142 extra hectares of green space for the people of Eindhoven

On September 27, the De Wielewaal estate will open to the public. I can safely say that this is one of the highlights of my time as alderman. Why? We are giving back 142 hectares of beautiful green space with a rich heritage to our residents. And the estate is part of the Lichtbos, the large green area surrounding it.

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During the previous council term, we knew that the previous owner had plans to sell the estate. Investors could see it as a place where houses could be built. However, within the council, we believed that the city is growing enormously and that all these people also want to relax. Moreover, we wanted to preserve the greenery and nature. It is therefore very nice that we can add a huge estate to the greenery around Eindhoven, so close to the center. We took a chance on purchasing it and succeeded.

A purchase price of €29 million is a lot of money, even for a municipality. Because the estate will have a (partly) public function when it opens, we wanted to substantiate the social value of this investment, however difficult it may seem to express in monetary terms at first glance.

The study shows that the purchase of the Philips estate De Wielewaal will pay for itself in the form of ‘social benefits’, i.e., health gains, because people can relax in the green surroundings.

Morning tea

The road from purchase to opening was not an easy one. There were many interests and many ideas from the city. Fortunately, the city council supported the purchase. After all, it is not only about preserving green space for the city, but also about the cultural and historical value of the area. There are wonderful stories to tell about the history of the Philips family on this estate, such as how Frits Phillips drank his morning tea at the Azalealaantje or how the family skated on the pond in front of Uncle Ton's cabin in winter.

And now everyone from Eindhoven and beyond can enjoy it. I still find it very special to walk here. The old trees, unique avenues, and garden rooms, and the country house that you can see everywhere. It exudes tranquility and history.

We have now worked on the management, so that the paths are safe for everyone to walk on. In the evening, the gates are closed to ensure the estate remains a peaceful haven for the animals, but they will reopen on September 27. And I am very proud of that.