If you ask Enschede residents about the Volkspark, everyone has a personal story or anecdote about the city park. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Volkspark, a special biography has been published about the park. Writer of the book landscape historian Gerrit van Oosterom and Quirine van Heek, member of the park’s Management Committee, were guests at 1Twente Today. “Anyone who understands the Volkspark immediately understands Enschede,” says Van Oosterom.
The book contains all kinds of stories from Enschede residents and people from further away who have a connection with the park. Landscape historian Gerrit van Oosterom was asked by Quirine van Heek to write the book. “I already knew it, but I soon discovered that there is a special story to tell about the park.” He started work a year ago: “I now had the time to write the book, in fact I gave up my job for it,” says Van Oosterom. The historian now works full-time as a researcher.
‘Park for everyone’
The park was opened to the general public on May 2, 1874, after two years of construction. Textile manufacturer Hendrik Jan van Heek came up with the idea of the park and it was built on his initiative. The park had to be a place for everyone, where factory workers could relax with their families after the hard work in the textile factory. “Hendrik Jan van Heek thought it was important that there was an accessible place where people could meet each other,” says Quirine van Heek, member of the Management Committee of the Volkspark.
Historical material
To write the book, an appeal was made to the public to provide historical material about the park. Many people responded to the call and all kinds of photos emerged. “Everyone you speak to has a personal story about the Volkspark.” While some people only went to the fair in the park once a year, entire generations of families have also held parties and weddings in the park.
Development
When the park opened, Enschede was a developing city. One of the causes was the city fire of 1862: “In retrospect, I think that the entire history of Enschede, after the city fire, can be found in that park. This could be about the memory of the war or the Fireworks Disaster, but also if a big party had to be held, you would do that in the Volkspark.”
“I think the park is just at the beginning of its golden age.”
Writer Gerrit van Oosterom
Kilometers outside the city
The park is located in a central location in the city. Anyone who enters Enschede by train can see the Volkspark to the right of the window. Yet it was far from a central location when it opened. “The park was located a kilometer outside the city,” says Van Oosterom. The park was built on this site because the land was already owned by the municipality. There was a swampy piece of meadow where Saxion is now located. “Factories and homes were built everywhere. In this location it did not hinder that development.”
Read more below the image.
The Volkspark with the city in the background. The Grote Kerk can be seen in the distance.
Image: Photo is from the book
Fundraising
Income is needed to keep the park viable. “One of the ways we do this is through fundraising. Together with the municipality of Enschede, among others, we are looking at plans to further develop the park,” says Van Heek. The park is examined at fifteen points. Also in the field of climate change: “For example, we also look at old trees that will die in the long term. Which species do we plant in return? Some species do less well at high temperatures.” According to Van Heek, the park will be further developed based on the vision of park designer Dirk Wattez.
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‘Golden times’
According to writer Van Oosterom, the Volkspark will retain its important role for the city, even in the distant future: “Enschede is on the eve of expansion and development. Then there is much more need for greenery. Every piece of greenery is necessary for the climate challenges we have. I think the park is just at the beginning of its golden age.”
On Thursday, May 2, exactly 150 years ago that the park opened, a special event will be held in the Volkspark. Children from 6 to 16 years old can play sports and be creative. The day is organized together with Alifa youth work, SPortal, De Museumfabriek and Concordia. Mayor Roelof Bleker will also receive the first copy of the book.
The book ‘Het Volkspark: A biography of the first people’s park in the Netherlands, Enschede 1874-2024’ by Gerrit van Oosterom is available for 34.50 euros at https://volkspark.nl/boek/
Gerrit van Oosterom and Quirine van Heek
Image: Ernst Bergboer
Tags: years Volkspark captured book Enschede resident story park
