Over 50 Dutch holiday parks converted into residential neighborhoods in 10 years
Over the past decade, 56 Dutch holiday parks have been declared unsuitable for tourism. Most were converted into residential areas, while some were transformed into healthcare centers or nature reserves, Pointer discovered in a research survey. Most of these parks were already occupied by permanent residents who lived in holiday homes year-round.
For another 20 holiday parks, there are proposals or plans in place to change the zoning for their designated use. Many holiday parks in the Netherlands already have permanent residents due to the housing shortage. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), almost 60,000 people are registered at a holiday park, and that is considered a conservative estimate.
The topic of holiday parks is increasingly appearing on political agendas across the country, Erwin van der Krabben, a professor of urban planning at Radboud University, told Pointer. Municipalities and provinces must choose between creating more homes amid the housing shortage and tourism, which remains important for the local economy.
Changing a holiday park into a residential area is not as simple as changing the zoning. Infrastructure in holiday parks is not always appropriate for permanent residence. For example, Résidence Tergouw in Oosterhout was converted into a residential area in 2015. But the gas and electricity grids weren’t designed for this, resulting in dangerous situations like exploding electrical boxes. Residents also regularly struggled with blocked drains.
“If you turn a holiday park into a residential area, you often still need to invest in public spaces, amenities, and the park’s infrastructure. You need to have clear agreements about who is responsible for what and who should pay for it,” Professor Van der Krabben said.
And not all holiday parks are suitable for permanent residence, Willem Kraanen, a holiday park expert, told the program. “Sometimes a holiday park is located in a nature reserve, where residential use is prohibited. There are all kinds of planning regulations that determine whether or not a location is suitable as a residential area. And these are stricter than if it is only for recreational use.”
