Princess Irene and Princess Margriet are against the roof of the so-called Borrebos near Soestdijk Palace and the plan for housing on the former grounds of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. In a letter, the princesses write “shocked” by the plans of the new owner of the estate.
“At a time when possibilities are being sought for planting forests, cutting down trees is at least undesirable. And certainly not buildings in an old forest area,” said the princesses.
Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard lived in Soestdijk Palace from 1937 until their death in 2004. Three of the four daughters of the royal couple were born there. In 2017, the MeyerBergman Heritage Group bought the estate in order to realize a hotel, catering and housing, among other things. With the sale of apartments says the real estate company wants to finance the renovation of the palace.
The princesses write that their grandmother and mother attached great importance to preserving the forest as much as possible and that they fully support it. “We support those who want to protect the Borrebos and add that we also think it is important to give nature back to itself on the former barracks site,” writes Princess Irene, also on behalf of her sister.
Decision next week
The city council of Baarn will make a decision next week about the preliminary design of the zoning plan for the Soestdijk estate. Councilor Kees Koudstaal of the local party BOP asked the princesses for a response to the plans. He read the letter he received from the sisters to the council last night, reports RTV Utrecht.
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