The contrast could hardly be greater: where hundreds of children once enjoyed a carefree holiday during the summer holidays, there are now a handful of adults who want to buy an Indian tent for next to nothing. The tipis will be auctioned this week at the former children’s holiday park De Luchtballon in the hamlet of Calfven near Hoogerheide.
Those interested were allowed to take a look on Tuesday. Among them is Niels van Elsakker from Hoogerheide. “I am here with mixed feelings. Because it remains sad that this great initiative in our municipality has come to an end.” Jos and Adrienne from Bergen op Zoom agree with him: “Children should have played here, but unfortunately things turned out differently.”
Despite various sponsorship and even national television campaigns, the foundation did not manage to keep its head above water.
Stichting De Luchtballon was a household name in the Netherlands for many years. The institution organized holiday camps with dozens of volunteers for children with asthma, eczema or food allergies. Despite various sponsorship campaigns and even national television campaigns, the foundation did not manage to keep its head above water.
After the bankruptcy, the Paasheuvelgroep took over for a while. The huge camp turned out to be too big for this children’s holiday organization as well. The site is now owned by a developer. It has been abandoned and impoverished in recent years. Last year, the complex was closed by the municipality for six months after a cannabis nursery was discovered.
“Actually, I’m also curious how things would be here after all these years,” says Niels, looking inside one of the tents. “They still look pretty good despite their age. I don’t know if I’m going to buy one yet. But I could use some tents for the Brabantse Wal Festival that I help organize here.”
How many smiling faces would have been in here?
Among the dozens of tipi tents that are going under the hammer, the large tent of ‘Circus Balloni’ is the most eye-catching. Even the colorful track floor and grandstand benches are still in their original condition. Yet even for this eye-catcher there are only a few viewings. “How many smiling faces would have been inside here?”, a possible new owner openly wonders.
She has until Wednesday afternoon to make an offer. After that, the tipis disappear forever from the woods in Calfven. One may get a new destination with Jos and Adrienne in Bergen op Zoom. Jos: “That could just be, for the grandchildren.”
It is not yet known what will happen to the site in the future. Niels van Elsakker does have an idea for a destination: “I would like them to build houses for assisted living. People could live here in a wonderful and relaxed way.”
The circus tent on the former site of Stichting de Luchtballon (photo: Erik Peeters)
2023-07-25 19:00:33
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