suitable, I can already see that.” Van der Kolk sees that too. “The day center could be one of those facilities that will be given a place here, with the apartments. With those apartments we would also meet the wishes of people in Wedde.”
Determine whether to make an offer
Van de Kolk and Boelen are far from done and the same seems to apply to a man and woman standing in the former mayor’s room. They are busy calculating out loud. The contrast is great with the father who is calmly looking around with his daughter. He is here, he says, as a private individual, and is also looking at the possibilities of this building on behalf of several other interested parties. To then determine whether a bid will be made.
Because that is what the twin sisters and all the others who walk around here have to do to have a chance at this building: make an offer to the municipality of at least 750,000 euros. Westerwolde has determined that sum as the lower limit. The municipal administrators study all submitted plans and the amounts offered and then determine who will receive the building. There will be a second viewing morning soon.
Water Authority
The building in Wedde was originally built as the headquarters of a water board and later the town hall of the municipality of Bellingwedde. It went up with Vlagtwedde in Westerwolde in 2018. That new municipality had two town halls, in Wedde and Sellingen, and initially kept both of them going. But ultimately it was decided to only keep the building in Sellingen.