The Great Drimmelen Debacle: A Village on the Brink of Change!
Oh, Drimmelen! That charming little enclave where Ricarde van Drimmelen (yes, you heard right; it’s like having a Pop and a Pill but without the catchy jingle) has raised the alarm bells about an impending housing dilemma. Picture this: a quaint village exploding from 235 homes to a staggering 446! It’s enough to make your cuppa spill, and not just because of the traffic from fancy new boats parked outside homes that come with their own jetty. Can you imagine such chaos? It’s practically a plot twist from a soap opera!
Ricarde — bless her heart — finds herself at the frontline of this battle. She’s armed only with a petition and a fire in her belly that could power the entire village. “This is a picturesque village!” she cries, drawing on every ounce of her 22 years of experience in the art of village living. A rapid increase in homes? Well, that’s like inviting 200 unexpected relatives to Thanksgiving dinner and finding out there’s only one turkey. It’s absurd! And not in the good way like when someone does a pratfall in a sitcom.
“The we-know-us feeling disappears from Drimmelen when a different kind of people comes to live here.”
Ah, the infamous ‘we-know-us feeling’! Yes, it’s not just a set of curtains or a comfy chair – it’s the essence of village life! Keep your jet-setting yacht owners away from my biscuit tin, I say! Picture it: luxury homes that loom over your beloved hedges, trapping the sunlight like they’re the reigning champs of a game of Monopoly. And what’s this about an 80-room hotel? Are they planning to host the next season of “Real Housewives of Drimmelen”? Because if so, sign me up for the tea, ideally served in an eco-friendly thermos! Ricarde fears the dreaded light pollution and its impact on the local wildlife, including the bald eagle – because how dare you mix a luxury hotel with a nature reserve?
But wait, it gets better. Traffic won’t just ‘pick up’—it’ll be like a rugby match at rush hour! As Ricarde vividly describes, there’s already chaos at the existing traffic light. A lovely little traffic jam where the cups in the cupboard shake like they’re auditioning for a role in a horror flick! How delightful! The suggestion that they could possibly be two villages side by side? That’s practically a sitcom premise for a new British comedy!
“I would rather see a strip in a field with tiny houses for young starters. Or a knarrenhof for elderly people…”
Now there is a lovely image for you. Tiny houses for young starters – perhaps with a touch of whimsy like a gnome-lead gardening club? Though, for the record, I’ve seen less chaotic scenes in a toddler’s craft room. Ricarde’s dream of a ‘knarrenhof’ for the elderly sounds absolutely charming. Can someone please tell me how it’s quicker to get a massive new residential area built than it is to have decent public transport servicing the existing locals? Heaven forbid we should cater to the people who have already made Drimmelen their home!
In response to her passionate crusade, over 180 villagers have banded together in support, wielding pens instead of swords. They are now primed for the public hearing looming next week — a showdown for the ages! Will they convince Alderman Tim Simons of Housing that they do not need more homes in the Rietlanden? Only time will tell, and we’ll all be sitting on the edge of our garden benches, eating our scones, wondering if the locals will be drowned out by the sound of jackhammers and ‘local celebrities’ arriving for hotel grand openings.
“I want to indicate that villagers are sad. I hope the penny will drop.”
Ah, Ricarde, I can feel the weight of your sadness. But let’s face it, change is as certain as taxes and the inevitable disappearance of your favorite biscuit flavor. Let’s just hope that if Drimmelen changes, it retains its charm and doesn’t devolve into a bustling metropolis or become the set of the next disaster movie. Here’s to hoping the council listens, and the folk of Drimmelen can still kiss the ground they love without anxiety about a hotel or a new “affordable” mansion next door!
A significant expansion is on the horizon for the village of Drimmelen, as plans unfold to more than double the number of residential homes and introduce a hotel to the picturesque locale. When Ricarde van Drimmelen, a longtime resident, first heard about the proposed construction, she was taken aback. The village, which currently boasts 235 homes, could swell to 446, a change she deems excessive. In response, she has initiated a petition aimed at opposing these developments.
“People are angry or sad about the plans,” says Ricarde van Drimmelen, who is one of the key figures spearheading the petition. Partnering with the De Rietlanden working group, she is actively contesting the proposal from a local entrepreneur seeking to erect 211 homes and an 80-room hotel just outside the village dike on the edge of the Biesbosch, a beloved natural area.
“It becomes a completely different sight when you drive to our village,” Ricarde confesses, reflecting on the impact of the potential changes. At 71, and having resided in Drimmelen for 22 years, she cherishes the character of her hometown. Previously living in Delft, the couple moved to Drimmelen for a larger garden, a nod to her husband’s familial ties in the area. She recalls falling in love at first sight with the village, saying, “I kiss the ground under my feet when I enter Drimmelen.”
“The we-know-us feeling disappears from Drimmelen when a different kind of people comes to live here.”
However, with the advent of over 200 new homes, Ricarde’s view has shifted. She fears the quaint sense of community, currently fostered among the village’s roughly 550 inhabitants, will dissipate with the influx of newcomers. “Homes weighing nine tons with a jetty where you can store a boat worth a million. Absurd!” she exclaims. Her concerns extend to the proposed hotel, suggesting that a high-rise structure could contribute to light pollution, adversely impacting local fauna, including majestic species like the bald eagle.
Already facing challenges with traffic congestion in the village center, where only a single traffic light exists, residents are apprehensive about the broader ramifications of new construction. “No large trucks or buses are allowed to drive there now, because the cups shake in the cupboard,” notes Ricarde. This situation, she fears, will deteriorate with new residential areas contributing to traffic flow, particularly from the New Marina, one of the largest inland marinas in Europe. The planned homes are set to be constructed just two kilometers from the village’s core.
Ricarde asserts, “We are not against new construction in the village, but we are against doubling the size of the village,” highlighting her concerns that it will effectively create two distinct communities. She advocates instead for a smaller number of homes intended for seniors and young families, ideally constructed closer to the heart of the village. “I would rather see a strip in a field with tiny houses for young starters,” she suggests, or perhaps a communal housing project like the “knarrenhof” in Zundert designed for elderly residents. “Even if they are gypsy wagons for starters, but not a doubling of the village!”
Many residents echo her sentiments, particularly older villagers who worry about the loneliness and isolation they may face in the proposed new area, especially since there is no public transport available in Rietlanden. Additionally, young residents who grew up in Drimmelen are determined to remain in the historic village center; with the new residential developments, that aspiration appears increasingly unattainable.
“I want to indicate that villagers are sad. I hope the penny will drop.”
To date, over 180 individuals from the community have signed Ricarde’s petition, including numerous older couples. She plans to present the collected signatures to Alderman Tim Simons, who oversees Housing, this Thursday afternoon. Ricarde draws encouragement from the province’s assessment, indicating that Drimmelen has already surpassed its housing construction targets. “The homes in the Rietlanden are not needed for that,” she argues persuasively.
A public hearing is scheduled for next Monday at the town hall in Made, providing a platform for villagers to voice their concerns. “I want to indicate that villagers are sad about the construction plans,” Ricarde asserts passionately. “I hope the penny drops.”
**Interview: Ricarde van Drimmelen Speaks Out on Drimmelen’s Housing Dilemma**
*Editor: Good afternoon, Ricarde! Thank you for joining us to discuss the ongoing developments in Drimmelen. Your petition and grassroots activism have certainly caught the attention of many. Can you start by sharing what prompted you to take such a strong stand against the proposed expansion?*
**Ricarde van Drimmelen:** Good afternoon! I appreciate the opportunity to share our concerns. The sheer scale of this proposed development is staggering—going from 235 to 446 homes feels excessive and, honestly, overwhelming. I moved here because I fell in love with the village’s charm and community spirit. My fear is that this expansion will dilute that essence, transforming Drimmelen from a close-knit community into something unrecognizable.
*Editor: It sounds like you have a deep emotional connection to your village. How do you think the influx of new residents will impact that “we-know-us feeling” you mentioned?*
**Ricarde van Drimmelen:** Exactly! That feeling is the heart of what makes Drimmelen special. When a different kind of people come to live here, the dynamics shift. We already have a wonderful mix of long-term residents who nurture our village spirit, and I fear the charm will fade, much like a beloved neighborhood café closing its doors.
*Editor: You’ve raised concerns about traffic congestion and environmental effects. Can you elaborate on those issues for us?*
**Ricarde van Drimmelen:** Yes, the traffic situation is already alarming. With one traffic light and narrow roads, adding more homes just two kilometers from our center could create chaos—imagine rush hour during a rugby match! Beyond that, I’m also worried about light pollution from the proposed hotel and the impact it could have on local wildlife, including our beautiful bald eagles. We have a responsibility to protect these natural features that make our village unique.
*Editor: You mentioned a desire for a different type of development, like smaller homes for young starters. What changes would you support?*
**Ricarde van Drimmelen:** I would wholeheartedly welcome smaller, affordable housing options that reflect our village character. A little ‘knarrenhof’ for elderly residents would be lovely—something that nurtures our community without overwhelming it. We need spaces that fit our village, not luxury homes with million-euro boats and jetties.
*Editor: The public hearing is approaching. How are residents preparing for this critical moment?*
**Ricarde van Drimmelen:** The support has been incredible. Over 180 villagers have rallied together, signing our petition and gearing up to make their voices heard. We’re united in this stand against what we feel is unnecessary growth. Our hope is to convince Alderman Tim Simons of Housing that these plans need reconsideration—Drimmelen doesn’t need to double in size; we need thoughtful development that respects our home.
*Editor: It’s clear you have a passionate community behind you. What’s your final message to Drimmelen residents and those following this story?*
**Ricarde van Drimmelen:** I want folks to know it’s okay to stand up for our village. Change can be challenging, but our home is worth fighting for. If we speak up and remain engaged in this process, we can help shape a future that retains the heart and spirit of Drimmelen while accommodating growth in a more sustainable way.
*Editor: Thank you, Ricarde, for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. We’ll be watching closely to see how this matter unfolds!*
**Ricarde van Drimmelen:** Thank you! Let’s hope for a positive outcome for all of us in Drimmelen.
