NIJMEGEN – Nijmegen loses four night businesses on the cultural breeding grounds: Brebl, Strandbar Stek, Hubert and Neus, together good for about 125,000 visitors annually. No new location is available for them. ‘A silent disaster’, say the clubs. They have united in platform Nachtcult and are going to campaign.
Friday kicked off with a signature campaign at Drift, a two-day festival for electronic music at the Vasimhal. With this, Nachtcult wants to make it clear to the nightlife public and Nijmegen politicians what is in danger of being lost.
The student city of Nijmegen has a vibrant nightlife, such as the restaurants in the center and music venue Doornroosje. But also on old industrial sites such as Honig and on Sint Hubertusstraat in Hazenkamp. In recent years, a thriving night culture has emerged in former factory halls.
Number 1 in European Best Destinations
This year Nijmegen was number 1 in the European Best Destinations election for the category 18-35 year olds. The city was given this place of honor, partly because of the many festivals and unique hotspots. “It is precisely in places on the fringe that new initiatives arise,” says Godfried Verstegen of Brebl.
‘Many movements that everyone in Nijmegen is proud of originate from cultural breeding grounds,’ argue the initiators of Nachtcult. ‘Think Sleeping Beauty, Drift, WTF and other concepts’. But no matter how successful these night businesses are, there will soon be no room for them. Take Brebl on the Honigterrein, which attracts 50,000 people every year with jazz concerts and dance parties. It is impossible to find a suitable new location. The podium must give way to housing at the end of the year.
There is also no new place for Strandbar Stek at NYMA aan de Waal (35,000 visitors this year) and Hubert (36,000 visitors). Not even for Neus, an art platform annex bar in the center. Although this is a small player, it is a place for experimentation.
Action by Nijmegen politicians
“Together we are good for about 125,000 visitors,” says Julius Brom of Brebl. “Those people cannot go to other halls in Nijmegen. Not in numbers and not because they come for other nightlife concepts.” Nachtcult hopes for action from the municipality of Nijmegen and refers to the coalition agreement, which states that work is being done to restore nightlife.
The problem is that there are no temporary locations available, the municipality says. A spokesperson: ,,In the past we were able to temporarily house many cultural entrepreneurs at future housing locations. The builders have already started there. Due to the persistent tightness in the real estate market in the Netherlands, it is not easy to find new places.”
The city council certainly wants to talk to the initiators. “We also find a varied range of stages and locations important for a good nightlife.”
See also nachtcultnijmegen.nl
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