Poverty, crime and poor health. These are problems that the Kalsdonk district in Roosendaal has been suffering from for years. The quality of life in the post-war neighborhood is under pressure. Omroep Brabant will be in Kalsdonk from Monday, November 27 to Friday, December 1, looking for stories from the neighborhood.
With a shooting in broad daylight, Kalsdonk made all the national headlines in the spring. For local residents, this was a new low in the already long series of incidents in the neighborhood. “The municipality has let us down,” says a true Kalsdonker to Omroep Brabant. He thus expresses the pain that exists in the neighborhood. “I could cry about it.”
“You no longer feel safe on the street.”
Kalsdonk, some people consider it an authentic working-class neighborhood, an average working-class neighborhood or a beautiful multicultural neighborhood. John has lived in the neighborhood for almost 20 years. “And always with pleasure. It just depends on how you feel about it. It’s a matter of give and take.”
Others, especially non-Kalsdonkers, see it as a deprived area, problem area, attention area or stomach ache area. Janneke lives in Kalsdonk and works in healthcare. “You don’t feel safe anymore these days. If I come home late, I’m happy to be back inside.” She is especially afraid that the fireworks will get out of hand again this year. “Then I won’t dare walk on the street anymore.”
The Sisters of Mariadal already spoke in the cloisters in the 1930s about the neighborhood’s poor reputation. According to the Catholic order, the children from Kalsdonk were not the best, but even ‘somewhat infamous’. And then try to get rid of that image.
“Things have really taken a turn for the worse here lately.”
The Philips lamp factory provided employment for decades. Kalsdonk was nicknamed Philipswijk. And football club RBC even made it to the Eredivisie. With the disappearance of both icons, the district also lost an important part of its mutual cohesion.
According to the residents, the now multicultural neighborhood was then left to its own devices. A Turkish couple who have lived in Kalsdonk for 23 years believe that something needs to change quickly: “Things have really deteriorated here lately.”
The Roosendaal National Program, which was presented this autumn, must now ensure that Kalsdonk becomes liveable again. The municipality has allocated twenty years to the improvement plan. But according to the Kalsdonkers, it can be faster, easier and cheaper: “Just greet each other and look out for each other.”
Would you like to share your story about Kalsdonk with us? Omroep Brabant is located in Buurtcentrum Kalsdonk at Rector Hellemonsstraat 2a in Roosendaal from Monday, November 27 to Friday, December 1. You can also email us at [email protected] or app us on 040-2949492.
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