Holiday park Beerze Bulten wants to make a new sustainability push, but is facing all sorts of obstacles. Remarkably, these obstacles are caused by laws and regulations that are supposed to promote sustainability. During the Countus recreation conference, entrepreneur Gerrit-Jan Hagedoorn, along with De Omgevingsadviseurs (Environmental Advisors), provided insight into the complexities of environmental policy.
Beerze Bulten is a company that values nature and the environment and has held the ' GreenKey Gold ' designation for several years now. They are often cited as an example for other companies in the recreation sector and are proud of their sustainable status. Hagedoorn: “For us, being sustainable is very natural. Our holiday park is situated in the midst of beautiful natural surroundings – a unique spot on the River Vecht. Our guests come here, among other things, to enjoy nature. The nature and the surroundings, bordering a Natura 2000 area, are therefore something we take great care of.”
In recent years, the current town center facility has been renovated into a multifunctional building. The current building is also in dire need of renewal. Dating back to the 50s, and after several renovations, Beerze Bulten has now opted to replace the entire structure with a sustainable building. With the renovation, Beerze Bulten aims to optimize the building's efficiency while also responding to the changing needs of its guests. Renovations and expansions are often opportunities for a company to further boost its sustainability efforts. This was therefore part of the overall project.
Nature permit closes park
But as an entrepreneur, you can't always rely on the continuity of existing regulations. This is precisely what Beerze Bulten faced. The project was initially expected to result in more sustainable business operations: lower nitrogen emissions, reduced energy consumption, and more efficient processes. This was a positive development regarding the nitrogen emissions of the holiday park and therefore for the surrounding natural environment. At the time the environmental permit application for the construction activities was submitted, the nitrogen legislation wasn't a problem. However, following a ruling by the Council of State on December 18, 2024, the legislation regarding internal netting has changed completely, and projects involving internal netting are now subject to a permit requirement. In practice, this means that Gerrit Jan must apply for a nature permit for his activities, and that investments in new sustainable projects at his park are being frozen.
According to Karlijn Waaijman of De Omgevingsadviseurs, who guides entrepreneurs through the complex regulations of nature legislation, the Beerze Bulten is not the first to be affected by the changing regulations: “We are on top of developments, and even for us, it is sometimes difficult to continuously respond to new laws and regulations. Due to the new rules, which make internal netting subject to a permit again, we are facing the problem that permit issuance in Overijssel has been temporarily suspended until February 2026. The government is becoming quite an unpredictable party for many entrepreneurs. For this project, we believe that the construction activities can still fall under a transitional arrangement. We are in discussions with the province about this. But the Council of State's ruling and the changing regulations will already entail significant additional costs for the entrepreneur for this project.”
What do you have to deal with when developing new projects?
As a recreational entrepreneur, you're often situated in a beautiful location, surrounded by nature. This stunning location can be a significant hurdle if you're planning to renovate or expand. Does your business actually need a nature permit? Since December 18, 2024, that probability has increased significantly. Applying for a nature permit is now required if activities at your park have an impact (i.e., nitrogen deposition) on a nitrogen-sensitive Natura 2000 area. This can be caused, for example, by visitor traffic, heating with gas or wood (pellets), or by new construction or expansion of accommodations or facilities. To determine whether your business/company has nitrogen deposition on a Natura 2000 area, an Aerius calculation is required. The location of your business is crucial: the closer it is to a Natura 2000 area, the faster the impact will occur.
See also: Do I need a nature permit as a recreation entrepreneur?
By The Environmental Advisers
Huge disappointment
For Beerze Bulten, the postponement of construction is a huge disappointment. Gerrit-Jan: “We've been working on this for a long time and have put a lot of effort into it. Our staff was also looking forward to the renovation. The winter period was scheduled for construction, but that's now cancelled. We had already made agreements with suppliers, which now have to be reversed. Moreover, we're currently uncertain about the future of our company. Because a renovation is really necessary.”
Gerrit-Jan advises other entrepreneurs: "Put your agreements with government agencies in writing as early as possible. And it's a good idea to hire a lawyer right away to ensure everything is legally sound. I wouldn't wish a situation like ours on anyone."
These regulations are putting a lot of things on hold in the Netherlands, and that's really taking its toll. The deposition from a holiday park is minimal, and the majority of our guests are from the Netherlands. We don't want them all driving to France or Italy, do we? That's not good for the environment.
Karlijn (spatial planning, environmental, and nitrogen advisor at De Omgevingsadviseurs) advises: "As an entrepreneur, make sure you know what's going on. Is your business close to a protected nature reserve? What impact does your business have on that nature reserve? What should you consider during developments? An advisor can help you gain this insight and can prepare an indicative nitrogen calculation for you. This puts you, as an entrepreneur, in control and in control of the situation."
More information: www.beerzebulten.nl
Nitrogen legislation that prevents sustainable projects from being implemented. How can it get any crazier? The government/legislative body has a say in this matter. Perhaps this will be part of the new coalition agreement? Projects that ensure more sustainable business operations should be unblocked as soon as possible. And groups that object simply to make a point (take action) are actually antagonizing well-meaning initiators.
Explanation Pretwerk.nl