The Stentor - By Arnoud Heins
Recreatiepark Beekbergen is doubling the number of vacation homes at the thoroughly renovated complex to 180! Anyone who has not been to Recreation Park Beekbergen for more than six months is likely to think, when entering the grounds, that he or she is in the wrong place. Not only because the entrance on the Kuiltjesweg has been moved a few hundred meters. The park itself has also undergone a thorough metamorphosis. The size has increased by several soccer fields and the pre-existing section has been renovated.
Also striking: at the entrance you are no longer hindered by a barrier. A deliberate choice by TopParken, its owner since April. It wants to radiate openness. Also on the park itself. That seems to be succeeding. Although it is also because the complex is still under development and therefore a bit bare. ,,In May this was still a completely wild forest'', points TopParken advisor Michael Jansen to the new section. ''We have built roads and a pond.'' Colleague Patrick van den Hoek hastens to say that nature has been violated as little as possible in the process. The infrastructure is now completely finished. But along a large section of fresh asphalt, land still lies fallow. Eventually, this new part of the park should contain 88 brand-new vacation homes. Together with the ninety "old" accommodations, this will be a doubling.
Jansen: ,,All the facilities are already in the ground, so we can get started right away.'' In this, Jansen has an important role to play. Before they are built, he has to sell the vacation homes. ,,In May we started doing that and by now 25 percent have been sold. That is very good. The buyers can be divided into two categories. There are the emotional buyers who buy them as second homes. And you have the rational buyers. They want to rent out the vacation homes. This is always done through TopParken. So that there is no proliferation.''
On the part of Recreatiepark Beekbergen where that had literally happened, is currently working hard on the completion of some cottages. Some are already habitable. The comparison with the vacation cottages that were also there when the park was still called the Pallieter quickly goes awry. But the old part also benefits from the takeover by TopParken. The roads there have also been renewed. Just like the outdoor swimming pool and restaurant Robin Food, in which former star chef Peter Driehuis stirs the pans. ''The people on the old part belong there just as much,'' Jansen says. ,,We try to involve them in everything. After all, they are the ambassadors of the park.''
The article as it appears in the Stentor:
House Vision episode 5: Resort de Brabantse Kempen
TopParken introduces new holiday park Résidence Lage Vuursche
