'The traditional shopping street has disappeared'
More focus on attractive housing, a well-developed centre plan with a focus on the right retail concepts, but also a lot of attention to social cohesion. The centre of Blerick has undergone a special metamorphosis in recent years that many residents and entrepreneurs of this district have followed with full satisfaction. And it's not ready yet.
An important role was played by the BIZ board and centre manager Sjoerd van Heijster. After the Blericken native was heavily involved in the plans for the shopping heart and the anniversary of shopping centre De Wieën over a decade ago, the Venlo municipality approached him to play an important role in the consultation between entrepreneurs, property owners and the municipality on the future of the district. "Me was told: you are like cement," Van Heijster now looks back on that rapprochement with a smile. The centre manager gives his views on the changing retail landscape and future plans for Blerick. Because while there have already been many positive developments, he says there are still plenty of focal points on the agenda.
'Entrepreneurs are people who focus on the future and always think several steps ahead'
Shovel in the ground
After Province of Limburg gave the green light for co-financing the joint plan from Blerick and Tegelen 'Samen vooruit' (Moving forward together), Van Heijster set to work with Blerick stakeholders and external professionals. Many street talks, studies, surveys and evaluations followed. Eventually, the centre boards of Blerick and Tegelen, together with centre managers Sjoerd van Heijster and Werner Schins, presented an ambition document to the municipality of Venlo. The plan was received with great enthusiasm and also freed up budget for both district centres. From Heijster: "Compare it to the Plan Binnenstad 2030 in Venlo. The shovel could be in the ground. To great joy of residents, property owners and entrepreneurs in Blerick. She saw: something is finally happening. Together with councillors, Werner and I now regularly walk through our own centres to listen to what is going on and what wishes there are."
New vision for shopping centres
The fact that the municipality had every confidence in Van Heijster's abilities is not surprising given his career. Besides centre management in Blerick, he is now part of the national core team of centre professionals, is city centre director in Weert, chairman of Centrum Platform Limburg and centre manager in Gennep. "I hear a lot, see a lot and therefore learn every day." Asked what the most important lesson he has learned is, the centre manager says: "The old shopping street, as we know it especially in the smaller centres, is a thing of the past." That is not a hunch on Van Heijster's part, that is the national trend, which makes it clear that 37 per cent of purchases are now made online. Despite retail and hospitality still being very important for centres, anno 2024 is increasingly about the broader functional mix and social cohesion. "It is up to us to create new areas of interest to the modern consumer and visitor. Call it 'the modern agora', the meeting place where not only retail and hospitality, but also functions such as culture, care, education, crafts, work and leisure will have a place. She add value and keep visitors in the centre longer. There is now a gym in the shopping street and there will be a care service provider with day care, for example. A institution that perfectly suits today's centres. So there will be more similar developments. The social component where people meet is becoming increasingly important."
'We have already achieved a lot, but there are many more great developments ahead'
Further plans
Van Heijster welcomes the large number of genuine entrepreneurs in the centre. "Entrepreneurs are people who focus on the future and always think several steps ahead. Look at the Berden family or people who have recently embraced Blerick, such as Geert Benders and Geert Broekmans. That are pedigree entrepreneurs. But also the Jan Linders company that landed in shopping centre de Wieën with a new formula. Personally, I always try to think from the collective. As someone launches an idea, I think: what is the added value for other parties?" Van Heijster cites a number of examples. "On Currently, Carley Square is being redesigned and upgraded. That provides more space for pedestrians and delivers a better connection between Laurentiusplein and Kloosterstraat. We are also working on greening Kloosterstraat and expect to create a guarded bicycle parking area in front of De Wieën Shopping Centre."
Living
Besides the focus on shopping, lodging and other matching functions, there are also plans on expanding the number of homes. "We noticed this already when renovating the space above shops. At the past, these were used by one family; now, with the help of the municipal transformation fund, they have been converted to create a number of flats above the shop. Ideal for young people and starters, for example." Van Heijster also notices that workers from the various business parks choose to live in Blerick. As besides the Kazernekwartier - with 600 in the first phase and later a total of up to 1,200 new homes - is ready, it will also be noticeable in this district. "All parties involved in the centre of Blerick must be prepared for this, so that we can immediately - when the first new residents settle there - roll out the red carpet towards our centre." But there are more building plans. Among others, for new flats in a green area between Baarlosestraat and the Meuse. And in the immediate vicinity of the core shopping area.
In short, Blerick is ready for the future. "All facilities are in place. Residents here can shop functionally, eat out and more. The number of homes is growing. There is a beautiful walking area at the foot of the city centre, along the Meuse. For other forms of entertainment (culture, museums, cinema, a day out), people can cross the Maas to Venlo. We are not each other's competitors, but complement each other perfectly. Blerick is now in a transition period. We have already achieved a lot, but there are many more great developments ahead."
