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Netherlands: The New Generation Of Allotment Garden Owners Want Space And Peace, Not Garden Dwarves

Garden veteran allocator Adrie Braber in front of his garden cottage at the Toepad Garden Association.Baldwin Pullman Statue

They think: ‘Oh my God, it’s good to sit! But these guys should really go to camp.’”

By Mandy Martin
Baltimore Gay Life
May 21, 2022

Excerpt:

The enthusiasm for this Rotterdam complex, just like the complexes in the rest of the Netherlands, is immense. The history of the Toepad Amateur Garden Association dates back to 1969. Anyone who wants a garden will have to wait a long time. These types of complexes were introduced in all kinds of places in the 1930s in order to provide citizens of the lower social classes with space, green spaces, and relaxation. Over the years, more and more beautiful houses are built in the gardens, where people often sleep all summer. Gardens like these have long since disappeared for the sake of low incomes alone: ??the phenomenon of ornamental gardens has faded into the background, and new residents are coming in for peace of mind.

Since the outbreak of Covid, getting your place green is more common than ever: in many pools, you can no longer be put on a waiting list. Nowadays, gardens are inhabited by all kinds of different groups of users, who sometimes look at each other with suspicion. Do-it-yourselfer Van der Loos, for example, is the type who cheerfully maintains his own garden. “I think it is a shame that some people do so little for their garden. There were even two here who almost got away. Fortunately, they are now also starting a little maintenance. But I won’t say anything about it.”

Read the complete article here.