Last Thursday, October 10, during the start of The Week of the Landscape in Udenhout, more than 30 representatives from government, business and civil society organizations signed a cooperation agreement for Van Gogh National Park i.o. (Van Gogh NP). The signing marks a new step in the development of this National Park New Style. With the signing, the parties give their commitment to jointly draw up the plan to apply for the status Van Gogh NP with the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).
Opportunities and added value
The parties involved enter the cooperation because of the opportunities and added value that the development Van Gogh NP offers, such as strengthening of the business climate, healthy and beautiful living environment, conservation and enhancement of nature and biodiversity, future for farmers, growers and market gardeners and sustainable tourism. Mario Jacobs (alderman Tilburg): "A National Park New Style is more than just natural landscape, it also includes the cultural landscape up to the cities. Here we as a city work together with others to create a beautiful landscape with the inspiration of Van Gogh, because that is important for our residents and the regional economy." The status Van Gogh NP puts this area extra on the map and is an engine for further area development.
LNV partner in Brabants Bodem, part Van Gogh NP
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food also recognizes the importance of this cooperation and will support it by becoming a partner in the Brabants Bodem project, one of the main pillars of the Van Gogh NP. The Ministry of LNV has earmarked 4.5 million euros for this through the intergovernmental program vital countryside to contribute at a later stage in this project to the realization of an attractive landscape in the future Van Gogh NP.
In Brabants Bodem a regional chain approach with a large number of parties (business, social organizations and governments) is working on a transition of the countryside with a business-economically profitable (food) production and supply of services, in balance with the social interest and with reinforcement of the unique qualities of the natural and cultural landscape in Van Gogh NP.
Strong foundation
Van Gogh NP will be built on a strong foundation. The area between and around Eindhoven, 's-Hertogenbosch, Helmond, Tilburg and around Breda, Zundert, Etten-Leur is characterized by beautiful nature, culture-farming landscape and is also the homeland of Vincent van Gogh, whose heritage can still be experienced here in the landscape. This landscape was created thanks to social initiative with many enthusiastic and proud stakeholders who are committed to the preservation and development of their area. Jan Baan, director Brabants Landschap: "The status Van Gogh National Park fits perfectly with the already present beautiful nature and landscape in which we invest in this area with the spirit of Van Gogh"
