Bar de Bunker. Photo Koen Guiking The Wageningen Chamber of Associations (WKvV) has initiated a petition that has already been signed by 2100 people. The accompanying letter calls on WUR, the municipality and Idealis to enter into dialogue with students to discuss the future of the apartment bars.
The initiators demand to know what Idealis’ plans are for the Woeste Hoeve and de Bunker, but the student housing agency does not intend to reach a decision soon.
The open letter was written by WKvV chair Madelon van Vuure and undersigned by 38 student associations, apartment bar boards, student council parties and other student organisations. They voiced their collective concern over the uncertain future of the apartment bars. They believe these bars are a ‘unique aspect of Wageningen student culture’, and the ‘only place where all students in Wageningen can go out.’ Van Vuure: ‘Not all student organisations have their own accommodations. So the problem does not only affect individual students but also these organisations.’
Earlier this year, Idealis decided to close Annie’s Kroeg, the pub at Asserpark, after the upcoming renovation. Director Bart van As: ‘The apartment bars were always meant to be for the tenants. In recent years, however, they are mainly used by people and associations who don’t live there. Moreover, tenants experience nuisance from the pubs. During the preparations for the renovations, we will inventory how many and which people use the pubs. In the case of Asserpark, the tenants themselves requested it be turned into a meeting space. That request will be honoured.’
Apartment tenants’ wishes leading
Idealis will not decide on what is to happen with the apartment pubs Woeste Hoeve and De Bunker when Hoevestein and Dijkgraaf are renovated in 2026 and 2027/2028, respectively. ‘Out of respect for the pubs and their patrons. We will take a decision as the renovations draw near. In doing so, the wishes of the tenants will be leading. Should the tenants value and use the pubs more intensively by that time, they may well remain open, with the sidenote that they are intended for residents. Surveys conducted in recent years, however, suggest differently.’
In a press release about the campaign to keep the flat pubs, WKvV accuses Idealis of a lack of transparency about their future plans for the pubs. Van As: ‘After reading the petition, I reached out to WKvV to tell them I am unhappy about being accused of a lack of transparency. Although WKvV are not tenants, I explained again why Annie’s is to be closed and clarified the decisions that remain to be made.’
Different meeting spot
Regarding the request for clarification on the future of the flat pubs, Van As says: ‘We delay the decision until the renovations out of respect for the associations. But if that has an adverse effect and does not fuel a search for alternatives, I would like to discuss this with the pub boards and our tenant association.’
Idealis agrees that having a meeting spot for students from all over Wageningen is important. Van As: ‘But that does not mean such a spot must be created in our residential buildings. Our job is to house students, not facilitate student associations.’
